Elgar holds firm against England after Amla blow

LONDON: South Africa captain Dean Elgar showed he too could lead from the front as he dug in to make an unbeaten fifty on the second day of the first Test against England at Lord’s on Friday.

But the Proteas lost star batsman Hashim Amla for 29 and at tea were 96 for two in reply to England’s first innings 458 — a deficit of 362 runs.

Elgar was 54 not out and JP Duminy eight not out.

Both Elgar and England skipper Joe Root, who made a commanding 190 earlier Friday, were leading their respective countries in a Test for the first time.

But Elgar’s appointment appears to be temporary given regular Proteas captain Faf du Plessis is expected back for next week’s second Test of this four-Test series in Nottingham, after missing the opener to be with his wife following the birth of their first child.

Stuart Broad, who had earlier frustrated South Africa with an unbeaten 57, had Test debutant Heino Kuhn out for just one when the 33-year-old opener edged to former captain Alastair Cook at first slip.

Elgar, however, displayed his customary resilience and it was somehow typical that he went to a 90-ball fifty with a controlled edge down to third man off all-rounder Ben Stokes — his eighth four.

Amla, so often a thorn in England’s side, helped Elgar add 72.

But, having been deprived of the strike, he was lbw to a sharply turning off-break from Moeen Ali.