LONDON: England’s bowlers struck telling early blows to remove three South Africa batsmen as the touring side struggled to 25 for three from 13 overs at tea on the fourth day of the first Test at Lord’s, 306 runs short of their victory target.
Only three teams have won a Test match by chasing more than 300 at the home of cricket, and the size of the task became clear when Heino Kuhn (9) and captain Dean Elgar (1) both fell with the score on 12.
Test debutant Kuhn, who managed just a single in the first innings, fell to an excellent one-handed catch by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow after he edged a ball from Jimmy Anderson down the leg side.
Elgar drove the ball straight back to Moeen Ali, who took a sharp return catch.
Hashim Amla remained South Africa’s best hope but they suffered another blow in the final over before tea when JP Duminy pulled Mark Wood to Moeen at mid-wicket.
Earlier, England were dismissed in their second innings for 233.
Combative batting by Bairstow, who had been dropped off a simple chance to Vernon Philander on seven, and tail-ender Wood helped England push their lead past 300 as South Africa’s bowlers struggled to match their early success.
Bairstow and Wood shared a ninth-wicket partnership of 45 before the Durham paceman was bowled by Kagiso Rabada for 28 off 36 balls.
With last-man Anderson at the wicket, Bairstow reached his fifty before falling one run later, stumped by Quinton de Kock off Keshav Maharaj, who claimed his fourth wicket of the innings. — Reuters
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