SA v Eng 2nd Test Day 4 Review: Draw inevitable after a monumental South African reply

Hashim Amla’s 201 recorded the third-longest Test innings in South Africa, in terms of ball faced. Amla secured his fourth Test double-hundred as he guided his team towards safety in Cape Town. Over nearly 12 hours he held the South African innings together producing a brilliant knock under pressure when needed the most by his team.

England had little glimpses of opportunity in the morning, most glaringly when Amla miscued Moeen down the ground on 197 and was fortunate that the ball dropped safely between the two straight fielders. Du Plessis’ most anxious moment came when he edged a full-length ball from Moeen past Anderson at slip. For the second time in the innings, the ball flew too rapidly past Anderson who was hunting an edge from a defensive push.

Amla’s concentration was admirable and his defensive technique was impeccable. His was one of three wickets to fall on the fourth afternoon as the third new ball brought England momentary release. It required an absolute peach of a delivery from Stuart Broad to go past the defense of the Proteas skipper to rattle his stumps. Du Plessis, 81 not out at lunch, missed out on a hundred that he seemed to have been heading towards. James Anderson found his bat’s edge from around the wicket with Ben Stokes retrieving a low catch at third slip. Quinton de Kock took on a short ball from Broad and perished in the process.

With South Africa still 180 behind, at 449 for 6, a positive result could not entirely be discounted however a partnership of 167 between Temba Bavuma and Chris Morris crushed England’s hope of a dramatic comeback with the ball. Both batsmen batted positively and never let any bowler settle. They were also compact in defense and seemed unfazed by anything offered to them.

Morris was the 7^th and the last wicket to fall for the home team however not before he had made a solid 69. A half-century on debut must have provided much-needed relief to the all-rounder after having a not so memorable Test with the ball. Bavuma proved his class by scoring a maiden Test ton. His 102 off 148 balls included 16 fours. His knock was filled with delightful stroke play and nimble footwork. The home team declared on 627/7 that left the visitors 6 overs to survive. The English openers added 16 runs and safely negotiated the overs. The pitch being as flat as it is, only one result seems possible. The home tough will be mighty pleased with this batting effort that has taken a long time coming.

Brief Scores:

England 1st Innings– 629/6d in 125.5 overs (B Stokes 258, J Bairstow 150*; K Rabada 3/175)

South Africa 1st Innings– 627/7d in 211 overs (H Amla 201, T Bavuma 102*; S Broad 2/94)

England 2nd Innings– 16/0 in 6 overs