Having dismissed England for a modest total of 165, South Africa are consolidating their innings, having reached a total of 138 for two shortly before tea on the second day of the first Test. Sarel Erwee was unbeaten on 56 and Petersen had been dismissed after edging Matthew Potts for 24.
The tourists’ innings got off to a fine start with Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee, as both batsmen picked up runs steadily. While Erwee seemed to look for opportunities for singles and twos, Elgar played more forcefully which eventually brought him eight fours. Their innings began just under an hour before lunch and after showing some early caution, both batsmen played more freely.
They took the score to 85 before the breakthrough came for England in the 23rd over when 40-year-old James Anderson claimed Elgar’s wicket for 47. The batsman was unlucky as the ball hit his forearm and went behind his legs to trickle on to the stumps.
Keegan Petersen then joined Elgar and once again a good partnership seemed to develop. Erwee brought up his first Test half century from 89 balls with his sixth four which came from a drive to cover point off Stuart Broad. He has a Test hundred which was scored against New Zealand and he averaged 30 prior to this Test match. Both Batsmen continued to bat with confidence in the late afternoon sunshine.
Earlier, the England batting fared no better than on the first day with the four overnight wickets falling for 49 within the first hour’s play. Kagiso Rabada, who had two of the six that fell on the first day added three more to finish with a tally of five for 52 from 19 overs and registered his name on the honours board at the HQ.
England’s hopes rested on Ollie Pope to boost the England overnight total of 116 for six as he was on 61 overnight and showing good form. But he could only add 12 runs to his score before chopping on a ball from Rabada on to his stumps to bring an end to his 102-ball innings and that was seven wickets down for 134.
In his next over Rabada had Stuart Broad, on 15, held at point from a strange looking shot when he reached for the ball to scoop it up and the eighth wicket had fallen on 145. Broad has played some useful innings before, including hitting a century on this ground but with his departure there was little else to come.
Nineteen runs later Jack Leach, with 15, played on to a ball from Marco Jansen and finally Rabada mopped up the England innings for 165. South Africa’s bowling had been most commendable, it was well controlled in line and direction. Apart from Rabada’s fine effort, Anrich Nortje bowled well for his three for 63.
SCOREBOARD
England first innings
A Lees c Verreynne b Rabada 5
Z Crawley c Markram b Rabada 9
O Pope b Rabada 73
J Root lbw Jansen 8
J Bairstow b Nortje 0
B Stokes c Petersen b Nortje 20
B Foakes b Nortje 6
S Broad c Elgar b Rabada 15
M Potts not out 6
J Leach b Jansen 15
J Anderson b Rabada 0
Extras (b1, lb7) 8
Total (all out, 45 overs, 206 mins) 165
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-25, 3-42, 4-55, 5-100, 6-116, 7-134, 8-145, 9-164
Bowling: Rabada 19-3-52-5; Ngidi 5-1-12-0; Jansen 8-1-30-2; Nortje 13-2-63-3
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