England convincingly lost every session of this test match until the tea party on day two, when meandering towards a huge deficit in the first innings. ,Ben Stokes and Jack's unexpected duo reach – where did you hear that? – Confused South Africa's momentum by evoking a spell of hard bounce and true spin.
The Tourist still holds a commanding lead with 124 runs as he reaches the stumps at 289-7. The bowler beat the hosts by just 165 early in the day, boosted by a furious late run by Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen. Kagiso Rabadaheaded by a 5-wicket hole. Yet, as the sun began to set behind the main stands, home supporters left Humming Road with small cheers to see the captain lead the kind of counter-attack that has become a familiar part of England's strange and wonderful summer.
England's success so far under Brendon McCallum has relied on breaking convention, and again something a little different was needed here. James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Matthew Potts bowled well in the patch, but South Africa scored too easily as the afternoon wore on and went completely 158-2. I took control. Leach's spin on his left arm may not have been the usual answer to his second day of testing at Lords, but he quickly ripped the surface off and Ben en route to his Forks glove. At Aiden he found a beautiful spin that feathered the edge of Mark Lamb's bat. to change your mind.
Stokes started to drive his ball into the pitch short from the other side, and eventually he saw a seemingly upset opener Serral at 73. He chased Aawie off with a bouncer. Erwie dodged the ball with his glove, sent it into orbit, and gave keeper Ben Fawkes an easy catch. A few overs later Stokes were celebrating again after catching Lassie van der Dussen. The broad was the least effective of England's bowling attacks, so satisfaction was added when Maharaj found the thinnest edge of Kyle Verain's bat later in the day before he fell to Stokes.
England may wonder what happened. Perhaps had Stokes won the tosshis side would have racked up runs on Day 2, taking advantage of Wednesday's attractive bowling conditionsPerhaps Olly Pope would have scored an inning. He wouldn't have been unhappy to drag a side edge into his own stump, and by the third time in the morning he could have had an important century. Instead, he left with his 73, England's tail exposed.
But it took South African skill to take the wicket that killed England's innings. Labada scored one straight to Pope after a flood of away swingers to tie Broad for 15. Leach's off-stamp was sent to a cartwheel by Jansen, and Labada ended England in the next over, sealing his 5-for when he trapped James Anderson lbw for the Golden Duck. With numbers 5-52, Labada returned South Africa to the pavilion, held his ball high and gave a courtesy applause.
Kagiso Labada hit two early (Adam Davy/PA)
(PA Wire)
South Africa's innings began with the familiar sight of Anderson, now 40, running from Pavilion End. He bowled mainly over wickets to a left-handed opening partnership between captain Dean Elgar and Arwie. Irwie specifically used an anti-buzzball leaf to see off the new ball, while Broad struggled to triangulate the angle coming around the wicket from the nursery end. Potts, the bowler of the first change, was closest to the wicket before lunch and, as South Africa cruised in the sun, was touched by Zach Crowley with his fingertips but could not get a firm grip off Elgar's bat. Brought the top edge.
With the opener settling in and Elgar on the brink of a half-century, Anderson finally made his breakthrough in lucky circumstances. The ball rattled around the South African captain, hitting his arms and legs and eventually hitting the stumps, removing Elgar. bail. Keegan-Petersen forges a new partnership with Arwie, but Potts lures him to flail outside the stumps and jumps into Pope's hands on his fourth slip before tea, followed soon after by Leach and Stokes. Intervened and loosened South Africa's grip.
However, Janssen and Maharaj enjoyed themselves and added South Africa's cushion in the final over. Jansen hit a huge 6 off Stokes when the light went out before Maharaj was caught in the depths. Friday morning is expected to be a mild sunny day, so hopefully it will accelerate far into the distance.
England will be encouraged by what they have achieved already this summer, especially the fact that he conceded one goal against New Zealand at Lords in June and still won the game. This may have to be the most impressive magic trick ever, but Stokes and Leach at least gave them hope, and that seems to be all this team needs right now.