Under the weather Philander shines

London – Vernon Philander (below) again proved a thorn in England’s side as Alastair Cook held firm against South Africa in the third Test at The Oval yesterday.

England were 171 for four at stumps, having won the toss, with 31 of the scheduled 90 overs lost to bad weather on the opening day of the 100th Test at The Oval.

Pace bowling all-rounder Philander had superb figures of two wickets for 17 runs in 12 overs, including five maidens, despite a stomach bug.

But former England captain Cook was 82 not out at yesterday’s close. Already England’s leading Test run-scorer, the left-handed opener spent more than four-anda-half hours at the crease to be in sight of his 31st century at this level. Ben Stokes was unbeaten on 21.

Although the overcast conditions and green-tinged pitch promised to assist pace bowlers, England captain Joe Root opted to bat first.

Root clearly hoped England could come through some early adverse circumstances but it was not long before England lost their first wicket.

Keaton Jennings was repeatedly beaten outside off stump by Philander and it was no surprise when the South Africa-born opener eventually edged the seamer low to Dean Elgar at third slip for a nine-ball nought.

Tom Westley, one of three England debutants, joined Essex team-mate and mentor Cook with the hosts 12 for one, before adding another 50 runs to go into the lunch break, 62/1.

Westley, however, had added just one to his interval score when, four balls after the break, he nicked a Chris Morris delivery that curved away to Faf du Plessis at second slip.

Star batsman Root then made 29 before he edged an excellent Philander ball that moved away off the seam and was brilliantly caught one-handed by wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock.

Kagiso Rabada then got in on the act. The fast bowler produced a superb inswinging yorker that knocked Dawid Malan off his feet before crashing into middle stump.