The second day of the second England-South Africa Test belonged to the home team as the ‘Bens’ dominated the Proteas attack. Captain Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes both hit hundreds to help England declare their first innings on 415/9.
South Africa ended the day unscathed in their second innings, scoring 23/0 from nine overs. But having made just 151 in their first essay, the visitors still trail England by a huge 241 runs.
With three more days still left in the match, England are in complete control to level the series after having lost the first Test. Stokes (103) and Foakes (113 not out) shared a 173-run partnership for the sixth wicket to put the Proteas under pressure. It was Stokes’ 12th century.
Stokes was the more aggressive of the two, hitting six boundaries and three sixes in his 163-ball innings. Foakes hit nine fours. Stokes was out with the team score on 320, but Foakes, along the England lower order, frustrated the South African attack further scoring 95 more runs before declaring.
The pair of Stokes and Foakes came together after South African quick Anrich Nortje struck twice to remove both England’s overnight batsmen during an outstanding opening spell in the morning session. Jonny Bairstow fell one run short of his half-century, with Nortje adding reverse swing to his top pace and the Yorkshireman edging to Sarel Erwee at first slip.
Another fine delivery ended the solid contribution of 38 from under-scrutiny England opening batsman Zak Crawley, with Nortje’s perfect line inducing an edge to keeper Kyle Verreynne.
That meant England were on 147/5, still four runs behind South Africa’s first innings total. But Stokes and Foakes then batted positively before lunch to begin building the lead. Stokes showed his intent by hitting spinner Simon Harmer over mid-wicket for six, while Keshav Maharaj had an lbw decision against Foakes go in his favour only for it to be overturned on review.
After lunch, Stokes brought up his half-century by hitting Harmer over mid-on into the England dressing room. The pair scored at a respectable but not particularly brisk rate
