South Africa quell England’s Ben Stokes-inspired fightback at Lord’s to stay on top in first Test | Cricket News

August 17, 2022 admin

England reduce South Africa to 210-6 before Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen slam 72 for seventh wicket as tourists close with lead of 124 – watch day three of first Test live on Sky Sports Cricket on Friday; build-up starts at 10.15am with play under way from 11am

Last Updated: 18/08/22 7:09pm

Keshav Maharaj (left) and Marco Jansen (right) put on 72 from 75 balls for South Africa's seventh wicket as the Proteas carved out a 124-run lead over England

South Africa quelled England’s Ben Stokes-inspired fightback at Lord’s to remain firmly on top after day two of the first LV=Insurance Test.

After South Africa stumbled from 160-2 to 210-6 – at which point the tourists’ lead was just 45 – Marco Jansen (41no off 57) and Keshav Maharaj (41 off 49) combined for a vibrant seventh-wicket partnership of 72 from 75 balls before the Proteas closed on 289-7 and 124 runs to the good.

Kagiso Rabada (5-52) had earlier picked up three of the final four wickets to fall, including top-scorer Ollie Pope (73), as England slipped from their overnight 116-6 to 165 all out before Sarel Erwee (73) guided South Africa into the lead only three down.

England skipper Stokes removed Erwee with a scorching short ball and pinned Rassie van der Dussen (19) lbw before Stuart Broad then made Kyle Verreynne (11) his 100th Test wicket at Lord’s as England rallied.

That revival, though, was halted by Jansen and Maharaj, until the latter was caught off Stokes at midwicket.

Rabada and Erwee have also played key roles for the tourists – the former notching his 12th five-for in Test cricket and the latter sharing fifty stands with skipper Dean Elgar (47) and Keegan Petersen (24).