Eng ride on Stokes, Pope ton
Port Elizabeth, January 17
Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope both scored centuries as a dominant England took a firm grip on the third Test against South Africa, declaring on 499 before reducing the hosts to 60 /2 at the close of the second day.
South Africa trail by 439 runs and will need to bat for much of the weekend to stay in the contest and avoid going 2-1 behind in the four-Test series. Dean Elgar, 32 not out, and nightwatchman Anrich Nortje will return on Day 3, chasing down England’s first-innings score of 499/9 declared, after spinner Dom Bess removed opener Pieter Malan (18) and Zubayr Hamza for 10 in fading light and left South Africa in a perilous position.
An unbeaten 135 from 22-year-old Ollie Pope, his maiden Test ton, and 120 from Ben Stokes helped England achieve the fourth highest Test innings score at Port Elizabeth. Pope displayed his potential as he came in at 39 not out overnight, sped to his 50, survived two scares before getting to 100 and then put the South African bowlers to the sword.
He and Stokes put on 203 for the fifth wicket, while Pope also featured in a 59-run stand with Sam Curran and then a 73-run partnership for the ninth wicket in just 52 balls with tail-ender Mark Wood. Stokes underlined his talismanic role for England with a typically flourishing century, before being caught off the bowling of debutant Dane Paterson. — Reuters
Brief scores: Eng: 499/9 decl (Pope 135*, Stokes 120; Maharaj 5/180, Rabada 2/97); SA: 60/2 (Elgar 32*; Bess 2/12)
RABADA GETS ONE-TEST BAN
PORT ELIZABETH: South Africa’s top bowler Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the last Test of the four-match series against England after being handed another demerit point for his robust celebration on the first day of the third Test at St George’s Park. Rabada was fined 15% of his match fee and received one demerit point after being found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC code of conduct. He has now accumulated four demerit points in a 24-month period and is suspended for South Africa’s next Test. Rabada had celebrated bowling out England captain Joe Root on Day 1 with a scream and and a fist-pumping gesture right in front of his victim. Just under two years ago, Rabada was suspended for two Tests against Australia after being found guilty of “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with a player” after a shoulder charge on Australia captain Steve Smith in the second Test. Rabada was fined 50% of his match fee and handed three demerit points which took him to a total of eight points within a 24-month period, automatically leading to the suspension. — Reuters
