| 0.0 : Hello and a warm welcome for our coverage of the third test between England and South Africa. This is a historic test for the reason that it is the 100th test match at The Oval, London. Historically, England have the edge over the Proteas at this venue, as they have won 6 of the 7 games that they have played against them. However, if momentum is something in sport, it is well with the African tourists coming into this match on the back of a thumping win at Trent Bridge. |
| What has not aided England is the lack of form coupled with injuries to some of their key players, which suggests that it's a confused dressing room. South Africa, on the other hand have a settled side, and the only change that is expected is Kagiso Rabada, who would walk in after serving his one-match suspension, in place of Duanne Olivier. There seems to be an exciting match in store for us as the series is squared up at 1-1, and both teams would be vying for that edge going into the final Tes |
| TOSS - England win the toss and opt to bat. The home side have made three changes. Gary Ballance, Mark Wood and Liam Dawson make way for the debutants, TOM WESTLEY, TOBY ROLAND-JONES and DAWID MALAN. On the other hand, South Africa have made one change. KAGISO RABADA comes in for Duanne Olivier. |
| England (Playing XI) - Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Tom Westley, Joe Root(c), Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow(wk), Moeen Ali, Toby Roland-Jones, Stuart Broad, James Anderson. |
| South Africa (Playing XI) - Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock(wk), Faf du Plessis(c), Temba Bavuma, Vernon Philander, Chris Morris, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel. |
| The players and the umpires walk out in the middle. It seems to be a pleasant day for cricket. Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings with bats in their hands walk out to open the innings for England. Morne Morkel to start the proceedings with the brand new red cherry for the Proteas. Three slips, a gully and a short leg in place. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : M Morkel to Cook, Starts the match with a back of a length ball bowled well outside off, Cook just shoulders arms to that one. |
| 0.2 : M Morkel to Cook, This is bowled on a good length on off and middle, Cook defends it solidly off the front foot. |
| 0.3 : M Morkel to Cook, Good ball, Cook's beaten there! That's a good length ball outside off, Cook is squared up in defense and the ball passes the outside edge and into the gloves of the keeper. |
| 0.4 : M Morkel to A Cook, FOUR! Cook and England get underway, courtesy a boundary through the slip cordon. That was full and just outside off, Cook feels for that and the thick edge carries the ball between the third slip and the gully fielder for a boundary. |
| 0.5 : M Morkel to Cook, Full ball on off, Cook defends and the ball rolls towards gully off the outer half of the bat. |
| 0.6 : M Morkel to Cook, Back of length ball outside off, Cook lets it go. |
| Vernon Philander will share the new ball from the other end. |
| 1.1 : V Philander to Jennings, Bowled from over the wicket, it was just outside off on a good length. A hint of inswing there as Jennings lets it go to the keeper. |
| 1.2 : V Philander to Jennings, Almost an action replay of the previous ball, Jennings doesn't bother doing anything with that. |
| 1.3 : V Philander to Jennings, Fullish ball outside off, Keaton leaves that alone. |
| 1.4 : V Philander to Jennings, Shortish ball on off, Jennings feels for it and gets beaten. |
| Philander stopped in his delivery stride. May be, he lost his rhythm. |
| 1.5 : V Philander to Jennings, Length ball outside off, Jennings lets it go to de Kock. |
| 1.6 : V Philander to Jennings, Full ball on middle and leg, Jennings pushes it defensively to short mid-wicket. |
| 2.1 : M Morkel to Cook, Back of length ball starting from off and swinging into Cook. He missed it and the bat thudded on to his thigh pads. |
| 2.2 : M Morkel to Cook, FOUR! Shot! The classy Cook cover drive! That was full and outside off, the batsman presents the full face of the bat as he drives it crisply for a boundary. That would settle his nerves, if any. |
| 2.3 : M Morkel to Cook, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Cook here. This was bowled on a good length but on his pads, Cook flicks it through square leg and the ball races away to the fence. This was a punish-me ball and dutifully done so by Cooky! |
| 2.4 : M Morkel to Cook, Beauty to comeback! Back of a length ball on off, Cook gets beaten but the ball raps him high on the back foot. |
| 2.5 : M Morkel to Cook, Full ball on off, the batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 2.6 : M Morkel to Cook, Length ball on off, Cook defends it from within the crease. |
| 3.1 : V Philander to Jennings, Back of a length ball on leg, moving in slightly, Jennings showed his bat in defense but the ball struck him high on his pads and lobs on the leg side. |
| 3.2 : V Philander to Jennings, Length ball on middle, seams away after pitching. Keaton looks to play that and gets beaten. |
| 3.3 : V Philander to Jennings, OUT! Jennings' woes with the bat continue in this series. Philander bowled it full on middle and off, the ball seamed away a bit. Jennings felt for the ball as he did earlier on a couple of occasions. This time though he ended up getting a thick edge and Dean Elgar stationed at third slip snaps up a good low catch diving to his right. England lose their first wicket after choosing to bat at the toss! |
| Debutant Tom Westley is in at No.3, earlier than he would have liked. |
| 3.4 : V Philander to Westley, A widish length ball outside off to welcome Westley at the crease, he leaves it alone. |
| 3.5 : V Philander to Westley, Length ball outside off, Tom lets that go to de Kock. |
| 3.6 : V Philander to Westley, This one was too close to leave yet he Westley does so. It was a length ball just outside off. |
| 4.1 : M Morkel to Cook, Back of length ball outside off, Cook shoulders arms to that. It moved in after passing the batsman. |
| 4.2 : M Morkel to Cook, Fullish outside off, Cook lets it go through to de Kock. |
| 4.3 : M Morkel to Cook, Alastair shoulders arms to yet another full ball outside off. |
| 4.4 : M Morkel to Cook, Full ball on middle and off, Cook defends it towards mid-wicket. |
| 4.5 : M Morkel to A Cook, FIVE RUNS! That was a back of length ball on off, Cook defends it off the backfoot towards cover and sets off for a quick single. Kuhn stationed at covers has a shy at the non-striker's end, the ball misses the stumps and it passes wide of Philander who was backing up and the ball races away to the boundary. |
| Temba Bavuma comes under the lids at short leg. |
| 4.6 : M Morkel to Westley, Fullish ball on leg, played straight to short leg. No run there. |
| 5.1 : V Philander to Cook, Fullish ball on off, Cook defends it towards point for no run. |
| 5.2 : V Philander to Cook, Bowled on a good length on off and middle, Cook pushes it to mid off. |
| 5.3 : V Philander to Cook, Fullish ball outside off, Cook leaves it alone. The ball swung as it went to the keeper. |
| 5.4 : V Philander to Cook, Good length ball outside off going straight this time, Cook lets it go to the keeper. |
| 5.5 : V Philander to Cook, Straight and full ball on middle, Cook defends it towards mid-wicket. |
| 5.6 : V Philander to Cook, Well left Cook! That was a length ball that started outside off and swung in late. The batsman judged it well and shouldered arms. |
| 6.1 : M Morkel to Westley, FOUR! Westley gets going in Tests with a boundary. That was a back of length ball on middle and swinging in. He plays it with the angle towards square leg and the ball races away to the fence. |
| 6.2 : M Morkel to Westley, Morkel bowls that outside off and swinging away, Tom leaves it alone. |
| 6.3 : M Morkel to Westley, Length ball outside off and Westley doesn't other fiddling with it. |
| 6.4 : M Morkel to Westley, Another fullish ball outside off and TW lets it go. |
| 6.5 : M Morkel to Westley, Bouncer on off, Westley ducks under that. |
| 6.6 : M Morkel to Westley, Back of length ball outside off, the batsman shoulders arms. |
| 7.1 : V Philander to Cook, Full ball outside off, Cook leaves it alone. |
| 7.2 : V Philander to Cook, Another fullish ball outside off, Cook covers his stumps and shoulders arms. |
| 7.3 : V Philander to Cook, Length ball outside off, Cook raises his arms to leave the ball. |
| 7.4 : V Philander to Cook, Fullish ball and too wide off of stump to make Cook play. |
| 7.5 : V Philander to Cook, Good length ball outside off, Cook seems to be playing the well-left game pretty well here. |
| 7.6 : V Philander to Cook, Fullish ball on his pads, Cooky just flicks it away past the diving mid-wicket fielder. Bavuma gets up and chases it down and keeps it to a brace. |
| 8.1 : M Morkel to Westley, Back of length ball well outside off stump, Tom lets it go. |
| 8.2 : M Morkel to Westley, Fullish drivable ball outside off, Westley does so, but straight to covers. |
| 8.3 : M Morkel to Westley, Another ball outside off, TW lets it go. |
| 8.4 : M Morkel to Westley, Length ball outside off, Tom leaves it alone. |
| 8.5 : M Morkel to Westley, Now Westley is playing the shouldering-arms game by leaving yet another ball outside off. |
| 8.6 : M Morkel to Westley, FOUR! Not the greatest of deliveries that. Full ball and sliding down leg, Westley just gets bat to ball and tickles it fine. The ball races away to the fine leg fence for a boundary. |
| Kagiso Rabada to bowl first change. He will be hungry to deliver after the one-match ban. |
| 9.1 : K Rabada to Cook, Full and swinging down the leg side, Cook misses the flick and the ball goes into the keeper's gloves. |
| 9.2 : K Rabada to Cook, This one is again full and down the leg side and the ball again thuds into de Kock's gloves after Cook misses his flick. |
| 9.3 : K Rabada to Cook, FOUR! Just a slight correction and Cooky is too good to miss that! Full ball and bowled on his pads, the batsman flicks it and the ball races through square leg for a boundary. |
| 9.4 : K Rabada to Cook, Again a length ball on his pads, Cook collects a single towards fine leg. |
| 9.5 : K Rabada to Westley, Full and swinging away from Tom, he leaves it alone. |
| 9.6 : K Rabada to Westley, Fuller ball in line of the stumps, Westley flicks it to mid-wicket. |
| 10.1 : M Morkel to Cook, EDGED AND SAFE! Back of length ball on off , Cook is squared up as he tries to play it on the leg side. The ball takes the leading edge and runs through backward point for a couple. |
| 10.2 : M Morkel to Cook, Back of length ball outside off, Cook leaves it alone. |
| 10.3 : M Morkel to Cook, That's bowled just outside off on a back of length, Cook gets beaten. |
| 10.4 : M Morkel to Cook, Length ball sliding down the leg side, Cook tries to flick it and misses. |
| 10.5 : M Morkel to Cook, Bowled on a length on his pads, Cook picks up a single towards fine leg. |
| 10.6 : M Morkel to Tom Westley, Full and swinging in to Westley, he went for the flick. Morkel puts in an appeal. The ball takes his inside edge and strikes his pads and that saved him. |
| 11.1 : K Rabada to Cook, Rabada is bowling outside leg stump to Cook and he lets it go to the keeper. |
| 11.2 : K Rabada to Cook, Much better by Rabada as this was on middle and leg. Cook defends it back to the bowler off the front foot. |
| 11.3 : K Rabada to Cook, That's a length ball outside off, Cook shoulders arms. |
| 11.4 : K Rabada to Cook, Full ball on middle, hit straight to mid-wicket. |
| 11.5 : K Rabada to Cook, Beaten! Cook feels for that length ball outside off and the ball just passes the outside edge. |
| 11.6 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball on off, defended off the front foot by Cook. |
| Spin as early as the 13th over in the match in the form of Keshav Maharaj. |
| 12.1 : K Maharaj to Westley, Starts off round the wicket with a slow loopy ball outside off. It's driven to mid off by Westley. |
| 12.2 : K Maharaj to Tom Westley, FOUR! Loopy ball a tad more outside off, Westley slaps that between extra cover and mid off for a boundary. Westley seems to be making his intentions against the spinner clear. |
| 12.3 : K Maharaj to Westley, Flat ball outside off, Westley leaves it alone. |
| 12.4 : K Maharaj to Westley, Floated on off, defended bacl towards the bowler. |
| 12.5 : K Maharaj to Westley, FOUR! Tossed up on middle and leg, Westley flicks it through mid-wicket and collects another boundary. The player at mid on gives a valiant chase but is unable to cut it off. |
| 12.6 : K Maharaj to Westley, Loopy ball on middle defended off the front foot. |
| 13.1 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball on middle, Cook defends it from within the crease. |
| 13.2 : K Rabada to Cook, Fuller ball outside off, Alastair lets it go to the keeper. |
| 13.3 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball outside off, AC leaves it alone. |
| 13.4 : K Rabada to Cook, Full and quick ball on leg, Cook misses the flick and gets hit on the pads. |
| 13.5 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball outside off, Cook shoulders arms. |
| 13.6 : K Rabada to Cook, Fuller ball on off, Cook plays it with soft hands towards covers and the batsmen steal a quick single. |
| It's time for DRINKS now. England have made a positive start after losing an early wicket. The Protea bowlers have largely been disciplined but not too threatening. |
| Chris Morris is now introduced into the attack. He starts with two slips and two gullies in place. |
| 14.1 : C Morris to Cook, WIDE to start off! Round the wicket he bowls it way outside off on a good length. The umpire does some stretching of arms. |
| C Morris to Cook, Straight on target this! Fuller on off stump, Cook gets his bat down quickly in defense. |
| 14.2 : C Morris to Cook, Full and outside off, AC has nothing to do with that. |
| 14.3 : C Morris to Cook, Length ball way outside off, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| 14.4 : C Morris to Cook, Full ball outside off, Cook shoulders arms. |
| 14.5 : C Morris to Cook, Full ball outside off, Cook pokes his bat and gets an edge. The ball goes on a bounce towards the slip cordon, where Kuhn and Elgar dive and bump into one another. |
| 14.6 : C Morris to Cook, Full ball outside away and swinging away. Cook feels for it and gets beaten. |
| 15.1 : K Rabada to Westley, Bouncer by Rabada, Westley ducks under that one. |
| 15.2 : K Rabada to Westley, Fuller ball on off and middle, Westley defends it off the front foot. |
| 15.3 : K Rabada to Westley, Full ball on middle and leg, flcked straight to mid-wicket. |
| 15.4 : K Rabada to Westley, Length ball outside off, Westley shoulders arms to that. |
| 15.5 : K Rabada to Westley, Full outside off, Westley doesn't bother playing that. |
| 15.6 : K Rabada to Westley, Length ball outside off and Tom lets it go to the keeper. |
| 16.1 : C Morris to Cook, Back of length ball outside off, Cook points his bat skywards as he lets it go through to the keeper. |
| 16.2 : C Morris to Cook, Short and way down the leg side by Morris. Cook thinks of pulling but it is out of reach and a diving de Kock manages to get a glove on to that. The ball rolls away towards fine leg and the batsmen take a couple of byes. |
| 16.3 : C Morris to Cook, Length ball outside off, Cook leaves it alone. |
| 16.4 : C Morris to Cook, Full ball on off, Cook blocks it showing the full face of the bat. |
| 16.5 : C Morris to Cook, Full on off, Cook defends it towards point. |
| 16.6 : C Morris to Cook, Length ball on middle, Cook gets hit high on the thigh pads. |
| 17.1 : K Rabada to Westley, Length ball on middle, Westley displays a solid defense from within the crease. |
| 17.2 : K Rabada to Westley, Length ball on off, Tom defends it towards point. |
| 17.3 : K Rabada to Westley, Directionless bouncer that! That started from middle and went down the leg as de Kock collected that. Such a waste of an effort. |
| 17.4 : K Rabada to Westley, TW shoulders arms to that length ball outside off. |
| Faf du Plessis is having a chat with Chris Morris regarding the field placements. |
| 17.5 : K Rabada to Westley, Back of length ball outside off, Westley defends it towards point. |
| 17.6 : K Rabada to Westley, Fuller ball outside off, Tom lets that go. |
| 18.1 : C Morris to Cook, Fuller ball on off, Cook defends it from within the crease. |
| 18.2 : C Morris to Cook, Full and swinging down the leg side, Cook tries to flick and misses. |
| South Africa have reviewed an LBW decision against Cook. |
| 18.3 : Morris to Cook, NOT OUT! That's bowled on a good length outside off, Cook misses his flick and gets rapped on the pads. Morris and the entire of South Africa appeals only to see it turned down by the on-field umpire. The Proteas think about that and Faf after consulting his bowler and de Kock decide to review. The snicko reveals that there was a thin edge before the ball crashed into his pads. That saves Cook and the South Africans lose their first review. |
| 18.4 : C Morris to Cook, Fuller ball on middle and off, AC collects a single towards mid-wicket. |
| 18.5 : C Morris to Westley, Length ball on off, Westley drives it straight to covers. |
| 18.6 : C Morris to Westley, Back of a length ball on off, Tom defends from within the crease. |
| 19.1 : K Rabada to Cook, Great ball from over the wicket. It just passes the poking bat of Alastair Cook. |
| 19.2 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball outside off, Cook shoulders arms to that one. |
| It has gone really dark. The artificial lights have been switched on. There are predictions of rain during the course of the day. Hope it does not play spoilsport. |
| 19.3 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball on off and going away, Alastair leaves it alone. |
| 19.4 : K Rabada to A Cook, Fuller ball on middle and leg, Cook takes a single towards mid on. |
| 19.5 : K Rabada to Westley, Length ball on off, Tom defends. |
| 19.6 : K Rabada to Westley, Full outside off and inviting a drive, Westley obliges and hits it through covers. They collect a brace as the fielder chases it down. |
| Saw dust being sprayed on the pitch next to the stumps. |
| 20.1 : C Morris to Cook, Full ball outside off, Cook leaves it alone. |
| 20.2 : C Morris to Cook, Length ball, too away from the stumps to make Cook play. |
| 20.3 : C Morris to Cook, Alastair plays the leaving game as he shoulders arms to that length ball outside off. |
| 20.4 : C Morris to Cook, Pitches outside off and comes in sharply, Cooky collects a single towards mid-wicket. |
| 20.5 : C Morris to Westley, A good length in-swinging ball outside off, Westley drives it stright to the fielder stationed at covers. |
| Slight drizzle in the air. |
| 20.6 : C Morris to Westley, FOUR! Full and in-swinging good length ball on off and middle, Westley flicks it aerially over short mid-wicket for a boundary. The timing on that shot was immaculate. |
| 21.1 : K Rabada to A Cook, Full on off, Cook gets squared up and gets an outside that runs through the slip cordon. They take just a single. |
| 21.2 : K Rabada to Westley, Full on off and middle, Westley flicks it on the leg side. The mid on fielder gives a chase but the fielder from mid-wicket dives and concedes just a brace. |
| 21.3 : K Rabada to Westley, Length ball defended off the back foot. |
| 21.4 : K Rabada to Westley, Length ball on his pads, he misses the flick. The ball hits his pads and rolls towards square leg and run a leg bye. |
| 21.5 : K Rabada to Cook, Short ball way down the leg side, Cook ducks and lets it go. |
| 21.6 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball on his pads, Cook flicks and collects a couple towards mid-wicket. That brings up the fifty run partnership between these two. |
| 22.1 : C Morris to Westley, Length ball outside off, Westley shoulders arms and lets it go. |
| 0.0 : 1244 LOCAL TIME UPDATE - The drizzle has got heavy enough to force the players out of the field. The groundsmen rush in with the covers. Hold on! The rain has stopped and the men concerned are making their way back to the field. Out go the covers and we are ready to get underway again. |
| Bad news folks! The showers have come back again and the umpires have decided to call it an EARLY LUNCH. It seems like the players are going to have an on and off day. |
| Only 22.1 overs were possible in this session and England have wrested back the early advantage that South Africa had. Jennings departed for a duck thanks to a Philander beauty. But from then, it has been the Cook-Westley show. They have been patient by leaving a lot of deliveries, but have also ensured that they keep the scoreboard ticking. Debutant Westley has been impressive due to the maturity that he has shown in playing the waiting game. Join us in a while for the post-lunch session, if an |
| ...DAY 1, SESSION 2... |
| We are back, with the sunny weather, and the players are making their way out. Morris will continue his unfinished over as Cook and Westley resume their vigil. Two slips and a gully in place. |
| 22.2 : C Morris to Westley, Starts off with a fuller ball outside off, which Westley doesn't bother playing. |
| 22.3 : C Morris to Westley, Back of length ball outside off, Westley defends it with soft hands towards point and they steal a quick run. |
| 22.4 : C Morris to Cook, Swinging back of a length ball on off and middle, Cook flicks it towards square leg for a single. |
| Good news for South Africa! Vernon Philander had an issue with his stomach in the morning but is back on the field for them. |
| 22.5 : C Morris to Tom Westley, OUT! The break does it for South Africa! And it was a peach of a delivery outside off. Full outswinger inviting the drive and Westley falls for that. He goes for the drive without much feet movement and ends up nicking it to second slip where Francois du Plessis takes a good low catch diving to his left. South Africa have the breakthrough that they wanted, the debutant's stay at the crease ends. First wicket in the match for Morris. England two down. |
| Skipper Joe root strides out in the middle. |
| 22.6 : C Morris to Root, Full and down the leg side, Root misses the flick and the ball goes through to the keeper. |
| Morkel to bowl from the other end. |
| 23.1 : M Morkel to Cook, Length ball outside off, Cooks lets that go to the keeper. |
| 23.2 : M Morkel to Cook, Full swinging ball that pitched on leg and swung even more away. De Kock dived and got his gloves, but couldn't prevent the bye. |
| 23.3 : M Morkel to Root, Full swinging ball outside off, Root shows the full face of the bat and plays it towards covers. |
| 23.4 : M Morkel to Root, Back of a length ball outside off, slightly swinging away, doesn't invoke any interest from Root who leaves it alone. |
| 23.5 : M Morkel to Root, Back of length ball outside off, it struck Root high on the thigh and rolled over to gully. |
| 23.6 : M Morkel to Root, FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Root doesn't let it go unpunished. He cuts and cuts hard through point for a boundary. That would get him going. |
| 24.1 : C Morris to Cook, Full ball outside off, Cook defends it towards gully. |
| 24.2 : C Morris to Cook, Back of a length ball, punched off the back foot towards covers for a single. |
| 24.3 : C Morris to Root, FOUR! Classy shot. Short ball just outside off, Root watches it till the end, opens his bat face and guides it between slip and gully for a boundary. Looking at that shot, one would think that he was batting out there all day long. |
| 24.4 : C Morris to Root, FOUR! Streaky yet lucky! Fuller ball outside off, Root pokes his bat at that. But the good thing he did there was play it with soft hands. The ball took the edge and went on two bounces to the right of du Plessis at second slip, the second being an awkward bounce, and ran away into the third man fence for a boundary. |
| 24.5 : C Morris to Root, Length ball outside off, Joe gets beaten. |
| 24.6 : C Morris to Root, Back of a length ball outside off, Root defends it towards cover-point off the back foot and takes a run. |
| 25.1 : M Morkel to Root, Shortish delivery outside off, Root initially hangs his bat out towards it but leaves it alone in the end. |
| 25.2 : M Morkel to Root, In the channel outside off, Joe points his bat skywards to allow it through. |
| 25.3 : M Morkel to Root, Length delivery angling in substantially this time. Root falls over a bit as he look to clip it away but is pinged on the thigh pad. |
| 25.4 : M Morkel to Root, In the corridor of uncertainty, seaming in a bit. Root covers his off stump and leaves it alone. |
| 25.5 : M Morkel to Root, The English skipper knows where his off stump is and makes another good leave to a similar delivery. |
| 25.6 : M Morkel to Root, A bit short outside off this time, not enough room to draw Root into the cut shot as he lets it be. A maiden for Morkel. |
| 26.1 : C Morris to Cook, Wide! Morris hurls this one way outside off on a shorter length and it swings further way. Cook doesn't bother to play at it. Wide signaled by the umpire. |
| C Morris to Cook, FOUR! Easy pickings! If you keep bowling there to him, he will keep punishing you all day. Swinging into the pads, Cook tickles it fine past the keeper and through to the fine leg fence. |
| 26.2 : C Morris to Cook, Cook clips this fullish delivery towards mid-wicket and sets off. Morkel comes across to it and has a shy at the striker's end but misses. There was a bit of confusion in the running but no harm done. |
| 26.3 : C Morris to Joe Root, Morris searches for some swing again and ends up bowling a half-volley outside off, Root drives it crisply through mid off for a brace. |
| 26.4 : C Morris to Root, Full and angling down the leg side, Root clips it beautifully through mid-wicket. Morris sprints after it and slides near the fence to keep the ball in play. Saves a run for his side. |
| 26.5 : C Morris to Cook, Shortish delivery, climbing on Cook. He hops and tucks it towards square leg. |
| 26.6 : C Morris to Cook, Another short delivery but this one is going down the leg side, Alastair is hurried a bit but manages to pull it down to fine leg. Rabada moves across to his left and slides to make a good stop. A run taken. |
| 27.1 : M Morkel to Cook, Length delivery angling in towards the hips, Cook makes use of the crease and clips it through mid-wicket. Collects an easy couple. |
| 27.2 : M Morkel to Cook, In the channel outside off, shaping in a touch. The ex-English skipper shuffles a touch, ensures he has his stumps covered and makes a watchful leave. |
| 27.3 : M Morkel to Cook, Good length delivery outside off, angling in. Alastair leaves it alone. |
| 27.4 : M Morkel to Cook, Fuller length ball on off, Cook plants his front foot across and dabs it to the point fielder. |
| 27.5 : M Morkel to Cook, Similar length delivery on off, Alastair puts his head down and defends it calmly. |
| 27.6 : M Morkel to Cook, In the corridor of uncertainty, Cook shuffles across and watches it go through into the gloves of de Kock. |
| 28.1 : C Morris to Root, Morris loses his radar and slips this one down the leg side. Root goes for the clip but misses it. |
| 28.2 : C Morris to Root, That's a great delivery! Almost trapped the English skipper there. Hurls this on a driving length outside off. Root is drawn into an expansive stroke but the ball moves away to beat his outside edge. |
| 28.3 : C Morris to Root, Morris is getting good movement but he needs to maintain cosistent lines and lengths. Bowls this on a shortish length outside off, Joe punches it nicely through cover-point. Two runs taken. |
| 28.4 : C Morris to Root, This one jags back sharply from a good length. Root is hurried by it as he brings his bat down but only manages to get an inside edge onto his thigh pad. |
| 28.5 : C Morris to Root, FOUR! Poor delivery and duly punished! Short but it is going down the leg side, Root gets into a good position and helps it on its way. Rabada moves swiftly to his right and dives but in vain. A boundary results! |
| 28.6 : C Morris to Root, Length delivery outside off, seaming away after pitching. Root stays back and allows it through. |
| Keshav Maharaj comes back into the attack. Meanwhile, Atherton, on air, informs us that Philander is out of the field owing to his upset stomach. |
| 29.1 : K Maharaj to Cook, Fullish delivery in line of the stumps, Cook nudges it through mid-wicket for an easy single. 100 up for England and it is met with a good cheer from the crowd! |
| 29.2 : K Maharaj to Root, Floated outside off, holding its line. Root plants his front foot across and leaves it alone. |
| 29.3 : K Maharaj to Joe Root, Well bowled! Tossed up on middle, spinning away a touch. Joe is opened up in his stance as he gets it off the outer half to short third man. |
| 29.4 : K Maharaj to Root, Drifting in with the arm from outside off, Root pushes at it tentatively and gets a thick inside edge past Bavuma at short leg. A single taken. |
| 29.5 : K Maharaj to Cook, Prods forward to the floated delivery and blocks it. |
| 29.6 : K Maharaj to Cook, Slow through the air on middle, worked to short mid-wicket. |
| 30.1 : M Morkel to Root, Good length delivery shaping in from outside off. Root uses the depth of the crease to place it to point. A run taken. |
| 30.2 : M Morkel to Cook, On the shorter side of things but way outside off. Cook is no mood to flirt with it. |
| 30.3 : M Morkel to Cook, Four Byes! That was a peach! Back of a length on off, seams away substantially after landing. Cook feels for it but is beaten all ends up. De Kock tries to collect it over his head but it goes through. It also rolls down to the fence behind. Four byes signaled by the umpire. |
| 30.4 : M Morkel to Cook, Wide outside off this time as Cook makes an easy leave. |
| 30.5 : M Morkel to A Cook, Close shave! Length delivery on off, Cook camps back and pushes at it but gets a thick outside edge. Elgar dives full length to his right but the ball falls just short of him. This is good bowling from Morkel. |
| 30.6 : M Morkel to Cook, Cook nudges this one towards mid on. |
| 31.1 : K Maharaj to Root, Tossed up delivery, Root prods forward to defend it. |
| 31.2 : K Maharaj to Root, Stays back to the shorter delivery and pushes it to short cover. |
| 31.3 : K Maharaj to Root, Slower through the air, Joe puts a big stride forward and pats it to the off side. |
| 31.4 : K Maharaj to Root, Maharaj drags his length back, Root hangs back and punches it to short cover. |
| 31.5 : K Maharaj to Root, Joe stays back and places it towards point. Good judgement of the single as they complete it with ease. |
| 31.6 : K Maharaj to Cook, In line of the stumps, stays a touch low. Cook manages to keep it out. |
| 32.1 : M Morkel to Root, Beaten! Length delivery outside off, Root goes deep in the crease to counter it but is beaten comprehensively. |
| 32.2 : M Morkel to Root, Back of a length delivery outside off, Joe initially looks to leave it alone but feels for it eventually. He is lucky to have not nicked that. The ball seamed away late that time. |
| 32.3 : M Morkel to Root, This one jags back in sharply from outside off, Root covers his off stump and lets it go. De Kock once again fails to collect the ball in his gloves. |
| 32.4 : M Morkel to Root, This is great bowling from Morkel. Bowls this one on a fullish length outside off and draws Root into the drive. He gets beaten. |
| 32.5 : M Morkel to Root, Jaffa! Fulish delivery outside off, Root goes for an ambitious drive down the ground but the ball shapes away to whiz past his outside edge. |
| 32.6 : M Morkel to Root, Length delivery tailing in sharply. Root is beaten on the tuck and wears it on his thigh pad. Great testing maiden over. |
| 33.1 : Maharaj to Cook, Floated outside off, turning in sharply. Cook decides to pad it away. A confident shout for an LBW but the umpire is unmoved. The replays show that it was not turning back enough. |
| 33.2 : K Maharaj to Cook, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 33.3 : K Maharaj to Cook, Floated outside off, Cook works it to mid-wicket. |
| 33.4 : K Maharaj to Cook, Tossed up around off, Alastair pushes at it tentatively but gets an inside edge towards past short leg. |
| 33.5 : K Maharaj to Cook, Lunges forward to this one and defends it. |
| 33.6 : K Maharaj to Cook, Risky! Maharaj drags his length back. Cook rocks back and goes for the cut but gets beaten. Perhaps that was too close to cut. |
| 34.1 : M Morkel to Root, Length delivery shaping in from outside off, Root goes for the clip but misses to get hit on the thigh pad. The players are all upbeat and are putting pressure on the English skipper. It is not easy to get on top of one of the best batsman in Test cricket. |
| 34.2 : M Morkel to Root, Defended off the back foot by Root. |
| 34.3 : M Morkel to Root, In the channel outside off, Joe lets it go. |
| 34.4 : M Morkel to Root, Good length delivery around off, Root shuffles and defends it solidly. |
| 34.5 : M Morkel to Root, Outside off, left alone. |
| 34.6 : M Morkel to Root, Shortish delivery but way outside off, Root doesn't fiddle with it. Three maidens in a row. Good stuff from the Proteas. |
| 35.1 : K Maharaj to Cook, Tossed up outside off, spinning in. Cook goes for the cut but gets beaten again. He is living dangerously. |
| 35.2 : K Maharaj to Cook, Floated around off, Alastair defends it by prodding forward. |
| 35.3 : K Maharaj to Cook, A bit short this time, Cook goes back and tucks it past the right side of the leg gully fielder. Two runs taken. |
| 35.4 : K Maharaj to Cook, Tossed up delivery, defended solidly off the front foot. |
| 35.5 : K Maharaj to Cook, Flatter this time, Cook blocks it. |
| 35.6 : K Maharaj to Cook, Fuller on off, played with soft hands to mid on. |
| DRINKS has been taken. A good passage of play for South Africa. Morkel is in the midst of a great spell and is troubling the English skipper. Keshav Maharaj from the other hand has been steady and is getting some good purchase from the track. They need to keep building the pressure to bring about the breakthrough. England on the other hand need to be calm and composed in their approach to keep the scoreboard ticking. |
| Vernon Philander comes back into the attack. He has served his time off the field and is ready to go. Two slips and a gully in place. |
| 36.1 : V Philander to Root, Bowled on a good length on off and middle, Root defends it towards mid-wicket. |
| 36.2 : V Philander to Root, Length ball on off and middle, Root defends from within the crease. |
| 36.3 : V Philander to Root, Good length ball outside off, Root covers his stumps and shoulders arms. |
| 36.4 : V Philander to Root, Bowled fuller outside off, Root tried to play it towards covers, but the ball went of the inside edge of the bat towards mid on. |
| 36.5 : V Philander to Root, Length ball on middle, Joe looks to play with soft hands but gets hit on his pads and the ball rolls towards square leg for a quick leg bye. |
| 36.6 : V Philander to Cook, Swerving good length ball on off and middle, Cook defends off the front foot. The ball hits the inside edge and hits his pads and falls on the ground. |
| 37.1 : K Maharaj to Root, Loopy ball on off, Root drives it to cover. |
| 37.2 : K Maharaj to Root, Quicker ball on off, Root blocks it off the back foot. |
| 37.3 : K Maharaj to Joe Root, Tossed up on middle and leg, Root look to block it towards the off side but the ball takes the inside edge and lands towards short leg. |
| 37.4 : K Maharaj to Root, Loopy ball defended off the front foot. |
| 37.5 : K Maharaj to Root, Floated on middle, Root flicks it towards fine leg for a couple. |
| 37.6 : K Maharaj to Root, Tossed up on middle and off, Root defends it off the front foot. |
| 38.1 : V Philander to Cook, Back of length ball on middle and leg, Cook takes a run by flicking it to deep square leg. |
| 38.2 : V Philander to Root, OUT! Gone! Root has to depart! Philander bowls it back of a length on off, seaming away from the skipper. Root had to, just had to play at that and he does. The ball takes the outside edge and Quinton de Kock snaffles up a stunner. He was moving towards his left looking at the angle of the ball, but quickly recovered and dived to his right to catch that. Terrific bowling, terrific catching to get rid of one of the better batsmen in world cricket. The pressure that Mork |
| Debutant and Middlesex middle order batsman Dawid Malan walks into the center with England in a spot of bother. Third slip also in place for him. |
| 38.3 : V Philander to Malan, Length ball outside off, Malan shoulders arms to that. |
| Philander once again stops in his delivery stride. |
| 38.4 : V Philander to Malan, Back of length ball outside off, Malan easily leaves that. |
| 38.5 : V Philander to Malan, That's speared on a length down the leg side, Malan has nothing to do with that. |
| 38.6 : V Philander to Malan, Good length ball on off and middle, Malan solidly defends off his front foot. |
| 39.1 : K Maharaj to Cook, Loopy ball on off spinning in, Cook blocks it. |
| 39.2 : K Maharaj to Cook, Loopy ball outside off, Cook dabs it towards cover-point for a single. |
| 39.3 : K Maharaj to Malan, Floated ball on off, Malan shimmies down and hits it straight back to Maharaj. |
| 1453 LOCAL TIME UPDATE - Oh no! The rain has arrived again. Up go the umbrellas in the crowd as the groundsmen come rushing in with the covers. The good thing is that there is a strong breeze blowing across and lets hope it blows the shower away along with it. |
| 1507 LOCAL TIME UPDATE - Good news folks! The rain has stopped and the covers have been peeled off from the ground. The match is scheduled to start again at 1515 local time. |
| The players are making their way out. Maharaj will continue with the ball, Malan will face first up. Here we go... |
| 39.4 : K Maharaj to Malan, Loops it on off, Malan pushes it with the turn towards mid-wicket. |
| Malan has some issue with the sightscreen. |
| 39.5 : K Maharaj to Malan, Floated on off and middle, Malan defends it on the leg side. |
| 39.6 : K Maharaj to Malan, Flighted ball with a slight dip outside off, Malan shimmies down and misses the flick. He gets hit on the pads and that drew appeal from Maharaj. The umpire says not out. Hawk Eye shows impact to be outside off. |
| 40.1 : V Philander to Cook, Full wide ball outside off, Cook lets it through. |
| 40.2 : V Philander to Cook, Length ball on middle, Cook pushes it defensively towards mid-wicket. |
| 40.3 : V Philander to Cook, Fuller ball on the stumps, Cook blocks that towards the bowler. |
| 40.4 : V Philander to Cook, APPEAL BY THE PROTEAS! Not out says the umpire. That was a back of a length ball on leg, it hurried on to Cook, and struck him on his pads. Height was the factor that denied a wicket to the South Africans. |
| 40.5 : V Philander to Cook, Fuller ball on off, Cook plays it onto the ground. |
| 40.6 : V Philander to Cook, Full ball on off, Cook plays it uppishly towards point. It fell just short of the fielder there. |
| 7-3-14-0 reads Rabada's figures as he comes in for another spell. |
| 41.1 : K Rabada to Malan, Back of length ball on leg, Malan misses the flick and gets hit on his pads. The Proteas appeal unsuccessfully though. Height is the factor again as per Hawk Eye. |
| 41.2 : K Rabada to Malan, Length ball on leg, the ball hits his thigh pads and rolls on the leg side. |
| 41.3 : K Rabada to Malan, Back of length ball on off, Dawid shoulders arms to that one. |
| 41.4 : K Rabada to Malan, Good length ball on off, going across Malan. He has nothing to do with that. |
| 41.5 : K Rabada to Malan, Again a back of length ball on leg hits Malan on his pads. It draws stifled appeal from the South Africans. |
| 41.6 : K Rabada to Malan, Dangerous leave by Dawid that. Back of a length ball on off and middle to which he shoulders arms. The ball passed just over the stumps. |
| 42.1 : V Philander to Cook, Good length ball on middle played by Cook to mid on. |
| 42.2 : V Philander to Cook, Length ball on off and middle defended towards point. |
| 42.3 : V Philander to Cook, Back of length ball outside off, Cook trying to cut, gets a thick bottom edge making the ball bounce on the ground. |
| 42.4 : V Philander to Cook, Woah! That's an outswinger on middle and off drawing Cook forward. It passes the outside edge of the bat. |
| 42.5 : V Philander to Cook, FOUR! And he gets to his half century in style. Shortish ball outside off, Cook plays the cut shot in style and through point for a boundary. |
| 55th Test fifty for the former England skipper, Alastair Cook. |
| 42.6 : V Philander to Cook, Lovely delivery to follow that boundary ball. Length ball on middle swings away from the batsman beating his outside edge. |
| 43.1 : K Rabada to Malan, Malan gets going in Test cricket after 15 balls! Back of a length ball on off, he defends it off the back foot towards point and sets off for a quick single. The throw from the fielder hit Malan as he completed that run. So a painful way to get going that! |
| 43.2 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball outside off, well left by Cooky. |
| 43.3 : K Rabada to Cook, Sprayed down the leg side, AC lets it go. |
| 43.4 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball on middle and leg, Cook plays it towards mid on for a single. |
| 43.5 : K Rabada to Malan, Full and quick delivery down the leg side, Malan misses the flick and the ball thuds into de Kock's gloves. |
| 43.6 : Rabada to Malan, OUT! JAFFA! What a delivery to get on your debut. Unlucky Dawid Malan! That was a fast spearing very full ball on middle and leg, Malan was just a tad late in getting his bat down and he fell over as the ball crashed on to the stumps. It was an almost-unplayable ball. Rabada and the entire African side is pumped up, and why not. Such deliveries are rarity in cricket. England in trouble here. |
| All-rounder Ben Stokes walks in next. |
| 44.1 : V Philander to Cook, Full ball on middle and leg flicked away for a single. |
| 44.2 : V Philander to Stokes, Full ball on middle and leg, played off the front foot for no run. |
| 44.3 : V Philander to Stokes, Back of length ball on leg, Stokes gets hit on his thigh pads. |
| 44.4 : V Philander to Stokes, Length ball on off, Stokes pushes it off the front foot. |
| 44.5 : V Philander to Stokes, Good length ball on middle and leg, Stokes flicks it off his pads. |
| 44.6 : V Philander to Stokes, Length ball outside off, Stokes plays it to point. |
| 45.1 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball down the leg side, Cook leaves it alone. |
| 45.2 : K Rabada to Cook, Back of length ball outside off, the batsman gets beaten. |
| 45.3 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball defended off the front foot by the batter. |
| 45.4 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball outside off, Cook lets it go. |
| 45.5 : K Rabada to Cook, Good length ball duly defended by Cook. |
| 45.6 : K Rabada to Cook, FOUR! Shortish ball going away from the batsman, Cook punches that wonderfully through covers for a boundary. Such a sweet timer of the ball is this guy, that one just wonders where was in the previous match. |
| Morris back into the attack after his initial burst of 8 overs. |
| 46.1 : C Morris to Stokes, Fuller ball outside off, Stokes leaves it alone. |
| 46.2 : C Morris to Stokes, Back of a length ball on leg, Stokes plays it towards fine leg for a single to get off the mark. |
| 46.3 : C Morris to Cook, Length ball outside off, played through backward point for a couple. |
| 46.4 : C Morris to Cook, Short ball on middle, Cook pulls it towards square leg. |
| 46.5 : C Morris to Cook, Full ball on middle, Cook bunts it off the front foot. |
| 46.6 : C Morris to Cook, Short ball on middle, Cook crisply pulls it to fine leg for a single. |
| 47.1 : K Rabada to Cook, Wow! What a shot. That's a half volley outside off, he gets that stride in and brings out the Cook-special cover drive. Maharaj chases that down and saves a run for their side. |
| 47.2 : K Rabada to Stokes, Full ball outside off, Stokes mistimes the push down the ground for a single. |
| 47.3 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball on length and middle, Cook picks up a run towards mid-wicket. |
| 47.4 : K Rabada to Stokes, Fuller ball on off, Stokes plays it to the right of mid off and they cross over for a run. |
| 47.5 : K Rabada to Cook, Back of a length ball on middle and going away, Cook shoulders arms. |
| 47.6 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball on off, Cook stays tall and defends it on the off side. |
| 48.1 : C Morris to Stokes, Runs in and bowls a full ball wide of off stump, Stokes says I won't play that! |
| 48.2 : C Morris to Stokes, Back of a length ball closer to stumps, but not close enough to make him play. |
| 48.3 : C Morris to Stokes, Good length ball on his pads, Stokes flicks it towards square leg for a run. |
| 48.4 : C Morris to Cook, Shortish ball outside off, moving in after pitching. Cook bunts it on to the ground. |
| 48.5 : C Morris to Cook, Another back of length ball outside off and coming into the batsman. Cook defends off the back foot. |
| 48.6 : C Morris to Cook, The lateral movement off the pitch for Morris increased as the over progressed. Back of length ball outside off and came into Cook as he defended it awkwardly off the back foot. |
| 49.1 : K Rabada to Stokes, Good length ball going across Stokes who shoulders arms to that one. |
| 0.0 : Run out appeal against Stokes is referred upstairs by Aleem Dar. |
| 49.2 : K Rabada to Stokes, NOT OUT! Back of a length ball on off, Stokes punches it off the back foot towards cover-point. Bavuma chases it down and throws it towards bowler's end where the fielder takes down the stumps. Stokes dives and makes it in just in time. They run three. |
| 49.3 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball outside off, Cook leaves it alone. |
| 49.4 : K Rabada to Cook, Again Cook shoulders arms to a length ball outside off. |
| 49.5 : K Rabada to Cook, Good length ball outside off, Cook leaves it alone. |
| 49.6 : K Rabada to Cook, Length ball on middle and leg, Cook plays it towards mid-wicket for a run. |
| 50.1 : C Morris to Cook, Length ball punched off the back foot for a run. |
| 50.2 : C Morris to Stokes, Full ball on off, Stokes clobbers it straight to the cover fielder, who misfields and concedes a run. |
| 50.3 : C Morris to Cook, FOUR! Shot! Again a good length ball on off moves in laterally after pitching. Cook is so well set, that he rides that movement and pushes it through mid on and collects a boundary. That looked as glorious as it can get. |
| 50.4 : C Morris to Cook, Shortish ball on off, Cook punches it off the back foot. |
| 50.5 : C Morris to Cook, Full and wide ball outside off, Cook doesn't bother fiddling with that. |
| 50.6 : C Morris to Cook, Length ball outside off, Cook covers the stumps and leaves it alone. |
| 51.1 : K Rabada to Stokes, Well kept de Kock! Rabada steams in and sprays that ball full down the leg side. The keeper dives to his right and stops that. Not a clean take but effective nevertheless. |
| 51.2 : K Rabada to Ben Stokes, Shortish ball on leg, Stokes swivels and pulls it to the right of fine leg. Before he fields and returns the throw, they take a brace. |
| 51.3 : K Rabada to Stokes, Length ball defended off the back foot. |
| 51.4 : K Rabada to Stokes, Full and swinging down the leg, Stokes misses the flick. The ball hits his pads and they collect a leg bye towards square leg. |
| 51.5 : K Rabada to Cook, Yorker outside off, Cook digs it out on the off side. |
| 51.6 : K Rabada to Cook, Very full on middle and leg, Cook plays it towards mid-wicket. It was almost like the one that got Malan, the only difference being this was a tad fuller. THAT'S TEA, DAY ONE! |
| Time for Tea and it has started raining as well. It has gone really dark but let's hope the wind blows the clouds away. Coming back to the game, it has been a really good session for South Africa. They have managed to pick up three wickets along with keeping the run rate in check. Right after lunch, Morris removed the debutant, Westley with a beautiful delivery. |
| After that, Root joined Cook in the middle and battled it out with a 49-run stand. Morkel kept on bowling nagging lines and lengths and tested the former in particular. It was a shaky innings from the English skipper who looked unsettled and eventually departed. The left-handed debutant, Malan got a peach from Rabada and was sent packing. |
| The ex-English skipper has looked the most composed of the lot and is unbeaten on 72. He needs support from Stokes. Promising partnerships need to be converted to something substantial to get the visitors thinking. Join us for the evening session as and when the weather permits. |
| 1635 LOCAL TIME UPDATE - The final session should have got underway by now, but rains have delayed the proceedings. |
| 1658 LOCAL TIME UPDATE - Play is scheduled to resume at 1730 local time, provided the rains keep away. |
| The men who matter have made their way out in the middle. 31 overs are scheduled for the session. Play can be extended to 1930 local time. Morkel to start with the ball now. |
| 52.1 : M Morkel to Stokes, Back of length ball outside off and swinging away, Stokes shoulders arms. |
| 52.2 : M Morkel to Stokes, Straighter ball outside off on a length, Stokes raises his bat skywards as he lets it go to the keeper. |
| 52.3 : M Morkel to Stokes, Short ball outside off, Stokes tries a pull and gets the bottom edge which goes on a bounce to de Kock. |
| 52.4 : M Morkel to Stokes, Shortish ball on middle and leg, pulled away towards fine leg for a single. |
| 52.5 : M Morkel to Cook, Length ball on middle and leg, Cook defends off the front foot. |
| 52.6 : M Morkel to Cook, Back of length outside off, batsman shoulders arms. |
| Vernon Philander with figures 9-5-8-2 to bowl from the other end. |
| 53.1 : V Philander to Stokes, Back of length down the leg side, Stokes misses the flick and the ball goes through to the keeper. |
| 53.2 : V Philander to Stokes, Fuller ball on off, Stokes strides forward in defense. The ball takes the inside edge and goes to fine leg and they run a brace. |
| 53.3 : V Philander to Stokes, Full on off, Stokes pushes it towards mid off. |
| 53.4 : V Philander to Stokes, Full outside off, the batsman lets that go through to the keeper. |
| 53.5 : V Philander to Stokes, A peach! Unlucky to not get a wicket off that. Good length pitching on off and straightening after pitching, Stokes strides forward to defend. The ball beats him on the inside and just passes close to the off stump. Wonderful ball that. |
| 53.6 : V Philander to Stokes, Full ball on off, Stokes defends. |
| 54.1 : M Morkel to Cook, Morkel bowls it well outside off, Cook leaves it alone. |
| 54.2 : M Morkel to Cook, Length ball on off, Cook bunts that off the back foot. |
| 54.3 : M Morkel to Cook, Fuller ball on off, batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 54.4 : M Morkel to Cook, Length ball well outside off to trouble Alastair. |
| 54.5 : M Morkel to Cook, Another full and wide delivery to which AC shoulders arms. |
| 54.6 : M Morkel to Cook, Wonderful ball to end the over. Full out swinger on off stump. It draws Cook forward and teasingly misses the outside edge. |
| 55.1 : V Philander to Stokes, Wide! That is too wide outside off. the umpire signals a wide. |
| V Philander to Stokes, Fuller ball down the leg side, Stokes misses the flick. |
| 55.2 : V Philander to Stokes, Full ball on middle and leg, Ben plays it towards mid-wicket for no run. |
| 55.3 : V Philander to Stokes, EDGED AND FOUR! Back of length ball outside off and angling away from Stokes. He slashes and slashes hard. The ball takes the outside edge and flies over the slip cordon and through to the third man fence. No half measures from Stokes on that occasion. |
| 55.4 : V Philander to Stokes, Beaten. That was a back of a length ball on off, passes the outside edge of his bat. |
| 55.5 : V Philander to Stokes, Length ball punched on the off side in defense. |
| 55.6 : V Philander to Stokes, Length ball on leg, flicked away to fine leg for a run. |
| 56.1 : M Morkel to Stokes, Full and too wide to make Stokes play. |
| 56.2 : M Morkel to Stokes, Back of a length ball on middle, Stokes plays it towards fine leg for a run. |
| 56.3 : M Morkel to Cook, FOUR! Short ball on middle and angled down the leg side, Cook nudges it fine off his hips. That's delicately played as the ball runs down to the fine leg fence for a boundary. |
| 56.4 : M Morkel to Cook, Full on off, Cook plays it towards point. |
| 56.5 : M Morkel to Cook, That was outside off and well left by the former skipper. |
| 56.6 : M Morkel to Cook, FOUR! Full outside off, Cook opens the face of the bat to guide it through the gully region. The pace was such that the ball teased the chasing fielder before running into the boundary fence. Valiant effort by the fielder nevertheless. |
| 57.1 : V Philander to Stokes, Length ball on off, Stokes gets beaten on the outside edge. |
| 57.2 : V Philander to Stokes, Good length ball outside off, Stokes feels for that as the ball passes his outside edge. |
| 57.3 : V Philander to Stokes, Full ball on middle and off, BS defends it off the front foot. |
| 57.4 : V Philander to Stokes, That's bowled full and straight on middle, Stokes drives it back to mid on. |
| 57.5 : V Philander to Stokes, Back of a length ball on off, it seams away a bit. It goes past Stokes' bat that was poked there. |
| 57.6 : V Philander to Stokes, Fuller ball on middle and leg, Stokes gets it off the inner half through square leg for a run. |
| 58.1 : M Morkel to Stokes, That was bowled back of a length at 85 mph on middle, Stokes plays it towards mid-wicket and crosses over to the other end. |
| 58.2 : M Morkel to Cook, Length ball on middle, Cook flicks it towards deep square leg where Maharaj fields that. They complete a brace before he returns the throw. |
| 50-run stand up between Cook and Stokes. |
| 58.3 : M Morkel to Cook, AC chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 58.4 : M Morkel to Cook, Length ball on off, Cook gets an edge towards the off side. |
| 58.5 : M Morkel to Cook, Length ball on middle and off defended off the back foot by the batter. |
| It has started to drizzle again. It has been such a day where the players have gone off the field on a few occasions. |
| 58.6 : M Morkel to Cook, This one is defended from within the crease to end the over. |
| 1800 LOCAL TIME UPDATE - Bad news folks! The rain has arrived yet again. The players are ambling back to their dressing rooms. The groundsmen have more work in their hands as the covers have been brought in. Dark clouds have started to build up but no one can predict the English weather! Let's hope it clears out soon again. Stay tuned for more updates... |
| 1819 LOCAL TIME UPDATE - Rain has stopped. The umpires are out there inspecting. It's still pretty dark and cloudy out there though. Groundsmen have a task at hand to mop up the field. |
| 1833 LOCAL TIME UPDATE - The umpires have decided to call off the day's play. THAT IS STUMPS ON DAY ONE. Bad weather coupled with bad light ends the day's play. |
| The day overall belonged to South Africa, as even after winning the toss and choosing to bat, the hosts aren't really in as strong a position as they would have liked. None of their top order batsmen, apart from Cook, showed application to put up a decent score. The visitors were on the money with the ball from the beginning. Loose balls came too far and few. Their fielding was up to the mark. All points to England playing the catch up game at the end of Day One. The exciting game would resume t |
| ... DAY TWO, SESSION ONE ... |
| Hola everyone! Welcome to our coverage of Day Two of the third riveting contest between England and South Africa. Day One saw only 59 overs of play being possible before rain prevented further play. The home side is precariously placed owing to a steady stream of dismissals triggered by some disciplined and threatening South African bowling. |
| The Proteas showed intent from ball one, and the only mild concern, if any, they had was Philander's stomach bug that made him leave the field a couple of times. They would hope to carry on the steady barrage of disciplined and, if possible, lethal stuff with the ball. |
| England were on the back foot after losing Jennings early. Then Cook and Westley consolidated well with a half century stand. The former skipper has played cautiously so far, and even though they have batting to come in the form of Bairstow, Ali and Broad, the home team would love Cook and Stokes to continue as long as they can. Expect a tug-of-war between bat and ball which should engage the cricketing fans world over! |
| Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes are the men who saw the English side to stumps, and they walk out to resume their innings. Vernon Philander will steam in for South Africa with the ball. Here we go... |
| 59.1 : V Philander to Stokes, Starts of with a back of a length ball on legs, Stokes tucks it away through backward square leg to get underway. |
| 59.2 : V Philander to Cook, Straight ball, full on middle, Cook pushes it defensively back to the bowler. |
| 59.3 : V Philander to Cook, Fuller ball on middle and off, Cook blocks it towards point. |
| 59.4 : V Philander to Cook, Length ball on his pads, Cook flicks it behind square on the leg side and collects a brace. |
| 59.5 : V Philander to Cook, Speared in fuller on off, Cook pushes it towards mid off, no run there. |
| 59.6 : V Philander to Cook, Back of length ball on middle and leg, the former skipper pushes it to short mid-wicket. |
| Morne Morkel to run in from the other end. |
| 60.1 : M Morkel to Stokes, Bowling round the wicket, he bowls it on a length off, Stokes pushes it towards covers. |
| 60.2 : M Morkel to Stokes, Length ball outside off, Stokes raises the bat in the air and lets it go through. |
| 60.3 : M Morkel to Stokes, Length ball bowled on off and middle, Stokes plays it towards short mid-wicket. |
| 60.4 : M Morkel to Stokes, Back of a length ball outside off, Stokes stays away from it by leaving it alone. |
| 60.5 : M Morkel to Stokes, Full outside off, Ben shoulders arms. |
| 60.6 : M Morkel to Ben Stokes, Full ball on off, Stokes plays it straight to mid off. Maiden to begin with for Morkel. |
| 61.1 : V Philander to A Cook, EDGED BUT SAFE! Cook just had to play at that one. Back of a length ball on middle and off, seaming away from the batter, he prods his bat in defense. The ball takes the outside edge and lands agonizingly short of du Plessis at second slip. |
| 61.2 : V Philander to Cook, Fuller ball on off, Cook defends it towards covers. |
| 61.3 : V Philander to Cook, Length ball on off, Cook blocks it towards point. |
| 61.4 : V Philander to Cook, Length ball on off, Cooky plays it towards gully. |
| 61.5 : V Philander to Cook, Back of a length ball on leg, Alastair takes a single in front of square on the leg side. |
| 61.6 : V Philander to Stokes, FOUR! Glorious shot to get to 2000 Test runs by Stokes. That was bowled full on middle and leg, he flicks that towards mid-wicket and the chasing fielders didn't stand a chancxe to cut that off. |
| 2000 Test runs for Ben Stokes. Becomes the 57th English player to achieve this feat. Just his 62nd inning in Tests. The average is pretty decent, around 33 while his strike rate is around 63. He just needs to start becoming more consistent to improve that average. |
| 62.1 : M Morkel to Cook, Length ball on off, Cooky plays it to mid-wicket for no run. |
| 62.2 : M Morkel to Cook, Length ball on off, Cook defends off the back foot. |
| 62.3 : M Morkel to Cook, The batter defends that length ball from within the crease. |
| 62.4 : M Morkel to Cook, Length ball outside off, Cook lets it go. |
| 62.5 : M Morkel to Cook, That's the signature Cook cover drive. It was bowled full outside off, he brings out that stride and plays the shot. Kuhn chases down and saves a run for the side. |
| 62.6 : M Morkel to Stokes, Length ball outside off, Stokes gets a bottom edge on that one. |
| 63.1 : V Philander to Cook, Length ball on middle and leg, defended off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 63.2 : V Philander to Cook, Lovely ball outside off, Cook pokes his bat at it and gets beaten. |
| 63.3 : V Philander to Cook, Length ball on off, the batsman pushes it towards covers. |
| 63.4 : V Philander to Cook, Good length ball outside off the batsman doesn't bother fiddling with that. |
| 63.5 : V Philander to Cook, Length ball outside off, Cook lets it go. |
| 63.6 : V Philander to Cook, Lovely ball by Philander. Back of a length ball on middle, swings away late. Cook gets beaten as he poked his bat at it. |
| Interesting discussion from the cricketing greats on air. Shane Warne feels that Keaton Jennings is not a busy cricketer, not looking for singles and only looks to survive. Nasser Hussain reckons that is because Jennings is not that confident. Then, as a proper headmaster overseeing his teaching staff, David Lloyd puts his thoughts into words. He recounts that century by Jennings against India. Says that there, the southpaw used to keep his head down, used to meet the ball, come forward and LOOK |
| Philander walks off the field with a stomach bug that troubled him even yesterday. He should be back on field within 2 minutes to be able to bowl the next over. |
| 64.1 : M Morkel to Stokes, Short ball, pulled away for a run. |
| 0.0 : Morkel strikes! He has pinned Cook in front but the latter has reviewed it. Height seems to be a factor there... |
| 64.2 : Morkel to Cook, OUT! The third umpire upholds the onfield call. Morkel started round the wicket and bowled it on a length on off. Cook gets beaten for pace and gets struck on the pads. A loud appeal results in the umpire raising the dreaded finger. Cook reviews immediately, and three reds on the ball tracking means that the batsman has to depart! Cook departs for 88, England lose half their side. The 63-run stand is broken. |
| Jonny Bairstow walks in at the fall of the 5th wicket. |
| 64.3 : M Morkel to Bairstow, Bairstow is welcomed to the crease with a bouncer which he leaves alone. |
| 64.4 : M Morkel to Bairstow, Length ball outside off, Jonny shoulders arms. |
| 64.5 : M Morkel to Bairstow, Good length ball outside off, Bairstow avoids trouble by not making any contact with that. |
| 64.6 : M Morkel to Bairstow, Length ball outside off, JB leaves it alone. |
| Philander is back on. Must have popped in a couple of tablets. Aha... interesting. Aleem Dar signals towards the third umpire that his walkie-talkie is not working. He asks for a new one. It has not come yet... |
| 65.1 : V Philander to Stokes, Full ball on leg and middle, Stokes flicks it away for a run. |
| 65.2 : V Philander to Bairstow, Back of a length ball on middle gets Bairstow going as he flicks it through mid-wicket for a brace. |
| 65.3 : V Philander to Bairstow, Length ball outside off, Jonny raises his bat skywards and leaves it alone. |
| 65.4 : V Philander to Bairstow, Length ball outside off, JB lets it go. |
| 65.5 : V Philander to Bairstow, Back of length ball on middle, played towards mid-wicket. |
| 65.6 : V Philander to Bairstow, Fuller ball on off, driven back to the bowler. That was swinging away a tad. |
| 66.1 : M Morkel to Ben Stokes, FOUR! Ben Stokes that away for a boundary! Short ball outside off, he brings out the pull shot, clubs it towards mid-wicket and into the fence. He looked completely in command of that shot. |
| 66.2 : M Morkel to Stokes, Another good looking shot that fetches him a couple. Full ball on off and middle, driven straight down the ground. Morkel gets some hand to that which enables Kuhn to chase it and keep it to two. |
| 66.3 : M Morkel to Stokes, Length ball on off hits Stokes on his pads and they take two leg byes. |
| 66.4 : M Morkel to Stokes, Drives that full ball straight down towards mid off. |
| 66.5 : M Morkel to Stokes, Another straight drive, but back to the bowler. No run there. |
| 66.6 : M Morkel to Stokes, Length ball on off, Stokes defends from the front foot. |
| 67.1 : V Philander to Bairstow, FOUR! Glorious shot that. Philander bowls it full outside off, Bairstow times it perfectly through covers for a boundary. This shot makes it seem that he is batting there for a long time. |
| 67.2 : V Philander to Bairstow, Full ball on off, driven back to the bowler. |
| 67.3 : V Philander to Bairstow, Length ball outside off, Bairstow shoulders arms. |
| 67.4 : V Philander to Bairstow, Length ball swinging away from the off stump, Jonny leaves it alone. |
| 67.5 : V Philander to Bairstow, Full ball outside off, JB gets a bottom edge as he tries playing it towards the off side. |
| 67.6 : V Philander to Bairstow, Length ball outside off and seaming away. Bairstow pokes his bat tentatively as the ball passes the outside edge. |
| Chris Morris to bowl for the first time today. Meanwhile Philander walks off the field yet again. |
| 68.1 : C Morris to Stokes, Full ball on off, Stokes drives it down towards mid off. |
| 68.2 : C Morris to Ben Stokes, FOUR! Crisp and classy cover drive by Ben! Full outside off, Stokes gets his front foot forward and drives it to the cover fence for a boundary. |
| 68.3 : C Morris to Stokes, FOUR! Aah! Beauty! Full on middle and leg, Stokes just times that and pushes it through mid off. The ball races away for yet another boundary. Stokes is good with his timing today. |
| 68.4 : C Morris to Stokes, Good yorker on off, Stokes manages to dig it out. |
| 68.5 : C Morris to Stokes, FOUR! And again! Third in the over and the Stokes has taken a liking to Morris here. Another full ball outside off, Ben drives it through mid off for yet another boundary. He is looking in great touch out there. |
| 68.6 : C Morris to Stokes, Length ball on off, defended from within the crease. |
| Kagiso Rabada is brought in to bowl now. |
| 69.1 : K Rabada to Bairstow, Full ball on middle and leg, Jonny flicks it through square leg for a run. |
| 69.2 : K Rabada to Stokes, Full ball on middle, Stokes flicks it through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 69.3 : K Rabada to Bairstow, Length ball outside off, punched away defensively on the off side. |
| 69.4 : K Rabada to J Bairstow, Back of a length ball outside off climbing at the batsman. Bairstow fends it and gloves it which goes on the bounce to gully. |
| 69.5 : K Rabada to Bairstow, Fuller ball outside off punched towards covers off the back foot. |
| 69.6 : K Rabada to Bairstow, A play and miss by Jonny of that length ball outside off. |
| 70.1 : C Morris to Stokes, Fuller ball on off, Stokes defends and the ball takes the inside edge of his bat and strikes his pads. |
| 70.2 : C Morris to Stokes, Short ball on middle and leg pulled away towards fine leg where Rabada fields. They cross over for a single. |
| 70.3 : C Morris to Bairstow, Length ball outside off, left alone. |
| 70.4 : C Morris to J Bairstow, Fuller ball on middle, driven to mid on. |
| 70.5 : C Morris to Bairstow, FOUR! Would love to watch that shot on loop! That was an outswinger outside off, full enough to invite a drive. Bairstow drives it powerfully through covers for a boundary. |
| 70.6 : C Morris to Bairstow, Length ball on his pads, he fails to get bat on that. They take a leg bye as the ball rolls towards fine leg. |
| Spin for the first time today in the form of Keshav Maharaj. This seems to be a good move from Faf du Plessis. Bairstow has struggled against Maharaj this series, getting out to him 3 times out of 4. He has not quite picked him yet. |
| 71.1 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, Loopy ball on middle, driven towards mid on. No run there. |
| 71.2 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, FOUR! Sweeps and sweeps hard! Floated on middle and off, Bairstow hits that powerfully through backwards square leg for a boundary. The key was to watch the ball till the end and stay in control of the shot, which he was. |
| 71.3 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, FOUR! Not entirely in control this time, yet effective. Tossed up arm ball on middle and leg, Jonny charges down and hits it over mid on for another boundary. He didn't seem to read the arm ball there. |
| 71.4 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, Flatter ball on middle, solidly defended off the front foot. |
| 71.5 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, Loopy ball on off, defended off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 71.6 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, FOUR! Another sweep in the over results in another boundary. Flighted ball on middle and leg, he plays that shot and the ball races to the fine leg fence. Even though he has been dismissed thrice by this bowler in the series, Bairstow is taking the attack to the spinner here. |
| DRINKS are on the field. Even though England lost Cook to a pacy ball by Morkel, they have continued to rake in the runs, courtesy Stokes and Bairstow. The Protea bowlers found no way to defeat Stokes, and that should be the main worry in Faf's mind. |
| Change of ends for Rabada. |
| 72.1 : K Rabada to Stokes, On a length around off, Stokes stays back and defends. |
| 72.2 : K Rabada to Stokes, FOUR! JUST OVER! Looks like he is in the mood, Stokes. A short ball outside off, Stokes just stands still and wallops it over mid on. Does not quite middle it, the ball goes off the toe end of the bat and is aerial. Dean Elgar leaps at mid on but the ball eludes him. Had there been a taller player, Stokes could have been gone. |
| 10th Test Fifty for Stokes. |
| 72.3 : K Rabada to Stokes, Full and around off, watchfully defended. |
| 72.4 : K Rabada to Ben Stokes, Full and outside off, driven straight to mid off. |
| 72.5 : K Rabada to Stokes, Outside off, punched through the covers for a couple. |
| 72.6 : K Rabada to Stokes, That is an excellent fielding effort from Morkel! Down the leg side, Stokes tucks it through backward square leg. The ball races to the fence but Morne Morkel gives it a good chase, gets to the ball and then dives to pull it in. He himself has to run in and throw the ball, so the third is taken. |
| 73.1 : K Maharaj to Stokes, Full and around off, watchfully defended. |
| 73.3 : K Maharaj to Stokes, Outside off, driven straight to mid off. |
| 73.4 : K Maharaj to Stokes, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 73.5 : K Maharaj to Stokes, Full on middle, pushed through mid on for a single. |
| 73.6 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 74.1 : K Rabada to J Bairstow, FOUR! Amazing stroke. Back of a length ball outside off, Bairstow waits on his back foot and crunches it behind point. Not a soul moved as that ball raced away. |
| 74.2 : K Rabada to Bairstow, Good running. Again back of a length outside off, Jonny taps it behind point. Two, he says and then runs excellently to come back for the second. |
| 74.3 : K Rabada to Bairstow, Pushes this towards point again but now it is only a single. |
| 74.4 : K Rabada to Stokes, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 74.5 : K Rabada to Stokes, Landed outside off, watchfully blocked out. |
| 74.6 : K Rabada to Stokes, Good length delivery outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 75.1 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, Full on middle, flicked through square leg. |
| 75.2 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, This is an arm ball, darted down the leg side, Bairstow looks to sweep but misses and is hit on the pad. |
| 75.3 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 75.4 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, Landed around off, watchfully patted forward. |
| 75.5 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, Tossed up outside off, pushed straight to cover. |
| 75.6 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, Oohh... very close. The ball is full on middle and Bairstow looks to sweep it fine again. He just about manages to get a bit of glove and the ball goes behind, past the diving slip who tries to stop it. A single taken. |
| CHRIS MORRIS is back on. |
| 76.1 : C Morris to Bairstow, Clips this through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 76.2 : C Morris to Stokes, Outside off, pushed straight to point. |
| 76.3 : C Morris to Stokes, Full and outside off, driven towards mid off. |
| 76.4 : C Morris to Stokes, Outside off, driven straight to cover. |
| 76.5 : C Morris to Stokes, The batsman has driven it through mid off. |
| 76.6 : C Morris to Stokes, Outside off, tapped through point for a single. |
| 77.1 : K Maharaj to Stokes, Full and outside off, swept powerfully through mid-wicket. Chris Morris makes a good sliding stop at the boundary. A single taken. |
| 77.2 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, Full again, watchfully defended. |
| 77.3 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, Full and around off, pushed down to Kagiso Rabada at long on for a run. |
| 77.4 : K Maharaj to Stokes, Tossed up a bit, Stokes, who is looking to size up Maharaj, comes down the track but is not to the pitch of the ball and defends. |
| 77.5 : K Maharaj to Stokes, Punches this down to long on for a single. |
| 77.6 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 78.1 : C Morris to Stokes, On a length on middle and leg, swinging in, flicked straight to Temba Bavuma at short mid-wicket. |
| 78.2 : C Morris to Stokes, Angles this away from the left-hander, outside off, Stokes lets it go. |
| 78.3 : C Morris to Stokes, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 78.4 : C Morris to Stokes, This is down the leg side, Stokes looks to tuck it away but misses. There seemed to be a noise as the ball went past but no one appealed. |
| 78.5 : C Morris to Stokes, This time he gets his tuck right and earns a single. |
| 78.6 : C Morris to Bairstow, Outside off, left alone. |
| 79.1 : K Maharaj to Stokes, Landed around off, Stokes stays back and defends. |
| 79.2 : K Maharaj to Stokes, A little bit of flight now, Ben comes down the track and pushes it towards short cover. |
| 79.3 : K Maharaj to Stokes, Lesser flight, this time BS goes back and works it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 79.4 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, Outside off, a touch short, punched straight to cover. |
| 79.5 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 79.6 : K Maharaj to Bairstow, Full and around middle and off, watchfully blocked out. |
| The second new ball is available now and THEY HAVE TAKEN IT. |
| Morne Morkel to start off with the second new ball. |
| 80.1 : M Morkel to Stokes, Full outside off and a slight hint of in swing, Stokes lets that go to the keeper. |
| 80.2 : M Morkel to Stokes, Full out swinging delivery too wide of off to draw a stroke from Stokes. |
| 80.3 : M Morkel to Stokes, This one's bowled fuller outside off, Stokes shoulders arms. It went on a bounce to de Kock. |
| 80.4 : M Morkel to Stokes, Back of length ball outside off, Stokes doesn't bother playing that. This carries at a good height to the keeper. |
| 80.5 : M Morkel to Stokes, Fuller ball outside off, BS leaves that alone. |
| 80.6 : M Morkel to Stokes, Full on middle, played back to the bowler. Maiden over, the first one with the second new ball. |
| Kagiso Rabada will share the second new ball from the other end. |
| 81.1 : K Rabada to Bairstow, Back of a length ball outside off, Bairstow punched that off the back foot straight to extra cover. |
| 81.2 : K Rabada to J Bairstow, Shortish ball outside off, Bairstow fends. The ball takes the outside half of the bat and runs towards the third man fence. Before Morkel chases it down, they complete a brace. |
| 81.3 : K Rabada to J Bairstow, Length ball on middle, driven to mid on. |
| 81.4 : K Rabada to J Bairstow, OUT! RABADA STRIKES WITH THE NEW BALL! Back of a length ball just outside off, nibbling away from the batter. Bairstow gets squared up as he hangs out his bat. The ball takes the outside edge and travels to second slip for a regulation catch. Du Plessis there takes a good low catch to his left to end Bairstow's stay at the crease. England in a spot of bother now as Rabada gets his second. |
| The bearded Moeen Ali comes in next. England would love a significant knock from him. |
| 81.5 : K Rabada to Ali, Full on middle and leg, played away to mid-wicket. |
| 81.6 : K Rabada to Ali, Length ball o off, played away towards point. |
| 82.1 : M Morkel to Stokes, Full ball outside off, Stokes shoulders arms. |
| 82.2 : M Morkel to Stokes, Bowled further up to the batsman, he plays it off the front foot into the ground. |
| 82.3 : M Morkel to Stokes, Length ball on middle, defended off the front foot by Ben. |
| 82.4 : M Morkel to Ben Stokes, Stokes gets an inside edge onto his pads of the length ball. As the ball rolls over to the leg side, they run one. |
| 82.5 : M Morkel to Ali, No run. |
| 82.6 : M Morkel to Ali, 1 run. |
| 83.1 : K Rabada to Ali, No run. |
| 83.2 : K Rabada to Ali, Length ball on middle and leg, played to mid-wicket. |
| 83.3 : K Rabada to Ali, That one's wide of the off stump and Ali leaves it alone. |
| 83.4 : K Rabada to Ali, Length ball on middle and off, defended off the front foot. |
| 83.5 : K Rabada to Ali, Back of a length ball on his pads, flicked away behind square on the leg side for a single. |
| 83.6 : K Rabada to Stokes, That's bowled outside off, the batsman fails to get bat on to that. |
| 84.1 : M Morkel to Ali, Bouncer on middle, Ali ducks and lets it go. |
| 84.2 : M Morkel to Ali, Fuller ball on middle and leg, played to mid on. |
| 84.3 : M Morkel to Ali, That's bowled well wide of the off stump, Ali leaves it alone. |
| 84.4 : M Morkel to M Ali, Back of length ball on middle and off, Ali looks to fend that. The ball takes the inside edge and hits his back thigh and goes on the bounce to the keeper. The impact on the thigh reduced the speed of the ball, which saved him there. |
| 84.5 : M Morkel to Ali, Length ball on middle and leg, played towards mid-wicket for a run. |
| 84.6 : M Morkel to Stokes, Good length ball just outside off, Stokes gets beaten. |
| 85.1 : K Rabada to Ali, FOUR! Length ball outside off, Ali looked to shoulder arms, but was late in doing so. The ball took the edge of the bat and went past the second slip and into the third man fence for a boundary. |
| 85.2 : K Rabada to Ali, Length ball outside off, Ali leaves it alone. |
| 85.3 : K Rabada to Ali, Length ball on middle and leg, played towards mid on. |
| 85.4 : K Rabada to Ali, Full ball on leg, it hits Ali low on his pads as he misses his flick. |
| Temba Bavuma is stationed at short leg. |
| 85.5 : K Rabada to Ali, Good length on middle, defended off the back foot from within the crease. |
| 85.6 : K Rabada to Ali, Half volley outside off, Ali drives it through cover-point. Maharaj who is at covers, gives a spirited chase, gets in the slide and saves a run for his side. THAT'S LUNCH, DAY TWO. |
| This session went a tad towards England as they scored 98 runs in 27 overs for the loss of Cook and Bairstow. It started off with Cook and Stokes resuming their vigil. Cook departed without another century to his name. Stokes has looked in terrific touch so far today, and these are ominous signs for South Africa. Bairstow looked fluent while he was out there, but he was dismissed due to the customary movement of the second new ball. |
| For the Proteas, Philander could be unfit to take field for the day as per reports. So that could be a blow to them, as he has looked incisive throughout his spell. Stokes and Ali would look to score big post lunch, while du Plessis' troop would scratch their minds to get rid of the English all-rounder. Join us in a while for what could be another exciting session. |
| ... DAY TWO, SESSION TWO ... |
| The players and the umpires have made their way out. Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali would look to do the run scoring. Morne Morkel to start off with the ball. South Africa would look to get that early breakthrough, which would enable them to bowl to the tail. |
| 86.1 : M Morkel to Ali, Length ball outside off, Ali shoulders arms. |
| 86.2 : M Morkel to Ali, Fuller ball on off, pushed to the cover region. |
| 86.3 : M Morkel to Ali, Length ball on off, Ali defends showing the full face of the bat. |
| 86.4 : M Morkel to Ali, Bouncer! But not well directed. Ali ducks under it and lets it go the keeper. |
| 86.5 : M Morkel to M Ali, Bowled on a length on off, driven to mid off. |
| 86.6 : M Morkel to Ali, Fractionally fuller this time, Ali collects a single through covers. |
| Kagiso Rabada with figures of 60-2 to bowl from the other end. |
| 87.1 : K Rabada to M Ali, Good length ball on off, Ali wanted to glide it towards third man. The ball took the edge and went towards point, where a misfield by Morris allows them a single. |
| 87.2 : K Rabada to Stokes, Straight on middle, Stokes plays it from within the crease. |
| 87.3 : K Rabada to Stokes, Back of length ball outside leg, Stokes flicks it away backward of square of the leg side for a run. |
| 87.4 : K Rabada to Ali, Length ball outside off, Ali doesn't bothers playing at that. |
| 87.5 : K Rabada to Ali, Fuller ball but outside off, Ali lets that go to the keeper. |
| 87.6 : K Rabada to Ali, Back of a length delivery outside off, Moeen punches that through covers off the back foot. They collect two before the fielder stops that and returns the throw. |
| Slight drizzle at the moment. |
| 88.1 : M Morkel to Ben Stokes, Length ball on off, driven towards mid off. No run there. |
| 88.2 : M Morkel to Stokes, Fuller ball on middle and leg, driven back to the bowler. He gets a hand to it and the ball rolls over besides the pitch. Ali was backing up and rushed to make it in. |
| 88.3 : M Morkel to Stokes, Length ball outside off played through point for a single. |
| 88.4 : M Morkel to Ali, That's a bumper on middle. Ali ducks under it. |
| 88.5 : M Morkel to Ali, Short ball, going harmlessly outside the off stump, Ali points the bat skywards and lets it go. |
| 88.6 : M Morkel to Ali, Bowled short from around the wicket on middle and leg, Ali ducks under it. |
| 89.1 : K Rabada to Stokes, Full ball on middle and leg, flicked on the leg side for a single. |
| 89.2 : K Rabada to Ali, Back of a length ball outside off, Moeen lets that through to the keeper. |
| 89.3 : K Rabada to Ali, Back of a length on off, Ali jumps and plays it with soft hands besides the pitch towards point. They cross over for a quick single. |
| 89.4 : K Rabada to Stokes, Bowled on a good length on off, Stokes looked to play it towards covers. The extra bounce meant that the ball hit him high on the bat and went to the right of covers for a single. |
| 89.5 : K Rabada to Ali, Ali has to face some chin music here. Bouncer on off and middle, Ali sways away from the line. |
| 89.6 : K Rabada to Ali, Length ball on off, Ali plays it to the left of covers. They take one before the mid off fielder gets to the ball. |
| 90.1 : M Morkel to Ali, Back of a length ball from round the wicket on off, the ball hits MA high on his thigh and lobs towards slip cordon. |
| 90.2 : M Morkel to Ali, Good length outside off, Ali gets beaten as he tries to drive that towards mid off. |
| A caught behind decision is referred upstairs. The umpire gave it not out, but the South Africans seemed convinced and opted for a review. |
| 90.3 : M Morkel to Ali, OUT! Moeen Ali's stay at the crease comes to an end. Morkel was bowling probing lines, Ali couldn't help but had to play at that. A good length ball outside off and coming into him, he looks to defend off the front foot. The ball passes from the inside half of the bat and goes through to de Kock. The South Africans appeal for a caught behind, which the onfield umpire Joel Wilson denies. The Proteas go upstairs, and multiple replays show a spike as the bat passed the bat. A |
| Debutant Toby Roland-Jones walks in at the fall of the 7th wicket. |
| 90.4 : M Morkel to Roland-Jones, Full on middle and off, Roland-Jones defends it off the front foot. |
| 90.5 : M Morkel to Roland-Jones, Length ball outside off has been offered no shot. |
| 90.6 : M Morkel to Roland-Jones, Another leave by Toby to a length ball outside off. |
| 91.1 : K Rabada to Stokes, Length ball on off and middle, that stayed low as Stokes defended it to the off side. |
| 91.2 : K Rabada to Stokes, Length ball outside off, Stokes lets that go to the keeper. |
| 91.3 : K Rabada to Stokes, Another ball outside off left alone. |
| 91.4 : K Rabada to Stokes, Back of a length ball hits Stokes on the thigh pads. They cross over for a leg bye. |
| 91.5 : K Rabada to Roland-Jones, Toby lets that ball outside off go through the keeper. |
| 91.6 : K Rabada to Roland-Jones, Roland-Jones gets going in Tests with a flick towards square leg. The length ball on middle and leg is played on the leg side for a couple. |
| 92.1 : M Morkel to Stokes, No run. |
| 92.2 : M Morkel to Stokes, Again Stokes shoulders arms to that length ball outside off. |
| 92.3 : M Morkel to Stokes, Fuller ball on off, Ben defends it off the back foot. |
| 92.4 : M Morkel to Stokes, Back of a length ball on off, Stokes collects a single by playing it on the off side. |
| 92.5 : M Morkel to Roland-Jones, Bouncer on off and middle, TRJ ducks under that. |
| 92.6 : M Morkel to Roland-Jones, Full and down the leg side, the debutant tries to flick and misses. |
| Chris Morris into the attack now. |
| 93.1 : C Morris to Stokes, Length ball outside off, Stokes goes for the swish and misses. |
| 93.2 : C Morris to Stokes, Bowled on a good length outside off, stokes doesn't bother playing. |
| 93.3 : C Morris to Stokes, What was that! Short ball outside off, Stokes tries to fetch that and play it on the on side, albeit with a half mind. He ends up getting it off the toe end of the bat and lobs towards mid off aerially. They take a quick run. |
| 93.4 : C Morris to Roland-Jones, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 93.5 : C Morris to Roland-Jones, FOUR! Poor ball and duly punished! That was a length ball on his pads angling down the leg side. All Roland-Jones had to do was get bat to ball, which he did, and collected a boundary through fine leg. |
| 93.6 : C Morris to Roland-Jones, Similar ball by Morris, this time tucked away to fine leg for a single. |
| 94.1 : M Morkel to Roland-Jones, Length ball outside off, TRJ lets that go. |
| 94.2 : M Morkel to T Roland-Jones, FOUR! WHAT A SHOT BY A NUMBER 9! That was pitched up outside off upto the batsman, he drives that through mid off with a straight bat. The ball doesn't delay rushing into the fence. |
| 94.3 : M Morkel to Roland-Jones, Fuller ball on off, driven towards mid off. |
| 94.4 : M Morkel to Roland-Jones, The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. |
| 94.5 : M Morkel to Roland-Jones, No run. |
| 94.6 : M Morkel to Roland-Jones, No run. |
| 95.1 : C Morris to Stokes, FOUR. |
| 95.2 : C Morris to Stokes, Length ball outside off, carved through points for a couple. |
| 95.3 : C Morris to Stokes, Length ball on off, pushed towards covers for a single. |
| 95.4 : C Morris to Roland-Jones, FOUR. |
| 95.5 : C Morris to Roland-Jones, No run. |
| 95.6 : C Morris to Roland-Jones, SIX. |
| 96.1 : K Rabada to Stokes, 1 run. |
| 96.2 : K Rabada to Roland-Jones, The batsman has driven it straight down the ground. |
| 96.3 : K Rabada to Roland-Jones, Fuller ball defended from within the crease. |
| 96.4 : K Rabada to Roland-Jones, No run. |
| 96.5 : K Rabada to T Roland-Jones, FOUR. |
| 96.6 : K Rabada to Roland-Jones, No run. |
| Keshav Maharaj to bowl his left arm orthodox. |
| 97.1 : K Maharaj to Stokes, 1 run. |
| 0.0 : The umpires have got together in the middle and are checking the shape of the ball. The umpires didn't check it with the rings that they generally use to check its shape. |
| 97.2 : K Maharaj to Roland-Jones, OUT! Maharaj strikes, Toby Roland-Jones is a sitting duck against that ball. That was an arm ball on middle, which skidded through. The batsman prodded forward in defense and missed the ball completely as the ball thudded on to the pads. The South Africans appealed and Aleem Dar raised the dreaded finger. TRJ thought of a review and decided against it. England lose their eighth. |
| Stuart Broad strides in at the fall of the 8th wicket. |
| 97.3 : K Maharaj to Broad, A full toss to welcome Broad, which he can smash it only as far as the cover fielder. |
| 97.4 : K Maharaj to Broad, Floated on off and middle, Broad defends it on to the ground. |
| 97.5 : K Maharaj to Broad, No run. |
| 97.6 : K Maharaj to Broad, No run. |
| 98.1 : K Rabada to Stokes, 1 run. |
| 98.2 : K Rabada to Broad, Broad shoulders arms to that ball outside off. |
| 98.3 : K Rabada to Broad, Back of a length ball on off, defended from within the crease. |
| 98.4 : K Rabada to Broad, Bouncer on middle, Broads picks it early and ducks under that. |
| 98.5 : K Rabada to Broad, Length ball outside off, played towards point for a single. |
| 98.6 : K Rabada to Stokes, FOUR. |
| Drinks have been taken. |
| 99.1 : K Maharaj to Broad, Full and outside off, pushed straight to point. |
| 0.0 : 'Vernon Philander has been taken to hospital for tests - it appears considerably more serious that the "upset stomach" initially diagnosed' tweets Neil Manthorp. Oh dear... |
| 99.2 : K Maharaj to Broad, IS THAT OUT? Aleem Dar shakes his head. Full and outside off, Broad lunges to defend but misses. The ball goes off the pads to slip and South Africa claim a catch but then do not take the review. Replays detect no inside edge. |
| 99.3 : K Maharaj to Broad, Goes back and works it through square leg for a single. |
| 99.4 : K Maharaj to Stokes, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 99.5 : K Maharaj to Stokes, SIX! HUMONGOUS! What a shot that is! That has come from absolutely nowhere. South Africa have 5 fielders at the boundary and three of them are on the leg side. But Stokes backs himself against this flighted delivery outside off, gets down and mows it over long on! And it is dropped in the crowd... |
| 99.6 : K Maharaj to Stokes, Full and outside off, pushed towards cover. Broad looks to give Stokes the strike but is sent back. No run there. |
| 100.1 : K Rabada to Broad, Not what the Proteas would have liked. An easy single to Broad. He just tucks this through mid-wicket and kicks off for a single. |
| 100.2 : K Rabada to Stokes, Full and down the leg side, flicked towards fine leg for a run. |
| 100.3 : K Rabada to Broad, OUT! Edged and taken! Broad walks. Rabada has his third. This dismissal can be attributed to the last over from Rabada. He bowled a lot of short stuff and Broad was perhaps expecting another short one. But this is full and outside off and just swings away a bit. Broad is late in his flick and gets an outside edge which carries nicely to Hashim Amla at first slip who takes it nicely to his right. |
| JAMES ANDERSON is the last man in. Can he hang around to help Stokes to his ton? |
| 100.4 : K Rabada to Anderson, A short ball outside off, Anderson sways away. |
| 100.5 : K Rabada to Anderson, Full and straight, nicely played back to the bowler. The crowd appreciates that fully, it does want Stokesy to get to his century. |
| 100.6 : K Rabada to Anderson, CLOSE SHAVE! On a good length around off, Jimmy feels for it and the ball comes back in a long away. The ball just beats the outside edge. |
| 101.1 : K Maharaj to Stokes, Landed outside off, punched down to long on. Does not take the single. |
| 101.2 : K Maharaj to Stokes, CAUGHT BUT SIX! Oh poor Faf. Some luck for Stokes. This is full and outside off, Stokes gets down and mows it over widish long on. Faf du Plessis has placed himself o perfection and the ball travels straight to him. He takes the catch but the momentum takes him back. And he touches the ropes! The umpire checks it upstairs and eventually raises his arms. |
| 101.3 : K Maharaj to Stokes, SIX! IMPERIOUS! 5TH TEST TON FOR STOKES! He was destined for this, wasn't he? Floated wide outside off, Stokes doesn't care. Gets down, reaches out and slogs it many a mile over long on! He is pumped up, as he takes off his helmet and celebrates his century. What a knock. |
| 101.4 : K Maharaj to Stokes, SIX! Make that three in a row! Maharaj keeps looping up the ball and Stokes keeps attacking. Gets down again and mows it over mid-wicket. |
| 101.5 : K Maharaj to Stokes, This is well wide outside off, Ben thinks of going after this one too but then lets it go. He asks the umpire about the wide but Aleem Dar shakes his head. |
| 101.6 : K Maharaj to Stokes, No run. |
| 102.1 : K Rabada to Anderson, 1 run. |
| 102.2 : K Rabada to Ben Stokes, Pushes this to long on but does not take the run. |
| 102.3 : K Rabada to Stokes, The batsman goes after this one but misses the line completely. |
| 102.4 : K Rabada to Stokes, Banged in short, Ben mistimes his pull through mid-wicket. |
| 102.5 : K Rabada to Stokes, The batsman has played it to the point region. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 102.6 : K Rabada to Anderson, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| MORNE MORKEL is back on. Faf will want to finish this off now. |
| 103.1 : M Morkel to Stokes, A short ball on middle, pulled through mid-wicket. They realize late that there is a couple available and eventually make it through. |
| 103.2 : M Morkel to Stokes, OUT! Stokes holes out and that is the end of the innings. A length ball outside off, Stokes backs away and swings hard. All he manages is a top edge which goes straight up in the air. Kagiso Rabada comes running in from long off and completes the formalities. ENGLAND HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT FOR 353! |
| England get to what seemed an unlikely score, when they lost their middle order without great scores. But Stokes, with the help of important contributions from Cook, Bairstow and the debutant Roland-Jones ensured that they pass the 350-run mark.The all-rounder played a top knock to help England post a decent total on board. |
| What didn't help the visitors was that Philander couldn't take the field in this session. He was their most economical bowler and mighty effective too. Though Rabada returned with three scalps, he couldn't stop the dangerous Stokes. Morris had an off day today. Join us in a while for the South African innings. |
Google +
Facebook
Twitter
Whatsapp