SA 329/5 in 90 overs│Live Cricket Score, South Africa vs England 2015-16, 4th Test at Centurion, Day 1: South Africa finish with momentum on their side
SA 329/5 in 90 overs│Live Cricket Score, South Africa vs England 2015-16, 4th Test at Centurion, Day 1: South Africa finish with momentum on their side
Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s live coverage of the opening day of the fourth and final Test at Centurion on Friday. This is Amit Banerjee, and I shall keep you updated with the events of the match as and when they happen. England have already claimed the series 2-0 with a crushing seven-wicket victory over the hosts in the third Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, thanks to a game-changing spell by Stuart Broad (6 for 17) that resulted in South Africa getting shot out for a lowly 83 in their second innings. The AB de Villiers-led South Africa would hope to put up a better fight in the upcoming fixture at Centurion in order to regain some pride. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa vs England 2015-16, 4th Test at Centurion, Day 1
Here’s the report from Day’s play
LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa 329/5 in 90 overs: BATTING: Temba Bavuma 32(53), Quinton de Kock 25(31): A fantastic partnership between Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock has quelled worries of a disastrous collapse for the South Africans. They were cruising at one stage but a spree of four wickets on a trot brought South Africa’s hopes of a truly gigantic total under jeopardy but now with Bavuma playing so well and having Quinton de Kock’s support at the other end, they will go to stumps with a sense of confidence. Bavuma played some beautiful shots towards the ending stages of the day to seize momentum from England.
LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa 283/5 in 80 overs: BATTING: Temba Bavuma 9(16), Quinton de Kock 3(8): FOUR! Duminy smashes a full-toss through midwicket off Moeen Ali to get his second boundary of the innings. Consecutive boundaries off the following over by Anderson, with nine runs coming off it. BOWLED! Cook’s dream debut innings comes to an end as he drags a rising delivery outside off onto his leg-stump off an inside edge. Departs for 115, with the disappontment visible on his face, as Chris Woakes gets his first wicket of the innings! Temba Bavuma comes out to bat now! OUT! Duminy departs now, getting trapped off an Ali delivery that straightens and skids on towards the batsman, hitting him just on the left leg while attempting a slog over midwicket. South Africa facing a bit of a collapse right now. OUT! Stephen Cook b Chris Woakes 115(218), JP Duminy lbw Moeen Ali 16(31)
LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa 251/3 in 70 overs: BATTING: Stephen Cook 107(202), JP Duminy 4(11): EDGED! Amla gets an outside edge off Broad, but the ball lands just short of skipper Alastair Cook in the slips, causing Stuart Broad to exclaim “You’re joking” in frustration. Meanwhile, Cook survives a run-out scare a couple of deliveries later. OUT! Amla’s innings comes to an end after he gets an inside edge off a Stokes delivery just outside off that directs the ball onto his leg-stump! End of the solid 202-run 2nd-wicket partnership, as Amla departs for 109. Cook is batting through the nervous 90s at the moment, as skipper AB de Villiers arrives at the crease. OUT! AB goes for a two-ball duck in front of his home crowd! CENTURY FOR STEPHEN COOK ON DEBUT! Cook becomes the 100th batsman, the fourth-oldest and sixth South African to score a century on debut. Reaches the milestone in 187 deliveries, including 12 boundaries. Cook takes off his helmet and raises his bat, with father and former Proteas player Jimmy Cook watching proudly along with mother, other family members as well as the local supporters! OUT! Hashim Amla b Ben Stokes 109 (169), AB de Villiers c Joe Root b Stuart Broad 0(2)
ALERT: Play resumes at the SuperSport Park at the start of the final session of Day 1.
ALERT: Start of play after tea has been delayed due to wet outfield, caused due to a burst water-pipe. The players are back in the pavilion, as the match officials assess the situation at the moment.
LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa 224/1 in 58 overs: BATTING: Stephen Cook 91(167), Hashim Amla 102(145): And it is tea at Centurion with South Africa firmly on top thanks to a hundred from Hashim Amla and what seems to be an approaching ton from debutant Stephen Cook. Both batsmen have been absolutely fantastic and apart from an early dropped catch by skipper Alastair Cook to give Amla a reprieve, the innings have been flawless.
LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa 212/1 in 50 overs: BATTING: Stephen Cook 83(142), Hashim Amla 98(122): FOUR! Despatched through midwicket off the first ball of the 41st over by Stokes. FOUR! Amla at it again, this time off Moeen Ali towards deep square-leg! FOUR! Amla seems to be executing the strokes right now, pulling a short delivery towards midwicket, where the ball beats a diving Root to kiss the boundary rope. Meanwhile, Amla brings up the 150-run partnership with Cook with a boundary off the third ball of the 45th over. FOUR! Amla enters the nervous 90s with a cover drive off Moeen! FOUR! Cook enters the 80’s now with a chinese cut off James Anderson!
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LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa 162/1 in 40 overs: BATTING: Stephen Cook 68(118), Hashim Amla 63(85): CONSECUTIVE FOURS! Amla is timing the ball impeccably at the moment, sending two half-volleys from Woakes in the 31st over through cover and point aside from four leg byes to collect 12 runs off the over. DROPPED! Broad created the opportunity for England to get their breakthrough, with Cook edging a length delivery to Bairstow behind the stumps. The England wicketkeeper dives to his right, but fails to collect the catch as Cook gets a couple of runs in the process to move to 49. FOUR! Stephen Cook brings up his half-century on debut with a drive that sends the ball past point, much to the pride of his parents, other family members as well as the local crowd! FOUR! And now it’s Amla’s turn to bring up his half-century. Beautiful drive off Woakes to bring up his 29th Test fifty. Meanwhile, the partnership between the two is in excess of 100 at the moment. FOUR! Cook is batting in the 60’s now, with the prospect of a ton on Test debut looking fresh now!
BREAKING NEWS: Stuart Broad replaces the injured Liam Plunkett in the England squad for the upcoming five-match ODI series.
LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa 107/1 in 29 overs: BATTING: Stephen Cook 46(91), Hashim Amla 34(47): LUNCH! It is the end of the first session with South Africa making an inspired start to this must-win Test. England tried hard with their specialist fast bowlers but it was Moeen Ali who got them the breakthrough with the new ball. But a strong 72-run stand between Stephen Cook and Hashim Amla has put the South Africans in a good position. Read the lunch report here.
LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa 96/1 in 25 overs: BATTING: Stephen Cook 41(71), Hashim Amla 29(43): FOUR! Flamboyant use of wrists by Cook as he sends the ball heading towards his pads through wide mid-on for a four! FOUR! Amla plays a beautiful cover drive off Woakes in the same over, before completing the 50-run stand with Cook in the following over. FOUR! Such elegance Cook is displaying at the moment, especially in his timing! Sends the full-length delivery through midwicket off a flick! FOUR! Amla too is in stellar form at the moment, executing a cover drive off Anderson with finesse!
LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa 71/1 in 20 overs: BATTING: Stephen Cook 30(56), Hashim Amla 15(28): OUT! And it’s James Taylor’s brilliant work at short-leg that gets England their first breakthrough of the morning once again! The dismissal is reviewed by the umpire after Taylor appears to juggle with the ball, before finally trapping it between his legs to prevent it from touching the grass. Ali gets the important breakthrough again, though this time we hope Amla consolidates with Cook! Chris Woakes comes in to bowl his first over of the innings in the 12th over, and would have had a maiden had it not been for a wide bouncer. FOUR! Cook drives with flair a half-volley wide of off-stump from Woakes between cover and point! FOUR ! Stephen Cook brings up the 50 for South Africa in the 16th over! Cook is batting superbly at the moment, and is beginning to deliver on the massive expectations that he faces right now. DROPPED! Alastair Cook drops Hashim Amla, who is batting on 5, in the slips off Ben Stokes! OUT! Dean Elgar c James Taylor b Moeen Ali 20(36)
LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa 35/0 in 10 overs: BATTING: Stephen Cook 15(28), Dean Elgar 20(32): FOUR! Stephen Cook gets off the mark with a beautiful flick towards square-leg that pierces the gap. Elgar followes suit, with nine runs coming off the first over bowled by James Anderson. Single! Short delivery from Broad, which Elgar plays defensively towards fine-leg to collect a single. The new-ball duo of Anderson and Broad are getting a decent pace and bounce at the moment. The next few overs witness a dry run, as Cook and Elgar bat cautiously against the rain of bouncers. Elgar however, breaks the monotoniety with a majestic pull off a short-of-length delivery from Broad towards midwicket in the penultimate delivery of the eighth over. FOUR! Cook gets his second boundary, guiding the short delivery from Broad down towards fine-leg.
Teams:
South Africa: Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers (c), JP Duminy, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Kagiso Rabada, Dane Piedt, Kyle Abbott, Morne Morkel.
England: Alastair Cook (c), Alex Hales, Nick Compton, Joe Root, James Taylor, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
Toss: South Africa win the toss and elect to bat.
England skipper Alastair Cook however, has urged the visitors to go all guns blazing for the final game, and not settle for anything less than a 3-0 series margin. Thus, it won’t be surprising if England choose to retain their winning combination from the third Test, with the exception of the injured Steven Finn. The lanky pacer, who has been ruled out as a result of a side strain, will be expected to be replaced by either Chris Woakes or Chris Jordan, with the former being the favourite in this case. PREVIEW: South Africa vs England 2015-16, 4th Test at Centurion
South Africa, on the other hand, have made a few additions to their squad, and have also released a few members. Uncapped sensation Stephen Cook is expected to finally make his big debut in the upcoming game in place of the under-fire Stiaan van Zyl, while Kyle Abbott and Quinton de Kock are expected to replace Hardus Viljoen and Dane Vilas, both of whom have been released for domestic duty.
Squads:
South Africa: AB de Villiers (c), Hashim Amla, Kyle Abbott, Temba Bavuma, JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, Stiaan van Zyl, Hardus Viljoen.
England: Alastair Cook (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jos Buttler (wk), Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Nick Compton, Steven Finn, Mark Footitt, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Samit Patel, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, Chris Woakes.