England solid in chase of SA’s 475

Centurion, January 23

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England captain Alastair Cook led from the front as his team began strongly in reply to South Africa’s 475 on the second day of the fourth Test here today.

After the early fall of Alex Hales (15), Cook added 56 for the second wicket with Nick Compton before Compton was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada for 19. However, Joe Root played with assurance and added 60 for the third wicket with his captain during the third session of play. England were 138/2 at stumps, Cook batting on 67 and Root on 31.

Third ton

Earlier, Quinton de Kock hit an unbeaten maiden century, the third of this South African innings, to take the hosts to 475. The left-handed de Kock made 129 not out off 128 balls as he and the tailenders frustrated the England bowlers on a hot, humid day.

Kyle Abbott helped de Kock add 50 for the eighth wicket and Piedt shared a ninth wicket stand of 82 with the South African wicketkeeper.

De Kock was the third centurion in the innings and joined debutant Stephen Cook in making his first Test hundred. England once again paid the price for dropped catches. After both Cook and Hashim Amla were dropped on the way to centuries on the first day, de Kock was put down by Ben Stokes at gully off James Anderson when he was on 28, having added only three runs to his overnight score. De Kock was dropped again on 90 when he drove Moeen Ali hard to England captain Cook at short cover.

Despite the blemishes it was an impressive innings by de Kock, who hit 17 fours and two sixes. He was particularly severe on Ali, hitting 45 runs off the 28 balls he faced from the off-spinner, including both his sixes and six fours.

It was a disappointing effort by England who would have hoped to wrap up the innings quickly after taking two wickets early in the day.

Brief scores: South Africa: 475 (Cook 115, Amla 109, de Kock 129; Stokes 4/86); England: 138/2 (Cook 67; Rabada 2/55). — AFP