Philander strikes as Cook defies Proteas
Vernon Philander again proved a thorn in England’s side as Alastair Cook held firm against South Africa on the first day of the third Test at The Oval.
At tea, on a rain-marred day, England were 149 for four after winning the toss.
Former captain Cook was 72 not out after more than four hours at the crease.
Ben Stokes was unbeaten on 10 in what is the 100th Test at The Oval.
Philander, meanwhile, had superb figures of two wickets for eight runs in nine overs, despite a stomach bug.
That followed his manof-the-match display with both bat and ball in South Africa’s crushing 340-run victory in the second Test at Trent Bridge last week - a result that left the fourmatch series level at 1-1.
England had a setback soon after captain Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat despite the overcast conditions and green-tinged pitch that promised to assist the Proteas’ pace attack.
The under-pressure Keaton Jennings was repeatedly beaten outside off stump by Philander and it was no surprise when the South Africaborn opener eventually edged the seamer low to Dean Elgar at third slip for a nine-ball nought.
Tom Westley, one of three debutants in England’s XI, walked out to join Essex team-mate and mentor Cook with England 12 for one.
But he immediately looked far more certain of where his off stump was than Jennings.
The 28-year-old righthander, given his chance after a finger injury saw the struggling Gary Ballance ruled out, got off the mark with a minimal risk legside four off fast bowler Morne Morkel.
Westley, who earlier this season scored a hundred against South Africa for the second-string England Lions, then cover- drove and on-drove left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj for two well struck boundaries in an over.
Left-hander Cook had made 28 when South Africa paceman Chris Morris appealed for lbw, but a review of umpire Joel Wilson’s not out decision showed England’s all-time leading Test runscorer had got an edge. Brief scores: England (1st innings): 149/4 in 52 overs (Alastair Cook 72*, T. Westley 25, J. Root 29, V. Philander 2/8).