ENG v SA, 1st Test, Day 2 Review: Advantage England after they remove 5 South Africans

The indiscipline of the front foot glared at South Africa in the form of Joe Root resuming his innings on 184, Morne Morkel and Keshav Maharaj being the no-ball culprits. Following their quick 4 wickets on Day 1, the Proteas sunk into lethargy. They were in dire need of an inspired piece of bowling or a miracle on the field. Funnily enough, it was Morkel who provided the South Africans with the major breakthrough and in the third over of the second morning nonetheless.

Joe Root managed to add just 6 runs to his overnight score before a thin tickle ended his epic innings. The Lord’s crowd once again stood up to applaud the English captain, perhaps sooner than they would have liked, and certainly for a less memorable occasion.

A couple of deliveries after robbing Root of a double hundred on captaincy debut, Morkel trapped Liam Dawson in front of the stumps. Dawson, making his home debut, departed without troubling the scorers. As the morning sun baked the Lord’s pitch, the South Africans wondered whether sunshine was assisting them early on Day 2. Morkel had reduced England to 367/7, giving South Africa a ray of hope of dismissing the hosts within 400.

Stuart, however, showed how ‘Broad’ his bat was by virtually swinging at everything that came his way. He was off in a jiffy and maintained a strike rate in excess of 100. Broad made the most of the edge of his bat, as he played unconvincing shots more often than not. Moeen Ali, on the other hand, played second fiddle to Broad, but on occasions joined the boundary fest himself.

Broad’s cameo takes England to 450

Drinks after the completion of 100 overs did the trick for South Africa once again. Dean Elgar threw the ball to his most trusted bowler Kagiso Rabada, who repaid his faith with two wickets in the first over after the break. He cleaned up Moeen Ali with one that scooted through a big gap between bat and pad and got one to slam into Mark Wood’s pads.

The wickets, however, didn’t seem to affect Stuart Broad’s innings. In fact, the left-hander shifted gears to smash two consecutive sixes off Morne Morkel. Broad welcomed the short balls, and had no qualms hooking them high and handsome over deep backward square. His half-century was turning out to be massive bonus for England.

Broad’s courage to take on the SA pacers seemed to have worn off on his partner James Anderson as well. Despite being one of the weaker tail-enders in the circuit, Anderson frustrated the South Africans, first with a four and then with a six that sailed over deep mid-wicket. It wouldn’t be out of place to mention here that it was Jimmy Anderson’s third Test six, and his first for more than five years.

The last wicket frolic between Broad and Anderson ended as the latter edged a wide delivery to the keeper. Morne Morkel bagged his fourth in the innings; Rabada and Philander had to be content with three apiece. South Africa were looking at a surplus of 50 odd runs for which Broad was majorly responsible. Their total of 458 had its central pillar in Root’s spectacular 190, ably supported by Stokes, Moeen, and finally Broad.

Stuart Broad inflicts the early damage

South Africa safely negotiated their tricky little stint of 4 overs before Lunch, but Stuart Broad let loose a peach of a delivery to remove Heino Kuhn right after he had his meal. It was the typical Broad dismissal: the ball nipped away, caught the unavoidable nick and landed into Alastair Cook’s safe pair of hands at first slip.

South Africa’s skipper Dean Elgar then found a steady partner in Hashim Amla, and the two began to pull things back for the visitors. Joe Root unleashed Moeen Ali to stage a battle of the beards, and the battle went Ali’s way in his third over of off-spin. Amla attempted to play back but was wrapped flush on the pads – he was a goner.

The theme of breaks resulting in wickets lingered on, and this time, the Proteas skipper found himself making the long walk back an over after Tea. Moeen Ali had earned his 100th Test wicket, thus becoming the second fastest Englishman to the 100 wickets-2000 runs mark after Tony Greig. JP Duminy bit the dust a couple of overs later. Stuart Broad smashed into Duminy’s back pad and broke into his celebrations without as much as waiting for the umpire to raise his finger. He had reason to do so, since Duminy was plum in front of the stumps.

It was up to Temba Bavuma and Theunis de Bruyn to rescue the Proteas from 104/4, and so they did, with a patient century partnership. Just as the South African dressing room thought they had clawed back into the game, de Bruyn undid all his hard work by poking one outside off. He departed agonizingly short of his fifty, but more importantly, his dismissal came two overs before the close of day’s play. Meanwhile, James Anderson’s toil had finally paid off.

The new man Kagiso Rabada ensured he didn’t give his wicket away before Stumps, while Bavuma remained unbeaten on 48. South Africa were still 244 arrears. They’ll have to face the music in the morning spell which has turned out to be testing on both days till now. The English bowlers however have their tails up, and can push for a sizable lead in this first Test. Let’s not forget that Quinton de Kock is yet to grace Lord’s with his presence. England however hold the advantage at the end of Day 2.

Brief Scores

England – 458 all out (Joe Root 190, Moeen Ali 87, Morne Morkel 4/115)

South Africa – 241/5 (Dean Elgar 54, Temba Bavuma 48*, Stuart Broad 2/27)