Lunch England 269 for 5 (Stokes 64*, Moeen 10*) v South Africa
Ben Stokes’ half-century kept South Africa at bay © Getty Images
Ben Stokes was to the fore on the second morning of the Oval Test as England built on Alastair Cook’s stalwart resistance on the opening day.
There was no 31st Test hundred for Cook – he fell 12 runs short when Morne Morkel won an lbw decision – but Stokes played vigorously from the outset as England reached lunch at 269 for 6. The score looked a handy one with unsettled weather forecast to remain for the rest of the Test.
Cook fell in the sixth over of the day, failing in a review of Morkel’s delivery, which struck him in line from around the wicket. Morkel, inured to a career in which his deliveries have flown over the top of the stumps, did not appeal all that enthusiastically, but Cook was well back in his crease.
Morkel’s wicket confirmed his excellent record against Cook as he dismissed him for the 10th time in Test cricket. No bowler has dismissed him on as many occasions.
South Africa bowled impressively at the start of the day as long as Vernon Philander and Morkel had the ball in their hands, but their support seamers posed less threat, with Stokes taking a particular liking to Chris Morris.
Stokes’ response to Cook’s dismissal encapsulated his determination to press ahead as he pulled him regally through mid-on. Three overpitched deliveries in one over from Morris disappeared to the boundary and the left-arm spinner, Keshav Maharaj, conceded three more against Jonny Bairstow, one of them an advance to drive down the ground, a typically defiant repeat of the shot that caused his downfall at Trent Bridge.
England rattled up another 75 at nearly five an over as Bairstow gave Stokes enterprising support, making excellent use of the hour leading up to the second new ball.
Unsurprisingly, South Africa took it immediately with England, at 256 for 5, threatening to break free. Philander, who had pleaded a stomach ailment on the first day for his periods off the field, was an absentee, lasting only 40 minutes of the morning session before excusing himself once more, an absence that would also prevent him from bowling for much of the afternoon session.
Stokes had stood so far outside his crease against Philander, to negate his movement, that one half expected him to follow Philander into the dressing room and take guard.
But Kagiso Rabada felt the benefit as he took the new ball for the first time in the series. Ten deliveries into the new ball and Bairstow was dislodged, pushing at one that bounced and moved away for Faf du Plessis to take the catch at second slip, winding himself in the process.
The old ball had been much more to England’s liking. Morris found so much swing from the Dukes ball that he was unable to control it: he was one player, on this evidence, who did not benefit from South Africa’s decision to rest between Nottingham and The Oval, rather than request a further three-day match against county opposition.
David Hopps is a general editor at ESPNcricinfo @davidkhopps
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo