29 Aug ENGLAND WELL AHEAD AFTER ANOTHER TOUGH DAY FOR PROTEAS
MANCHESTER: Openers Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee survived a tricky period late on day two as the Proteas faced an uphill battle in the second Test against England at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday.
After their poor first innings batting performance that yielded just 151, the South Africans struggled to make many significant inroads with the ball through the day on their way to conceding 415 for nine declared – a deficit of 264.
By stumps that gap was reduced marginally to 241 with the tourists closing on 23 for none. Captain Elgar was unbeaten on 11 and fellow opener Erwee was with him for company on 12, both men knowing they faced a big challenge ahead on day three.
The day had started out with England batting on 111 for three. Anrich Nortje, the pick of the bowlers with three for 82, struck relatively early by taking out the in-form Jonny Bairstow (49) and Zak Crawley (38) to leave the home side in a small spot of bother on 147 for five.
They were still trailing at that stage, but from there it was mainly England’s day, and in particular memorable performances from their skipper Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.
Both hit centuries with the former striking 103 and the latter an unbeaten 113. They put together a sixth-wicket partnership of 173 to take the game away from South Africa, who were well behind by the time Kagiso Rabada (2/110) ended the stand.
Spinners Keshav Maharaj (2/78) and Simon Harmer (1/73) were the other wicket-takers on the day for their side, before the hosts eventually declared.
That left a testing nine overs for Elgar and Erwee but the pair did well to negotiate James Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Jack Leach, ensuring the Proteas will at least resume on the third morning with all 10 wickets intact.
Proteas Test squad against England
Dean Elgar (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Marco Jansen (Gbets Warriors), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Gbets Warriors), Keegan Petersen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kagiso Rabada (Imperial Lions), Ryan Rickelton (Imperial Lions), Lutho Sipamla (Imperial Lions), Rassie van der Dussen (Imperial Lions), Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper, Six Gun Grill Western Province), Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Glenton Stuurman (Gbets Warriors).
South Africa Test Tour to England Itinerary
Four-Day Tour Match
09 – 12 August
Lions beat South Africa by an innings and 56 runs – The Spitfire Ground St Lawrence, Canterbury
Tests
17 – 21 August
England lost to South Africa by an innings and 12 runs – Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
25 – 29 August
England vs South Africa – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
08 – 12 September
England vs South Africa – Kia Oval, London
ENDS
ABOUT CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA
Cricket South Africa (CSA), an affiliate of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), is the national governing body for the sport of cricket in South Africa and administers all aspects of South African cricket, men and women, both in the professional and amateur spheres.