SA v Eng 2nd Test Review: England wobbles on the final day but ensures a draw

The Newlands Test burst into life from nowhere as England was made to battle hard for survival. The pitch remained good for a fifth day, but there was swing around for the first time in the Test in overcast conditions. As the pressure mounted, there was some turn too that was explored brilliantly by the off-spinner Dane Piedt as who took three wickets.

Alastair Cook departed in the second over of the morning, falling to a leg-side push to the wicketkeeper, as Kagiso Rabada attacked his pads. Alex Hales followed in the next over to an unconvincing push away from his body at Morne Morkel, and a wonderful catch by Chris Morris at third slip.

Morris has taken two exceptional slip catches in this Test that will be difficult to beat in this series- Cook in the first innings, flinging himself low to his left, now equally stunning reflexes to his right to hold another stunning low catch. He can be happy with his Test debut, and if Dale Steyn is fit for Johannesburg South Africa’s selectors will have much to think about.

South Africa removed Joe Root for 29 when Morris, with his first ball, exposed tentative footwork with one that straightened to hit off stump, but they might have got him on 18, four overs earlier, when Morkel had him caught by de Villiers at second slip only to have overstepped.

James Taylor needed a let-off when Rabada made a thrilling effort at short fine leg to claim a top-edged sweep, looking on in despair as the ball fell from his grasp when his elbow hit the turf. Piedt, the unlucky bowler, was not to be denied. By lunch, he was also in the wickets column, Compton’s suspicious innings ended by extra flight and a loose clip to short mid-on.

Stokes remained an obvious threat with his rate of scoring. An hour of him would have been terminal for South Africa. His 26 from 34 balls eased England’s nerves he swept Piedt and top-edged one to Morkel at deep square leg. Taylor played England’s most well-balanced innings, but he succumbed, too – a third wicket for Piedt as the ball gripped and brushed the glove before settling at short leg. It was left to Bairstow and Moeen Ali to defend obdurately.

By tea, England held a lead of 157 with a minimum of 34 overs remaining and must have felt relaxed. South Africa’s slim chance of a dramatic victory was probably over 15 minutes before tea when Jonny Bairstow survived a stumping in Dean Elgar’s first over by the narrowest margin – Rod Tucker’s not-out ruling taking so long that they lost an over in the process.

Forbidding clouds clung to Table Mountain, where some England supporters had strolled the previous day to pass the time with the Test at its most inactive. The match ended when rain and bad light intervened in the sixth over of the final session.

The Newlands surface did not quite wear sufficiently and there was a period on the fourth morning when Amla was defending solidly, but even then taking wickets was not impossible: England dropped nine catches in South Africa’s second innings after all, and wondered if they would regret it. England’s declaration at 629 for 6 would have indicated that they were never in danger of losing the match, but was not the case. The climax became a battle for survival: three wickets lost in the first hour, six by drinks in mid-afternoon.

A draw always remained by far the likeliest result, but England was made to feel highly uncomfortable. South Africa will approach the remaining Tests with a new sense of purpose. There were many high points in this match. Stokes’ magical knock, maiden Test tons for Jonny Bairstow and Temba Bavuma, Morris’ stunning catches, Amal’s great knock under pressure and Faf du Plessis’ return to form to list a few. The 3rd Test of this engrossing series will be played at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

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– 159/6 in 65 overs (J Bairstow 30; Piedt 3/38)