Published: Jul 28, 2017, 11:33 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 28, 2017, 11:39 PM (IST)
South Africa were blown away by Toby Roland-Jones and James Anderson in the evening session of Day Two at The Oval. At stumps, South Africa are 126 for 8; trailing England by 227 runs and need another 28 to avoid follow-on. The last session created enough ruckus for the visitors with Roland-Jones accuracy and regular breakthroughs ensuring South Africa being kept at bay. Their famed batting line-up, comprising of Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock, fell like ninepins and have a humongous task to inject life into this contest.
South Africa were 18 for 1 at tea. Roland-Jones had got a faint edge from Elgar’s blade. However, he was far from being done. He continued to bowl in the right channels and got the odd one to move in, posing enough questions in the batsmen’s minds. He kept it straight, bowled a good length and picked up wickets at will. Amla was forced to poke at one outside off, de Kock managed a leading edge to gully and Heino Kuhn paid the penalty of playing across to be adjudged lbw.
In one fiery spell Tony Roland-Jones responded to Joe Root’s decision of introducing him in the seventh over. Root replaced James Anderson from one end and ensured regular dents to South Africa’s camp. And when he made way for Anderson, the senior man joined the fun as well, taking out du Plessis and Chris Morris. While Faf offered no shot and was plumbed in front, Morris handed a simple return catch back.
Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada showed some resistance with a 53-run stand for the eight wicket. Then Stuart Broad cleaned up Rabada by a peach of a delivery. With Vernon Philander in hospital due to stomach bug, Morne Morkel joined Bavuma in the middle. They survived till stumps.
South Africa will have to reach 154 to make England bat again. The target is still 28 away. However, since South Africa batted till stumps, there is a chance that they may get Philander the batsman in action tomorrow.
Brief scores:
England 353 (Alastair Cook 88, Ben Stokes 112, Jonny Bairstow 36; Morne Morkel 3 for 70, Kagiso Rabada 3 for 85, Vernon Philander 2 for 32) lead South Africa 126 for 8 (Temba Bavuma 32*, Kagiso Rabada 30; Toby Roland-Jones 4 for 39, James Anderson 2 for 16) by 227 runs.
