Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BROAD’S GOT COMEBACKS DOWN TO A TEA SECOND INVESTEC TEST
No miracles, but England hit back late on to reel in the Proteas
STUART BROAD was denied a repeat of his 2015 fairytale but instead grafted his way to success on an even, arm-wrestle of a day at Trent Bridge. Hopes that Broad could tap into the wonderstuff that saw him take 8-15 against Australia two years ago were dashed by a South Africa top order which showed they were up for a battle following a limp effort at Lord’s.
After taking just one wicket in each of the first two sessions, Broad and England came alive as soon as they finished tea to end a tight day with a share of the spoils.
At 309-6, both teams will feel they have a chance to force the issue over the next four days, but on this evidence it will not be easy.
“It is pretty even,” said England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow. “They were in front at tea, so I think we fought back well in the afternoon.
“It was important we stuck to our guns after they were in front and we’ve put ourselves in with a chance in the morning.
“It’s been a long, toiling day. We were trying to attack off stump and credit where it is due, they capitalised when it was too full or too short.”
Dean Elgar fell first for just six and will have been kicking himself for chasing a rare wide ball, slicing James Anderson to gully to bring up another milestone.
Anderson has enjoyed a lengthy love affair with Trent Bridge, so it was fitting his record 300th home wicket should come at the ground that has been so good to him.
But instead of the usual clatter of wickets that follows, England had to wait until after lunch for their next victim when Heino Kuhn chopped on Stuart Broad for 34. Quinton de Kock was promoted to No.4 in a Proteas reshuffle, and the game turned in their favour as he played the most fluent innings of the day without ever looking in trouble.
With Alastair Cook having dropped Hashim Amla on 56, there was a need for a wicket and fuelled by a cup of tea, Broad found the edge of de Kock’s bat first ball back and the tide turned once more. Amla followed, top-edging a hook off Broad, to change the mood in the ground and then Ben Stokes, who earlier had been quiet and ineffective, stepped up.
He managed to tease a little glove down the leg side to remove Faf du Plessis and then his booming reverse-swing proved too much for Temba Bavuma to handle and he edged behind while trying to leave the ball.
England were in control at 235-6, but Chris Morris and Vernon Philander wrestled the game back with an unbroken stand of 74.