Stokes: There’s still work to do to seal third Test triumph
Ben Stokes said England have word to do if they are to clinch victory in the third Investec Test against South Africa at the Oval.
The hosts set their visitors a notional, world-record 492 to win in four sessions after half-centuries from Tom Westley, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow in their 313 for eight declared.
Stokes, who hit a first-innings century in the 100th Test to be staged at the Oval, then restated his huge value with the ball too by taking two wickets in as many balls as South Africa faltered to 52 for four.
Dean Elgar, who finished the day unbeaten on 72, and Temba Bavuma then dug in during an unbroken stand of 65 on the way to 117 for four at stumps.
“(Hashim) Amla and (Quinton) De Kock are probably the two wickets we look at as being the main ones for us to try and get on a roll, so it’s nice to see the back of those two already,” Stokes said.
“They’re in form and two really good players.
“But we’ve got two fighters still at the wicket at the moment, in Elgar and Bavuma, so hopefully conditions are similar tomorrow and we can get them out early on.”
Debutant Tom Westley hit the most notable of three England half-centuries. Westley made 59, with Joe Root (50) and Jonny Bairstow (63) also reaching tbhe milestone.
None worked harder than number three Westley, who shared a stand of 62 with Keaton Jennings and then - during a partnership of 78 with Root - reached 50 at his second attempt in Test cricket when he clipped Morne Morkel past midwicket for his ninth four from the 119th ball he faced.
Jennings went only two short of his half-century, splicing a simple catch to gully.