LONDON: England tightened their grip on the first Test against a depleted South Africa by reaching tea on Day 3 at 48-0 in their second innings, for a lead of 145 at Lord’s.
After the Proteas were dismissed for 361 to trail by 97 runs, Alastair Cook (31) and Keaton Jennings (16) came through the opening spell of strike bowlers Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada on another sunny afternoon at the home of English cricket.
Vernon Philander, who injured his bowling hand while batting in the morning during his knock of 52, was off the field undergoing an X-ray so South Africa’s attack was weakened.
Chris Morris was on as a replacement, with Morkel and Rabada potentially having to carry the workload in the second innings.
Earlier, Temba Bavuma (59, after resuming on 48 not out), Quinton de Kock (51) and Philander all scored half-centuries but couldn’t kick on as England took wickets at regular intervals to dismiss South Africa, who started the day on 214-5.
Off-spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali finished with 4-59.
South Africa saw overnight batsmen Rabada (27) and Bavuma quickly depart to the spin of Liam Dawson and Ali, respectively, bringing De Kock to the crease.
The wicket-keeper struck a 36-ball fifty the second-fastest ever at Lord’s containing 10 fours before being caught by a diving Ben StoÂkes at square cover off Jimmy Anderson just before lunch.
Paceman Stuart Broad bore the brunt of de Kock’s entertaining strokeplay, conceding 35 runs in four overs in the first session.
Philander continued batting even though he was clearly in some discomfort after being struck by a rising delivery from Anderson in the morning session. He flexed his hand after many shots but still managed to hit many pleasing shots one cover drive was particularly impressive while helping to add 47 for the last two wickets.
After lunch, Dawson trapped Keshav Maharaj (5) lbw, with a not-out decision overturned on review, before Philander played onto his stumps against Ali soon after reaching his fifth Test fifty.
Morne Morkel was unbeaten on 2.
By tea, Cook had struck six fours in his 50-ball innings, with South Africa wasting two reviews on England’s former captain.
Scoreboard
ENGLAND (1st Innings) 458 (J.E. Root 190, M.M. Ali 87, S.C.J. Broad 57 not out, B.A. Stokes 56; M. Morkel 4-115, V.D. Philander 3-67, K. Rabada 3-123).
SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings, overnight 214-5):
D. Elgar c Ballance b Ali 54
H.G. Kuhn c Cook b Broad 1
H.M. Amla lbw b Ali 29
J.P. Duminy lbw b Broad 15
T. Bavuma c Stokes b Ali 59
T. de Bruyn c Bairstow b Anderson 48
K. Rabada c Bairstow b Dawson 27
Q. de Kock c Stokes b Anderson 51
V.D. Philander b Ali 52
K.A. Maharaj lbw b Dawson 9
M. Morkel not out 2
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-7, NB-3) 14
TOTAL (all out, 105 overs) 361
FALL OF WKTS: 1-10, 2-82, 3-98, 4-104, 5-203, 6-244, 7-248, 8-314, 9-337.
BOWLING: Anderson 19-6-44-2; Broad 18-5-62-2; Wood 20-5-65-0; Dawson 15-2-67-2; Ali 20-7-59-4; Stokes 13-2-53-0 (3nb).
ENGLAND (2nd Innings):
A.N. Cook not out 31
K.K. Jennings not out 16
EXTRAS (NB-1) 1
TOTAL (for no wkt, 17 overs) 48
BOWLING (to-date): Morkel 6-3-14-0; Rabada 7-4-17-0 (1nb); Maharaj 4-0-17-0.
