Johannesbrug - Ben Stokes spearheaded an England fight back before tea to counter the Proteas bowling attack on day two of the third Test at the Wanderers.
The South Africans had England on the back foot at 91/4 an hour after lunch following the dismissals of Nick Compton (26) and James Taylor for 7.
Kagiso Rabada (2/31 in 11 overs) – who has been the pick of the Proteas attack on Friday – got the ball rolling after the break when he drew Compton into hanging his bat out to a delivery that bounced steeply outside off, with the thick edge flying to Dean Elgar at second slip.
Morné Morkel then claimed his first wicket when a bit of seam movement into Taylor saw an inside edge on to the pad, with the ball looping up to Temba Bavuma at short leg. Bavuma had to jump up and parried the ball before grasping the catch.
At that stage, it looked like a long road back for England, but the belligerent left-handed Stokes brought his typically aggressive approach to the crease and took on the Proteas pace attack.
And he won the battle, hitting six fours and a six in an unbeaten 31-ball 38. The South Africans were guilty of changing their strategy they successfully employed earlier and bowled too short to Stokes in particular.
At the other end, England’s star batsman Joe Root also played at a quick tempo, putting the bad balls away as he produced some classical drives down the ground, through the covers and flicks off his legs.
Root and Stokes put on a quick-fire 71-run fifth-wicket partnership off just 54 balls – a run-rate of eight to the over – and the middle-order pair have certainly given England the initiative at the moment.
The Proteas may still have a slight edge in the overall match situation, being 151 runs ahead and England four down, but the home side will have to take a few quick wickets after tea to stay on top.
Otherwise, another hour of Root and Stokes could wipe out the Proteas’ advantage.
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