South Africa won the toss and elected to bat. Stephen Cook, the player I said should have been selected to open with Elgar at the start of the series, finally makes his debut and has responded with a magnificent 50. So glad that he didn't play from the opening match of the series as he could have been a difference maker, providing some stability at the top of the order.
South Africa have piled on the runs after lunch and are now 146/1. This has a very similar feel to the 5th Test of the Ashes series at the Oval.
A cracking century for Amla. Woakes has been exceptionally dire for England so far. South Africa 221/1, and will have their sights set on a score of 350 before the day is over.
[quote author=pwarbi link=topic=102252.msg674856#msg674856 date=1453470025]
Anything less than 400 at the end of the day will be disappointing as far as the south Africans are concerned I would have thought.
As for England it's just a case of keep plodding on for now and hopefully try and stop the test from slipping away on day 1.
[/quote]
To get to 400 before the close of play, South Africa will need to score at 6 an over. Can't see that happening, no matter how poor England continue to bowl.
Amla goes. Stokes has the breakthrough, and the 202 run partnership comes to an end. South Africa 237/2. Cook is just 3 runs away from a debut Test century.
Water is wet, the sun comes up in the morning and Broad gets AB de Villers. He really is his bunny, isn't he? AB perishes without scoring. South Africa 238/3. England have bowled a much better line (and length) since tea. Runs have been hard to come by and that has paid off with two quick wickets.
Cook gets his debut Test century. Things got a bit hairy there in the nineties for him, but a brilliant innings, nonetheless. My research shows that Cook is the 8th batsman over the age of 30 to score a century on debut. The other 7 are Grace, Aminul Islam, Griffith, Voges, Houghton, Milton and Collins.
England at least pulling themselves back into some contention in this one. Woakes, after a woeful day of bowling, picks up a wicket. Cook out for 115 and England have a bit of an opening here in the last hour before the close of play. South Africa 271/4.