Test evenly poised after SA snare Root, Stokes
A determined South Africa attack claimed the key wickets of Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Ben Stokes to leave the fourth and final Test finely poised at Old Trafford, where England reached stumps at 260-6 on Friday.
Leading 2-1 thanks to wins at Lord’s and The Oval, and seeking at least a draw to wrap up a victory over the Proteas in his first series as captain, Root at 26 became the third youngest batsman in Test history to pass the milestone of 5000 runs, after team-mate Alastair Cook and India great Sachin Tendulkar.
CLOSE SHAVE
Lady luck had smiled on skipper Root in Manchester, where South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock inexplicably failed to dive when presented with a routine catch off the bowling of the controlled and dangerous Morne Morkel (1-58).
Having notched his 10th successive Test half-century and appearing ready to accelerate, Root then undid his good work by getting trapped lbw by Duanne Olivier (2-72) for 52.
Cook fell just short of a halfcentury of his own, departing for 46 on a day that started out by offering plenty for the bowlers, before making them work harder as the pitch dried out.
CRUCIAL WICKET
There was still joy to be found late on, though for South Africa, evidenced by Kagiso Rabada’s potentially crucial dismissal of Stokes, England’s top scorer in the innings, for 58 with a sizzling yorker in the penultimate over of the day.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow (33 not out) survived to resume on Saturday alongside nightwatchman Toby RolandJones, who is yet to face a ball.
INJURY WOES
South Africa suffered a blow before a ball was bowled when Vernon Philander and Chris Morris were both ruled out through injury, to be replaced by Theunis de Bruyn and Olivier, who was the first man to strike, Keaton Jennings (17) playing forward unconvincingly and steering the first entry in a parade of edges to De Kock in the 13th over.
And that soft dismissal could spell the end for the Durham lefthander at Test level, with the selectors facing a difficult decision ahead of the West Indies series, as attention begins to turn to the make-up of the touring party for the Ashes, which start in Brisbane in November.
Tom Westley joined former captain Cook at the crease and the pair compiled a cautious partnership to reach lunch at 67-1.
Keshav Maharaj (1-54), though, made a major breakthrough early in the afternoon session, using the persistent breeze to elicit enough of a nick from Cook.