England 155-6 and fending off South Africa late in 2nd test
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) England was fending off a late surge by South Africa to reach tea on the final day of the second test on 155-6 in its second innings on Wednesday.
England was 157 runs ahead, but South Africa had sensed an opportunity to roll out the English cheaply and have a go at chasing those runs and stealing the test at the very end.
England lost six wickets in two sessions on the last day, starting with the exit of captain Alastair Cook in the second over of play. Jonny Bairstow survived a close stumping appeal just before tea as he and Moeen Ali took England to the break.
England had been in complete command after posting 629-6 declared in its first innings. South Africa replied with a defiant 627-7 declared and had turned the game completely through the success of its bowlers on the fifth day.
South Africa was aided by a turnaround in the conditions at Newlands, where a serene batting pitch and four days of sunshine and bright blue skies had been replaced by a tricky surface and clouds looming overhead. To add to the eventful day, rain fell during the tea break and the covers were brought on. They were then taken off again.
Using the gloomy conditions earlier, South Africa fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel removed openers Cook and Alex Hales swiftly, with neither adding to their overnight scores. Cook edged down the leg-side, while Hales was out to a diving one-handed catch by Chris Morris in the slips.
Joe Root hit five fours in his 29, and survived being caught on a Morkel no ball. But it didn't last long before Morris - with his first delivery of the day - crashed an in-swinging ball into Root's stumps.
When the normally-patient Nick Compton fell just before lunch to a careless shot off spinner Dane Piedt, England was in trouble and South Africa saw an opportunity for a startling victory from well behind in the game.
Ben Stokes, the hero of England's first innings with his stunning 258, fell to the increasingly-influential spin of Piedt trying for a big shot after lunch. James Taylor was caught bat-pad off the offspinner with England tending to lose wickets in twos.
Bairstow, who dragged his foot back in time to avoid a stumping, and whose survival was confirmed after a very long TV referral, was 26 not out. Ali was 10 not out.
England still leads the four-test series 1-0 and is seeking a first series win over South Africa in 11 years. But the home team, under pressure early in this game, had dramatically shifted the momentum of the contest and possibly the series.
There are two more tests, in Johannesburg and Centurion, to come.
