England v South Africa 2017: 2nd Test, Day 1 – Statistical Highlights

South Africa might be happy with their score line of 309/6 at end of the day after batting in overcast conditions on a pace friendly pitch but the way they got out will surely not make them feel better. Quinton de Kock’s promotion to No.4 worked well for the Saffers as he along with Hashim Amla put on a century stand in a quick span but both got out without converting their knocks into something substantial. England bowlers pulled things back by reducing the visitors to 235/6 but an unbeaten 74-run stand between Vernon Philander and Chris Morris ensured a positive finish to the day.

Here we look at all the stats and records created during the day’s play.

1 – James Anderson became the first pace bowler to take 300 Test wickets at home. He now has taken 300 wickets in Test cricket in England. He is the 4th player overall to take 300 wickets at home in this format.

7 – Number of fifties in Test cricket for Vernon Philander. He also has 11 five-fers in this format. He is only next to Shaun Pollock among South Africans to have scored more than 7 fifty-plus scores and have more than 7 five-fers in this format.

8 – Number of times Hashim Amla has been dismissed by Stuart Broad in Test cricket; the most times against any bowler. Mitchell Johnson dismissed Amla on 7 occasions in Tests.

11 – Number of sixes Hashim Amla has hit in Test cricket so far. The six he hit in this innings was his 11th in Test career and his 1st in England.

30 – Number of players including Hashim Amla who have completed 8000 runs in Test cricket. He is the 4th player from South Africa to achieve this milestone.

149 – Vernon Philander’s batting average in the last 4 first-class matches he has played. He has scored 298 runs in his last 7 FC innings and has been dismissed only twice. His scores read: 54*, 19*, 52, 73*, 7*, 73*, 20.

178 – Innings Hashim Amla needed for completing 8000 runs in Test cricket; the most by any of the 4 South Africans with 8000 Test runs. Amla completed 6000 runs in 128 innings but needed 50 further innings for his next 2000 runs.

1007 – Number of fours Hashim Amla has hit in his Test career so far; he is the 23rd player and the 2nd South African after Graeme Smith to hit 1000 fours in Tests.