Ben Stokes led the way as England enjoyed a terrific closing passage of play to finish the first day of the second Sunfoil Test in Cape Town in the ascendency at 317-5 after Joe Root's departure had brought South Africa firmly back into the match.
Stokes arrived at the crease immediately after tea on a potential Kagiso Rabada hat-trick with England wobbling at 223-5, writes Mike Vimpany.
But after taking 17 runs off the second new ball over by Chris Morris, Stokes took total command and added d unbeaten 94 with sixth-wicket partner Jonny Bairstow to put England in the box seat.
Newlands was at its majestic best throughout an absorbing day’s cricket.
Nestled beneath Table Mountain, it was packed to the brim, with an estimated 12,000 England fans slapping on the factor 30 in the sizzling sunshine – their thirst replenished by welcoming pints of beer costing as little as £1 a throw !
Such is the favourable exchange rate, South Africa has never been a better place to visit for a holidaying Brit.
Predictably, the Barmy Army had almost drunk the place dry by stumps, as England recovered from an uncertain 223-5 to finish the first day with 317-5 on the board.
James Anderson, ruled out of the 241-run First Test victory at Durban by a calf strain, was passed fit to lead the England attack, while South Africa – whose only defeats at Cape Town since re-admittance in 1992 have been inflicted by Australia – made three changes.
Quinton de Kock took the wicket-keeping gloves to lift the weight from AB de Villiers, with JP Duminy dropped to accommodate him.
Debutant Titans all-rounder Chris Morris and 2014 Under-19 World Cup winner Kagiso Rabada constituted two-thirds of a new-look pace attack, shorn of Dale Steyn (shoulder injury) and former Hampshire man Kyle Abbott, who was suffering from a tweaked hamstring.
Alaistair Cook won his first toss of the winter – he lost all three against Pakistan in the Emirates and called wrongly again in Durban – and England batted first on what was clearly a good cricket wicket.
Head groundsman at Newlands for some time now has been Evan Flint, who spent the 1998 summer playing locally for Fareham & Crofton, under the watchful eye of hugely respected Hampshire Cricket League pitch guru Tony Brown.
South Africa’s solitary success before lunch was that of Cook, a big scalp for the 20-year old Rabada, who debuted in India late last year but was playing in his Test on home soil.
Cook progressed sedately to 27 and appeared set for a big score before Morris sprung low to his left to clutch a wonderful catch at third slip.
The wicket was to be the first of three victims for the impressive Johannesburg-raised youngster, who with a 3-74 return was to enjoy the best day of his embryo career in front of a 20,195 Newlands full-house.
Alex Hales, looked as strong off his legs as he was uncertain outside his off-stump, reached 38 not out by lunch as England dined at 76-1.
One-nil up in the Series, England looked to push on after the break, with 31 runs coming off four overs.
Hailes moved on to his maiden Test fifty and Nick Compton advanced down the wicket to smash the respected Dane Piedt for a straight six.
The pair added 53 after lunch before Hales (60) was superbly caught at second slip by a leaping AB de Villiers to leave England 129-2 in the 44th over. Hales hit ten fours.
Joe Root lived dangerously early in his innings, being missed by de Villiers off a difficult slip chance and soon afterwards spooning the ball up off a lead edge.
By good fortune, the ball dropped agonisingly out of reach of a despairing dive by South Africa’s captain at first slip.
At 164-2, England appeared to be headed towards a substantial total – but their progressed was checked dramatically when Rabada, bowling with control, struck twice in successive deliveries to remove Compton and then James Taylor first ball after tea.
Compton, whose patient batting was one of the cornerstones of England’s success in Durban, had moved to 45 when Temba Bavuma, raised locally in the Langa township, picked him up at wide mid-wicket.
Immediately after tea, Taylor pushed at Radaba’s next delivery and nicked a chance to de Kock, who took the chance low down to leave England an uncertain 167-4 at the start of the third and final session.
England’s innings had ebbed and flowed, batsmen making starts – only to perish.
Ben Stokes, whose cavalier approach style is always pleasing on the eye, got off the mark with an imperious boundary off his legs and then smacked Piedt over the perimeter boards for six into the sun-baked England followers.
But, at 188-4, he survived an anxious moment when South Africa reviewed a leg-before call by Morne Morkel – television replays showing the ball going just over the top of the stumps.
Root progressed to 50 (five fours) before edging a catch to de Kock to give Morris his debut Test wicket – and leave England 223-5 and at a potential crossroads.
But in the final session - and with South Africa visibly tiring in the heat – Stokes and Jonny Bairstow shared an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 94 to reassert the grip England had enjoyed – and conceded – earlier.
Batting calmly and sensibly, Bairstow steadied the ship before Stokes launched a blistering 81st over assault when Morris took the new ball.
Stokes brought up his half-century with two boundaries, the first an imperious on-drive, and with two more perimeter shots proceeded to take 17 runs off an over which re-directed the England innings.
By the close, the maverick Durham talent had plundered a six and 11 fours in a superb unbeaten 74 which, with Bairstow (39 not out) clearly growing in confidence, saw England finish the day on top at 317-5.
Stokes arrived at the crease immediately after tea on a potential Kagiso Rabada hat-trick with England wobbling at 223-5, writes Mike Vimpany.
But after taking 17 runs off the second new ball over by Chris Morris, Stokes took total command and added d unbeaten 94 with sixth-wicket partner Jonny Bairstow to put England in the box seat.
Newlands was at its majestic best throughout an absorbing day’s cricket.
Nestled beneath Table Mountain, it was packed to the brim, with an estimated 12,000 England fans slapping on the factor 30 in the sizzling sunshine – their thirst replenished by welcoming pints of beer costing as little as £1 a throw !
Such is the favourable exchange rate, South Africa has never been a better place to visit for a holidaying Brit.
Predictably, the Barmy Army had almost drunk the place dry by stumps, as England recovered from an uncertain 223-5 to finish the first day with 317-5 on the board.
James Anderson, ruled out of the 241-run First Test victory at Durban by a calf strain, was passed fit to lead the England attack, while South Africa – whose only defeats at Cape Town since re-admittance in 1992 have been inflicted by Australia – made three changes.
Quinton de Kock took the wicket-keeping gloves to lift the weight from AB de Villiers, with JP Duminy dropped to accommodate him.
Debutant Titans all-rounder Chris Morris and 2014 Under-19 World Cup winner Kagiso Rabada constituted two-thirds of a new-look pace attack, shorn of Dale Steyn (shoulder injury) and former Hampshire man Kyle Abbott, who was suffering from a tweaked hamstring.
Alaistair Cook won his first toss of the winter – he lost all three against Pakistan in the Emirates and called wrongly again in Durban – and England batted first on what was clearly a good cricket wicket.
Head groundsman at Newlands for some time now has been Evan Flint, who spent the 1998 summer playing locally for Fareham & Crofton, under the watchful eye of hugely respected Hampshire Cricket League pitch guru Tony Brown.
South Africa’s solitary success before lunch was that of Cook, a big scalp for the 20-year old Rabada, who debuted in India late last year but was playing in his Test on home soil.
Cook progressed sedately to 27 and appeared set for a big score before Morris sprung low to his left to clutch a wonderful catch at third slip.
The wicket was to be the first of three victims for the impressive Johannesburg-raised youngster, who with a 3-74 return was to enjoy the best day of his embryo career in front of a 20,195 Newlands full-house.
Alex Hales, looked as strong off his legs as he was uncertain outside his off-stump, reached 38 not out by lunch as England dined at 76-1.
One-nil up in the Series, England looked to push on after the break, with 31 runs coming off four overs.
Hailes moved on to his maiden Test fifty and Nick Compton advanced down the wicket to smash the respected Dane Piedt for a straight six.
The pair added 53 after lunch before Hales (60) was superbly caught at second slip by a leaping AB de Villiers to leave England 129-2 in the 44th over. Hales hit ten fours.
Joe Root lived dangerously early in his innings, being missed by de Villiers off a difficult slip chance and soon afterwards spooning the ball up off a lead edge.
By good fortune, the ball dropped agonisingly out of reach of a despairing dive by South Africa’s captain at first slip.
At 164-2, England appeared to be headed towards a substantial total – but their progressed was checked dramatically when Rabada, bowling with control, struck twice in successive deliveries to remove Compton and then James Taylor first ball after tea.
Compton, whose patient batting was one of the cornerstones of England’s success in Durban, had moved to 45 when Temba Bavuma, raised locally in the Langa township, picked him up at wide mid-wicket.
Immediately after tea, Taylor pushed at Radaba’s next delivery and nicked a chance to de Kock, who took the chance low down to leave England an uncertain 167-4 at the start of the third and final session.
England’s innings had ebbed and flowed, batsmen making starts – only to perish.
Ben Stokes, whose cavalier approach style is always pleasing on the eye, got off the mark with an imperious boundary off his legs and then smacked Piedt over the perimeter boards for six into the sun-baked England followers.
But, at 188-4, he survived an anxious moment when South Africa reviewed a leg-before call by Morne Morkel – television replays showing the ball going just over the top of the stumps.
Root progressed to 50 (five fours) before edging a catch to de Kock to give Morris his debut Test wicket – and leave England 223-5 and at a potential crossroads.
But in the final session - and with South Africa visibly tiring in the heat – Stokes and Jonny Bairstow shared an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 94 to reassert the grip England had enjoyed – and conceded – earlier.
Batting calmly and sensibly, Bairstow steadied the ship before Stokes launched a blistering 81st over assault when Morris took the new ball.
Stokes brought up his half-century with two boundaries, the first an imperious on-drive, and with two more perimeter shots proceeded to take 17 runs off an over which re-directed the England innings.
By the close, the maverick Durham talent had plundered a six and 11 fours in a superb unbeaten 74 which, with Bairstow (39 not out) clearly growing in confidence, saw England finish the day on top at 317-5.
