Late stand brings hope
A Hales 3 8-12 ..................... L Keniry — I Furtado 3 8-12 ......................... L Morris — (40) R Fahey 3 8-7 ........................ B McHugh 44 (15) A Balding 3 8-7 ....... Josephine Gordon 70 (18) J Tate 3 8-7 (BF) .......................... B Curtis 67
(187) Archie Watson 3 8-7Hollie Doyle 68 (20)GMargarson38-7 ........................ DKeenan(3) 62
I Furtado 3 8-7 .............................. J Haynes — BETTING: 11-8 New Arrival, 9-2 Morning Fury, 5 Portugueseprincess, Shymay, 12 Pride Of Punjab, 16 Now We’re Touring, Vive Audacter, 25 Bank Holiday.
(11) C Wallis 6 9-9 (D3) ................ L Morris (33)JRyan49-8 .................... DKeenan(3)
(107) J Boyle 4 9-7 ............................. H Turner
(28) W Stone 5 9-5 (D) .......................... Hollie Doyle
(8) Archie Watson 4 9-4 (CD) ....... P-Louis Jamin (7)
(108) A Carroll 7 9-4 (D4) .................. S P Davis (3)
(14) M Wigham 5 9-0 (D) ............................. C Bishop
(38) D O’Meara 9 8-13 (BF, CD) ....... L Keniry
(11) R Eddery 4 8-13 (C)...Selma Grage (7)
(31) S C Williams 5 8-9 (BF, D) ........ N Currie BETTING: 7-2 Lalania, 4 Highland Acclaim, 5 Sandridge Lad, 13-2 Desert Land, 7 George Thomas, 10 Broughton Excels, 12 Alicia Darcy, Awsaaf, 14 Others.
DISRUPTOR (12) P Evans 4 9-7 ................................... A Kirby
OUR MAN IN HAVANA (30) A Carroll 5 9-7 (D2).D Keenan (3) CHOCCO STAR (47) Chelsea Banham 4 9-7 ................ J Haynes PORTO FERRO (18) J Bridger 6 9-4 (CD2) ............... C Bennett
VINO ROSSO (79) M Blanshard 4 9-0 ........................ C Bishop ILLUSTRIOUS SPIRIT (12) Ali Stronge 5 9-0 ..... P Mulrennan MAJOR ASSAULT (18) Debbie Hughes 7 8-13 (CD)... W Carson DREAMBOAT ANNIE (8) M Usher 5 8-12 (D) ......... I Francis (7)
COOL STRUTTER (93) J Spearing 8 8-12 (D) ............... L Morris PHAROH JAKE (8) J Bridger 12 8-12 (C7, D) .............. J Gordon YFENNI (19) J Bradley 4 8-12 .................................. R Da Silva JUNIORS DREAM (87) I Furtado 4 8-12 ................. B McHugh BETTING: 7-2 Dreamboat Annie, 4 Chocco Star, 11-2 Our Man In Havana, 13-2 Disruptor, 8 Illustrious Spirit, 10 Vino Rosso, Porto Ferro, 14 Cool Strutter, 16 Others.
ENGLAND were pleased with their efforts on day one of the third Test in Port Elizabeth, confident that a late stand between Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope had tipped the scales back in their favour against South Africa.
The tourists closed on 224 for four on a lethargic St George’s Park pitch that hampered fluent strokeplay and forced bowlers to labour hard for results.
The game could have gone in a number of directions, Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley batting through the morning session to put the early pressure on the hosts, who then fought back to make it 148 for four.
Joe Root was the last of the top order to fall, Kagiso Rabada charging in and springing his off stump with one that kept lower than the England captain expected, leaving things firmly in the balance.
Not for the first time Stokes took it upon himself to assume control and he put on an unbroken 76 with Pope, who struck the ball more sweetly than any of his colleagues as he dashed a series of late boundaries.
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.”
There was no denying the importance of the tonal shift ushered in by Stokes and Pope, who finished unbeaten on 38 and 39 respectively, but that does nothing to undermine Crawley’s hard-working knock of 44 at the top.
Playing just his fourth international innings he shelved his natural instincts to grind down the Proteas for just under 49 overs. It was unspectacular stuff but the kind of graft demanded of openers on stodgy surfaces.
“It was a struggle but I enjoyed it,” the 21-year-old said.
“If I had the choice I’d be a freescorer but you’re playing for England: you’ve got to play the situation. I was more than happy to block a few out there. I think I played well, but to say I did my job. Once you get to 40 ideally you want to go on and get a big one.
“Hopefully that’s what I’ll do next time. But I thought I played quite nicely so I’ll take something from it.”