England all out for 303 in 1st test after Morkel's 4 wickets
DURBAN, South Africa (AP) England was all out for 303 in its first innings in the first test after South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel took four wickets on Sunday, including two in two balls.
Morkel's intervention before lunch on the second day at Kingsmead sent Ben Stokes, top-scorer Nick Compton, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes packing. That halted an England fightback that threatened to take the tourists to a 400-plus score.
Compton frustrated top-ranked South Africa for more than six hours over the first two days for his 85 off 236 balls before attempting a hook and edging behind to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers.
Stokes fell for 21 before that and Moeen and Woakes went for ducks in successive balls soon after Compton. Morkel removed those three in the space of two overs.
England was 179-4 overnight and had hopes of making better progress with its deep batting order on Sunday as the sun shone in Durban following an overcast and tricky opening day for the batsmen. Instead, England lost six wickets for 124 and was grateful for a last-wicket partnership of 36 dominated by Stuart Broad, who made a belligerent 32 not out.
Still, after being 12-2 early on the first day and severely under pressure, England's first total of the four-test series was decent.
While Morkel was South Africa's best bowler on Sunday with his 4-76, Dale Steyn ended the innings with the dismissal of Steven Finn to collect 4-70.
James Taylor made 70 in a 125-run partnership with Compton on Saturday and Jonny Bairstow hit a brisk 41 on Sunday as he tried to push England on with Morkel taking wickets around him. The Durban-born Compton showed impressive patience to build his innings but fell after a rush of blood and a loose pull shot.
Morkel had allrounder Moeen caught behind and trapped Woakes lbw next ball to set up a hat-trick chance. His hat-trick delivery fizzed just past the outside edge of Broad's bat.
That didn't deter Broad from playing attacking shots and he hit five fours to ensure England made it past 300.
