SA v Eng 2nd Test Day 2 Review: England ride on Stokes’ magical double hundred

Ben Stokes played one of the great attacking Test innings as England finished the day two in a commanding position in the second Test. Stokes scored the second fastest double century in Test history which was an utter joy to watch and those fans who were at Newlands to see it, must have been enriched by the experience. Stokes’ destructive knock produced 258 from 198 balls with 30 fours and 11 sixes. He hammered South Africa’s attack to all part of the ground in arguably one of the most remarkable knocks ever witnessed in the country.

England had put themselves in a pole position on the previous evening with Stokes and Jonny Bairstow taking 46 from the first seven overs with the second new ball. Now the two talented batsmen just devastated the South African hopes. That assault began from the outset, helped by some ordinary bowling from the home team. An initial plan to bowl wide of off stump proved wrong and ten came from the first over from Morkel. A hapless over of short and wide stuff from Morris was hammered to the boundary three more times.  On this sort of pitch, Stokes fancied he could destroy Morris at will and he did as if playing T20 cricket.

The knock deflated the spirits of the home side to no end. The visitors made 312 for 1 off 38.5 overs in the day and it was once-in-a-lifetime stuff with virtually every delivery being spanked mercilessly by Stokes. Jonny Bairstow, no slouch himself and played an intelligent supporting role to perfection and in doing so, he brought up his maiden Test hundred.

Barely anything threatened Stokes’ state of serene mind. On 138, a six against the off-spinner Dane Piedt barely cleared the outstretched hands of Stiaan van Zyl, who significantly was a yard off the boundary at long off while on 197 Chris Morris almost yorked him, perhaps to the fast bowler’s surprise. This was only his third Test ton, to follow equally enterprising knocks against Australia in Perth and New Zealand at Lord’s but this was the stand-out innings that spoke volumes about the importance of the combative all-rounder who can take on bowlers and change the course of the game with power and aggression. Even Rabada wasn’t spared on this torturous day for the hosts.

Stokes’ dismissal summed up South Africa’s broken state of mind as even someone of the caliber of AB de Villiers dropped a sitter at mid-on but he steadied himself to throw down the stumps and complete a run out as the left-hander jogged towards the bowler’s end. England declared two balls later once  Bairstow’s 150 had been gathered in. His knock included 18 fours and 2 maximums. England’s declaration at 629 for 6 left the home side needing a monumental effort to compete in this match.

In nine overs before tea, South Africa managed a horrible run out as van Zyl’s urgency for a single into the off side was not shared by Dean Elgar. The left-hander was joined by his captain who was under immense pressure to perform. The two batted sensibly and resurrected the innings before the left-handed Elgar was dismissed for 44 by England’s batting hero Stokes. The ball outside off-stump lifted a fraction and held its line from round the wicket to take the edge and Compton at backward point made good ground and completed a fine catch.

AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla ensured no further damage and took the score to 141/2 at stumps however not before some drama. AB was dropped on 5 by Joe Root off the bowling of James Anderson. A wild drive from de Villiers, without much footwork and well away from his body, produced the edge and it went waist-height to Root who spilled a relatively easy chance. Amla, though, was highly impressive in his knock of 64 that included 10 fours. His captaincy and batting have been severely criticized in recent times and he came up with a solid reply. Though, he will know that there’s a mountain to climb if his team have to get out of this match unscratched.

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– 141/2 in 43 overs (H Amla 64; B Stokes 1/20)