A Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes partnership had set England up for a massive 241-run lead over South Africa in Manchester on Friday.
The pair spearheaded England’s batting attack to combine for a boisterous 173-run partnership against what was a flat South African bowling defence. The Proteas concluded the second day on 23-0.
Just shy of his half-century, Jonny Bairstow was caught for 49 at first slip after snicking a sharp-paced delivery from Anrich Nortje early in the day, in their 34th over.
Nortje maintained his consistency to bowl tight lines at a fine pace to pick off Zak Crawley for 38 precisely two overs later. Crawley edged it to Kyle Verreynne to claim behind off-stump.
In the 55th over, Foakes, who’d been forming a stern partnership with Stokes, survived an LBW dismissal after successfully reviewing it. The ball tracker showed the ball pitching just outside leg stump, so their partnership continued.
England were well-placed on 212-5 at lunch, having held a 61-run lead after 56 overs.
Stokes and Foakes looked unbreakable in the next session, and even more so after the former was given out for an LBW in the 75th over, but upon reviewing it immediately, the replay had clearly shown he had gotten a bat to the ball first.
The Proteas’ desperation to crack the pair was evident when, in the 85th over, Nortje decided to review a possible LBW on Stokes, but with the ball clearly going down leg it was not to be. Frustration among the South Africans was rife.
It was a wicket-less session for SA after lunch as England went into tea after 86 overs on 308-5.
Stokes reached his 12th Test century, and fourth against SA, in the 88th over as England continued to nail down their authority on the game.
Finally, Rabada was responsible for breaking the 173-run Stokes/Foakes partnership when Stokes swiped at a good length delivery to top-edge the ball high up for Elgar to take at cover. The astute all-rounder departed for a solid 103.
Tailender Stuart Broad departed for 21 in the 95th over when he nicked an outward spin from Simon Harmer to Verreynne to claim.
Foakes reached his century in the 102nd over, his second Test century of his career. However, a few balls later Ollie Robinson was sent walking for 17 after nicking the ball to the slips. Keshav Maharaj took the spoils. Maharaj then bowled Jack Leach for 11 in the 107th over, which led to England declaring for 415-9, taking a 264-run lead.
Foakes did a sterling job with the bat, scoring 113* (217).
Sarel Erwee (12) and Elgar (11) finished the day’s play to kick-start SA’s in their second innings.
Photo by David Davies/PA Wire/BackpagePix
