Illness curtailed England's bowling attack on day two of their match against a South African Invitation XI in Benoni today as Jimmy Anderson took his first wicket for four months.
Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach were all deemed too ill to take the field, putting greater onus on Anderson in his first match since pulling up with a calf strain in the opening Ashes Test in August.
He struggled to make any early inroads but found his rhythm after lunch to take the wicket of Kabelo Sekhukhune (65), who had launched a recovery after the South Africans were reduced to 18 for two.
In response to England’s 309 for four declared, Chris Woakes proved the pick of the bowlers, with three wickets after lunch, before captain Joe Root pitched in to dismiss Matthew Arnold and leave the hosts on 239 for seven.
Sam Curran had given his side the best possible start when removing Isma-eel Gafieldien and Modiri Litheko.
