England have ascended into the driving seat after they managed to get a mammoth score of 499/9 declared. This shows that England have potential and a have a really exciting team for the future. But not just for the future but for now. Crawley and Sibley started with a brilliant opening partnership of 70. Despite this, both of them fell to the leg side trap. This gave a foundation for the other players to build on.
Denly however did not play as well with a static 25. He struggled against the spin of Maharaj and could not get of strike. Root also didn’t play that well but he gave a strong example of how to play spin. He brought out his whole locker of sweep shots. However he fell too. Then came in Stokes and Pope, they both played fluently and at the close, they had a 50 partnership. They kept going and Stokes started hitting sixes. Finally Stokes reached his century to continue his lavish form with the bat.
Soon after lunch, Stokes fell after a brilliant innings which would set the tone for England. Sam Curran came in and played with intent for his 44. While this was happening, Ollie Pope was edging closer to his maiden ton. After some good shots, Pope finally reached the achievement. He had been lucky at times like when he decided to review at a wrong decision but it was a sensational innings from the youngster but it did not stop there. He went reverse scooping for fun against Rabada. However Pope cannot get complacent, if he wants to continue his form, he will need to work hard. Wood also added some runs swishing his bat for a quick 42 with 5 sixes. England then declared at 499/9
South Africa had a huge total that they needed to get and they got a good start after Elgar and Malan started with finesse against the opening bowlers, Sam Curran and Stuart Broad They managed to get a fluent 50 partnership.
However as soon as Dom Bess and Mark Wood came into the attack the batsman were in trouble. Mark Wood was given the role of softening up the batsman with sharp, skiddy bouncers while Dom Bess got the batsman playing rash shots. Bess finally took the wicket of Pieter Malan for 18 which ultimately was the breakthrough. It was a tame dismissal tapped back to the bowler. Dom Bess followed that up getting the insecure Hamza for 10 after some rash shots. South Africa then brought in the nightwatchman for that last overs but the game was called off at the end so he only had to survive a few balls. England should get the night watchman tomorrow and are favourites to win the match. 60/2
Player Ratings
Sibley – 6 (Helped the team with a solid amount of balls taken and for his opening partnership)
Crawley – 6.5 (Played very well and got his first decent score. He contributed well to the opening partnership)
Denly – 5 (Survived lots of balls but looked static and too defensive)
Root – 7 (Dissapointing batting but showing that he can captain well)
Stokes – 9 (Well calculated batting from Stokes, a century that will go in the record books)
Pope – 9.5 (Played very well and upped the antique when he has to. Deserved maiden century)
Buttler – 3 (Another dissapointing day for the keeper)
Curran – 7 (Batted well but his bowling was not up to scratch)
Bess – 8 (Didn’t bat that well but bowled brilliantly)
Wood – 8.5 (Bowled skiddy fast balls which buttered the batsman up and played with aggression for batting)
Broad – 6 (Not much to say)
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