England on course for victory

SOUTH AFRICA suffered a toporder slump after inflicting a collapse on England to leave the hosts well-placed for victory in the first Test at Lord’s yesterday.

The Proteas were 25 for three in their second innings at tea on the fourth day, needing a further 306 runs to reach their imposing victory target of 331.

Only once, when the West Indies made 344 for one against England in 1984 thanks mainly to Gordon Greenidge’s brilliant double century, have a side posted more than 300 in the fourth innings to win a Lord’s Test.

South Africa’s hopes of achieving a similar feat now appeared to rest with Hashim Amla, the star batsman 11 not out at tea after JP Duminy was out to the last ball before the interval.

The day was turning into a triumph for England’s Jonny Bairstow, who had starred with both bat and gloves.

He made a valuable 51 after being dropped on seven before he was last man out in England’s second innings 233.

While Bairstow, the son of late former England wicket-keeper David Bairstow, has often been praised for his batting, his glovework has attracted criticism.

But he held a catch of which England wicket-keeping great Alan Knott would have been proud to dismiss Heino Kuhn when he dived low down the legside to grab a left-handed chance following the opener’s glance off James Anderson.

Kuhn was out for nine, his second single figure score of a disappointing Test debut.

And South Africa’s 12 for one became 12 for two when stand-in skipper Dean Elgar (two) drilled a return catch to off-spinner Moeen Ali who hung on to the hard-hit chance.

Duminy then hammered a pull off Mark Wood and Ali held a good catch at short midwicket.

Former captain Alastair Cook was 59 not out overnight and Gary Ballance unbeaten on 34.

Joe Root, fresh from his first innings 190 in his first Test as England captain, fell for just five when, having seen Keshav Maharaj turn one sharply, he played on to a straighter ball from the left-arm spinner.

Ben Stokes (one) was then so plumb lbw to fast bowler Kagiso Rabada he ‘walked’ before the umpire’s finger was raised.

Elgar, leading the side in the absence of Faf du Plessis on paternity leave, then jokingly ran across to put his hand over the bowler’s mouth – with Rababa banned from next week’s second of a four-Test series at Trent Bridge for swearing at Stokes after dismissing him in England’s first innings. – AFP