Published: Jan 25, 2020, 12:33 AM (IST)
Edited: Jan 25, 2020, 12:33 AM (IST)
England openers Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley laid a solid foundation for the visitors with a 107-run opening partnership before bowlers bring back South Africa into the contest with quick strikes on the first day of the fourth and final Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday.
Holding an unbeatable 2-1 series lead, England were 192/4 when bad light ended a rain-shortened day.
After the first session was washed out, England won the toss and chose to bat. The openers dominated the opening session and at Tea, England were 100/0. Crawley (66 off 112 balls) was the more adventurous of the two, hitting 11 fours, while Sibley was on 44.
It didn’t take South Africa long to get the breakthrough after Tea. Beuran Hendricks forced Sibley to edge one to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock in the third over of the second session, thus picking up his maiden Test wicket.
South Africa made a good comeback in the final session, reducing England to 192/4 at stumps.
Joe Root is unbeaten on 25, with Ollie Pope keeping him company on 22.#SAvENG SCORECARD: https://t.co/fSsfDFTCrE pic.twitter.com/2E5Ordv8go
— ICC (@ICC) January 24, 2020
South Africa kept England in check after that with Crawley falling an over later to Vernon Philander. Joe Denly then edged Dane Paterson to Faf du Plessis in slips while Anrich Nortje dismissed Ben Stokes. Stokes had a few words with the crowd before going down the tunnel.
England at a slightly precarious 157 for four but captain Joe Root and Ollie Pope took the tourists safely through to the close in deteriorating light.
Skipper Root and last match’s centurion Pope shared an unbroken 35-run stand which helped England saw through to an early end of the day after the umpires took the players off due to bad light.
Brief scores: England 192/4 (Zak Crawley 66, Dom Sibley 44; Vernon Philander 1/37)
