Stokes and Pope steady ship and bail England out of tricky spot

Ben Stokes was cast in a familiar role on day one of the third Test against South Africa, charged with bailing England out of a tricky situation alongside Ollie Pope in Port Elizabeth.

Stokes, the freshly minted world player of the year following his match-winning exploits in 2019, was left to carry the can when Joe Root lost his off stump to leave England 148 four.

He came together with Pope to take his side to 224 without further loss.

England had threatened to fritter an opening stand of 70 between Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley, but what initially looked like a bowler’s graveyard at St George’s Park was slowly revealed as a trickier proposition as the Proteas gnawed away.

Stokes battled through some tough moments, with no less than three reviews, to finish 38 not out at stumps.

Pope timed his shots better than anyone in a lively 39 not out.

Sibley (36) and Crawley (44) had earlier become the first English openers to bat out the opening session of a Test since Sir Andrew Strauss and Sir Alastair Cook in 2011, setting up false expectations of a one-sided contest between bat and ball.

Keshav Maharaj played a crucial role in recalibrating expectations, working through 30 unbroken overs for 54 at the Duck Pond End, and doing much more for his side than the solitary wicket told.

Early wickets on day two could still scupper their good work but opener Crawley was satisfied with the state of play at stumps.

“I think it was a very good day for us. Popey and Stokesy played brilliantly at the end to put us in a good position,” he said.

“It was very attritional cricket, a slow wicket and tough to score on. But if we can get in the late 300s that’s a very good score on this pitch.

“It’s only going to get worse from there and continue to spin quite a bit.

“Hopefully a few will go underground like Joe’s did and we can bowl last on it and bowl well.”