By Nick Said
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – Dom Sibley scored a maiden century to put England on top but South Africa have launched a rear-guard to keep the tourists’ victory charge at bay after going to the close of the fourth day of the second test on 126 for two on Monday.
South Africa have been set 438 for victory at Newlands and will have to score a further 312 runs in 90 overs on the final day to achieve the highest run chase in test cricket history.
It is much more likely, however, they will have to bat out the final three sessions to save the Test. The current highest successful run chase in Tests was 418 by West Indies against Australia in 2003.
Debutant opener Pieter Malan is unbeaten on 63 and is at the crease with nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj (2 not out) on a wicket that has flattened considerably for the seamers, but is offering turn to the slow bowlers.
Dean Elgar (34) and Zubayr Hamza (18) are the two players out, the latter in the penultimate over of the day when he edged James Anderson to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
“We are going to have to work hard tomorrow,” Sibley told reporters. “Hopefully that crack outside the off-stump (at the Kelvin Grove end) opens up again.
“Today and yesterday is the best the pitch has played, but hopefully it goes back to how it was on the first two days.
“It’s always nice to contribute to a win, hopefully we can take the eight wickets we need tomorrow.”
England set the stiff target after declaring their second innings on 391 for eight just after lunch, with opener Sibley unbeaten on a patient 133 to go with an explosive 72 from Ben Stokes.
Sibley’s hundred was met by an almighty roar from the sizeable travelling English support, even if it took him 269 balls to get there.
Stokes was providing plenty of entertainment at the other end as he took on the task of providing the quick runs England wanted to build a big enough lead and still have enough time to bowl South Africa out a second time.
He smashed seven fours and three sixes in a 47-ball innings of 72, before being caught at mid-on by Rassie van der Dussen off spinner Keshav Maharaj.
His blitz propelled England to 157 runs in 27 overs in the morning session and crucially sped up the game in their pursuit of victory.
South Africa won the first Test of the four-match series by 107 runs in Pretoria.
ENGLAND 1st innings 269
South Africa 1st innings 223
England 2nd innings o/n 218 for 4
Zak Crawley c Quinton de Kock b Kagiso Rabada 25
Dominic Sibley Not Out 133
Joe Denly c Dwaine Pretorius b Anrich Nortje 31
Joe Root c Faf du Plessis b Dwaine Pretorius 61
Dom Bess c Quinton de Kock b Anrich Nortje 0
Ben Stokes c Rassie van der Dussen b Keshav Maharaj 72
Ollie Pope b Kagiso Rabada 3
Jos Buttler c Quinton de Kock b Anrich Nortje 23
Sam Curran c Zubayr Hamza b Keshav Maharaj 13
Stuart Broad Not Out 8
Extras 18b 3lb 0nb 0pen 1w 22
Total (111.0 overs) 391-8
Fall of Wickets : 1-28 Crawley, 2-101 Denly, 3-217 Root, 4-218 Bess, 5-310 Stokes, 6-315 Pope, 7-356 Buttler, 8-375 Curran
Did Not Bat : Anderson
Bowling: Kagiso Rabada 20 – 3 – 69 – 2, Vernon Philander 14 – 7 – 24 – 0,
Anrich Nortje 18 – 2 – 61 – 3 (1w), Dwaine Pretorius 16 – 4 – 56 – 1,
Keshav Maharaj 43 – 9 – 160- 2.
SOUTH AFRICA 2nd innings
Pieter Malan Not Out 63
Dean Elgar c Jos Buttler b Joe Denly 34
Zubayr Hamza c Jos Buttler b James Anderson 18
Keshav Maharaj Not Out 2
Extras 4b 1lb 3nb 0pen 1w 9
Total (56.0 overs) 126-2
Fall of Wickets : 1-71 Elgar, 2-123 Hamza
To Bat : du Plessis, van der Dussen, de Kock, Pretorius, Philander, Rabada, Nortje
Bowling: James Anderson 9 – 4 – 18 – 1, Stuart Broad 9 – 2 – 20 – 0, Dom Bess 12 – 3 – 29 – 0,
Sam Curran 8 – 2 – 13 – 0 (1w 1nb), Joe Denly 8 – 0 – 26 – 1, Joe Root 3 – 0 – 7 – 0, Ben Stokes 7 – 3 – 8 – 0 (2nb)
