South Africa picked on from the first-day score of 329 runs for the loss of five wickets and went on to post a total of 475 runs as Quinton De Kock scored a century on the second day of the fourth test match. In reply, the English batsmen started steadily and finished the day with 138 runs on the board. Alastair Cook and Joe Root remained unbeaten, with the former scoring a half-century.
De Kock and Tenda Bavuma were able to add just six runs to their previous day’s total when the latter departed. Kagiso Rabada was the next batsman to walk in, but he was not able to score a single run and was caught leg before on a James Anderson delivery. De Kock, who went on to score a century was in dire need of a partner to steady the ship and Kyle Abbott and Dane Piedt did just that.
Abbott, who himself scored 16 runs before getting himself out on a Ben Stokes delivery, added 50 runs with the wicketkeeper for the eighth wicket. Piedt was the next to walk in, and he also helped De Kock in adding as many runs as possible for the team. The right-hander scored 19 runs himself and made a partnership of 82 runs with the South African wicket-keeper.
Morne Morkel, who was the next to walk in, did not show much resistance and got out for a duck. De Kock remained not out at a personal score of 129 runs. Stokes was the pick of English bowlers, he bagged four wickets, whereas, Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali picked two wickets each. James Anderson and Chris Woakes bagged one wicket each.
The Three Lions started their innings steadily but Alex Hales was not able to help the skipper much as he departed with only 22 runs on the board, Rabada picked his wicket. Nick Compton steadied the ship with Cook as the duo added 56 runs for the second wicket before Compton became Rabada’s second victim.
Joe Root was the next to walk out and he remained unbeaten along with his captain till the end of the day. The 25-year-old is currently unbeaten at 31 runs, whereas Cook amassed 67 runs. The visitors currently trail by 337 runs with eight wickets in hand.
Brief Scores: South Africa (first innings): 475 (Quinton De Kock 129*)
England (first innings): 138/2 (Cook 67*, Root 31*)
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