South Africa took a 124-run lead on day two against England at Lord’s on Thursday, courtesy of aggressive bowling and solid batting.
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A mere five overs into the day Kagiso Rabada claimed the big one, Ollie Pope’s wicket. Pope dragged the ball on to his leg stump, getting bowled for 73. This was the wicket South Africa really wanted to start today’s session, as their dismantling of the English batting line-up continued.
Runs came in rather steadily in the ensuing overs, as England attempted to salvage their chances. However, Rabada struck again in the 39th over when Stuart Broad sliced a slower ball to point to be caught for 15.
It was Marco Jansen’s turn to strike next, bowling Jack Leach on off-stump for 15 in the 44th over.
England’s tail were finished off in the very next over when Rabada claimed his 5-for, picking off James Anderson for a duck courtesy of an LBW.
The hosts were bowled out for 165 as Rabada produced exemplary figures of 5/52. He was backed up sternly by Anrich Nortje (3/63) and Jansen (2/30).
SA’s openers – Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee – got off to a slow and steady start, before Elgar was given out for an edge in the eighth over, but upon immediately reviewing it he evidently hadn’t made any contact with the ball, which resulted in the decision being overturned. SA were on 27-0 at lunch after 12 overs.
The pair stood strong until Elgar got bowled from a real sense of fortune, as a ball fumbled past his thigh pad and on to his wickets from an Anderson delivery. Elgar got picked off for 47, just short of his half-century.
Some optimism arose for England when Matthew Potts bowled a sublime fourth-stump line to Keegan Petersen, who snicked the ball to the third slip to be caught out for 24. At tea, the Proteas were on 158/2 and trailing by seven runs.
Erwee was picked off in the 55th over when he gloved the ball upwards to be caught behind for 73. Van der Dussen was then sent walking for an LBW for 19 in the 57th over from Ben Stokes. Van der Dussen reviewed it, but it was to no avail, as the tracker clearly showed the ball hitting in line.
Kyle Verreynne snicked a beamer from Broad, with a hint of movement, in the 63rd over, to be sent packing for 11, as England too were making some headway with ball in hand. With the sun beginning to set, Keshav Maharaj hooked a ball to midwicket to be caught for 41 from a Ben Stokes delivery.
As the dust settled, Jansen and Rabada rested at the crease at the close of play.
Photo: Adam Davy/PA Wire/Backpagepix
