South Africa v England: 3rd Test, Day 2 - The Test and the Series in the Balance

 

South Africa v England: 3^rd Test, Day 2

The Test and the Series in the Balance

 

January 17^th 2016

 

At 225-7 and having lost six wickets for one hundred and eight, throwing away a position where a match-winning score looked likely, the much-maligned South African tail has produced a handy rescue job. A partnership of fifty-six for the eighth wicket, followed by one of thirty-two for the tenth helping South Africa over the psychological mark of 300 and to a curious statistical quirk: the lowest all-out score by a side in which all eleven batsmen and extras made double figures and, if I recall rightly, the third highest score in which there was no individual fifty.

One suspected that it was a par score at least. You could see reasons why, if South Africa’s bowlers bowled as they could and were backed-up by the fielders, England might subside nervously to 120ao. Then again, there seemed no reason why England should not breech 400 and push on to 500. At 22-2, with both openers gone, the former looked a distinct possibility. At 91-4 England were facing the danger of a substantial first innings deficit on a pitch where winning the Toss has proved to be a big advantage in recent years.

Back in 1985, one cricket writer said of Ian Botham that “at Dunkirk his strategy would have been to march on Berlin”. Ben Stokes is beginning to think that way. One again, his response to a crisis was to launch a glorious counter-attack. The fifty partnership came in thirty-four balls. The century partnership in a more sedate eighty-five. Sadly, Ben Stokes could not see out the day, but Joe Root did, with a valuable century that made sure that England finished the day narrowly on top and with a chance to aim for 380-400. When bad light and rain finished play early, you got the feeling that South Africa were probably cheering the chance to cut their losses and re-group. With fifteen from the nine balls before the umpires intervened, further carnage was threatened.

South Africa need a breakthrough in the morning. England need Joe Root to bat on and for one of Bairstow and Moeen Ali to get a fifty. The match is hanging in the balance.

Day 2 to England… but narrowly. A good day for either side will swing the balance.