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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Vithushan Ehantharajah (earlier) Dan Lucas (now)

South Africa v England: second Test, day two – as it happened

Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes celebrates his century during day two of the second Test at Newlands. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Well that was some day. South Africa batted well in the end, AB de Villiers surviving a dropped catch by Root and Amla delighting the neutrals with his first 50 in 11 innings. If they can survive another session they might just save this.

Obviously though, there will be very little of that in tomorrow’s papers. There will be a little bit more on Jonny Bairstow on his brilliant 150 from 191 balls: perfectly timed and an ideal supporting innings.

Where do you start with Ben Stokes though? In case you somehow missed it earlier, he moved from an overnight 74 to a brutal, unbelievable, record-breaking 258 from 198. He scored 131 in the morning, more than anyone else ever in a single session. He made the highest score ever by an England No6. He hit 11 sixes, breaking Wally Hammond’s record. He and Bairstow put on 399 - the second highest for any English wicket. There are probably other records I’ve forgotten, but that is, without exaggeration, one of the greatest Test innings I can remember seeing. It was utterly breathtaking.

That’s all from me for this Test, I think. Cheers for reading, bye!

Updated

Stumps: South Africa 141-2 trail by 488 runs

43rd over: South Africa 141-2 (De Villiers 25, Amla 64) Broad with what I suspect will be the final over of the day. Amla punches down the ground and down the hill for four to bring up the 50 partnership from 107 balls. Two boundaries on the bounce, in fact, as he fends with soft hands, away from his body, and gets an outside edge along the ground and wide of slip for for four more to third man. He defends the last ball.

42nd over: South Africa 133-2 (De Villiers 25, Amla 56) Another double change: Finn on for Moeen. I imagine we’ll get two more overs today, including this one. There’s an appeal for lbw when ABdV leaves one that jags back in, but it’s missing off - on bother line and height - by an absolute mile. Maiden.

41st over: South Africa 133-2 (De Villiers 25, Amla 56) Broad on for Stokes for a couple of overs at the end of the day. England lead by 500; excluding the run outs, the cumulative score for the day is 441-1 from 78 overs. I’d say it’s a good wicket for batting, but that would detract from some wonderful innings. Amla adds four runs to that tally with an elegant cut, hard behind point.

40th over: South Africa 129-2 (De Villiers 25, Amla 52) For a minute there, I lost count of the overs. Refresh and it’ll be corrected. While I was taking care of that, Amla took another run from this Moeen over. 15 minutes to go; England would dearly love to break this stand, which is now worth 44.

39th over: South Africa 128-2 (De Villiers 25, Amla 51) Four runs and a well-deserved half-century for Amla, as he plays a nice wristy shot through midwicket. Today has obviously belonged to Stokes and Bairstow, but this has been a good, composed, important innings for the South Africa captain. Not that his work is anywhere near done.

Amla brings up his 50.
Amla brings up his 50. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

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38th over: South Africa 123-2 (De Villiers 25, Amla 46) Stokes goes for the run out when Amla nurdles a quick single into the leg side and looks furious as Broad fails to back up, allowing the ball to fly away for four overthrows.

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37th over: South Africa 118-2 (De Villiers 25, Amla 41) Stokes, with one for 13 from his four over so far and some contribution with the bat too, returns. If anyone’s going to pick up a wicket in the remaining 27 minutes there’s no doubt it’s going to be him. Not in this over though; De Villiers knocking him out to midwicket for a couple with the only scoring shot.

Updated

36th over: South Africa 116-2 (De Villiers 23, Amla 41) No alarms and no surprises as De Villiers picks up a run from the over. This day is drifting to a close now, although it’d be just the tiniest bit churlish to complain about that.

35th over: South Africa 115-2 (De Villiers 22, Amla 41) After a single to AB, Amla punches down the ground for his first two runs since the 28th over.

34th over: South Africa 112-2 (De Villiers 21, Amla 39) Time for spin as Moeen replaces Finn. De Villiers drives out to mid on for the over’s solitary run.

33rd over: South Africa 111-2 (De Villiers 20, Amla 39) Amla gets stuck into a short wide one from Anderson, but Compton makes a very good diving stop at backward point to save four. Compton has been excellent there today, running out Van Zyl and taking a good catch to dismiss Elgar.

32nd over: South Africa 111-2 (De Villiers 20, Amla 39) Lovely shot from De Villiers when Finn strays on to the pads, whipped through midwicket with lovely timing for four.

This is getting seriously annoying:

31st over: South Africa 107-2 (De Villiers 16, Amla 39) We’re into the last hour now. Play won’t go on beyond 6pm local time, or 4pm GMT, so we’re not getting the remaining 19 overs in. You can hardly blame South Africa for their over rate earlier given how often they had to fetch the ball. There’s a wee bit of variable bounce for Anderson, though I expect that to dry up tomorrow after the roller’s been out.

30th over: South Africa 107-2 (De Villiers 16, Amla 39) Finn has De Villiers fishing a touch. If there was any batsman England wouldn’t have wanted to drop... and this is why. De Villiers is on to a full one, driving it hard and classically dead straight down the ground for four. Later in the over he adds two more with a push out to wide mid on.

29th over: South Africa 101-2 (De Villiers 10, Amla 39) Awww! Anderson goes full and De Villiers has a wild flash; the ball takes his outside edge and it goes flying straight through the hands of Root at second slip! He’s dropped a dolly and Anderson is furious as the ball instead runs away to third man for four. That’s the hundred up for South Africa.

28th over: South Africa 96-2 (De Villiers 5, Amla 39) On Sky, Bumble is treating us to his impressions. In fairness, his Tony Greig isn’t too terrible. For the third time today it’s a double change for England, with Finn on for Broad. The batsmen milk him for three singles, then the slips are interested by one that passes miles under Amla’s bottom edge. There was a noise, but bat and ball were in different postcodes.

27th over: South Africa 93-2 (De Villiers 3, Amla 38) Another change, with Anderson replacing Stokes. De Villiers opens his account with a back-foot punch out past extra cover for three, very nicely played.

26th over: South Africa 90-2 (De Villiers 0, Amla 38) Obviously this is a massive partnership for South Africa now. If these two can get through until lunch tomorrow then they’ll be in with a shout of saving this Test. If England can knock one or both of them over tonight, well, we’ve got champagne in the fridge.

Amala times a beauty through cover for four. And now it is drinks.

25th over: South Africa 86-2 (De Villiers 0, Amla 34) Stokes comes round the wicket and Elgar takes advantage of a short, wide bit of fluff, cutting hard behind point for four. Given how mentally fried South Africa must have been after the first session and a half, this has been a good response from them. Oh no bugger that, Elgar is out and this 78-run stand is broken by - who else? - Stokes! He becomes the first bowler to take a wicket today, more than an hour into the evening session. His first ball to De Villiers is called a wide on height.

Wicket! Elgar c Compton b Stokes 44

Of course it’s Stokes. It’s a good short ball that tucks Elgar up. He looks to turn it into the on side and gets a leading edge, which loops up to backward point. Compton takes a solid catch tumbling to his right.

Stokes celebrates taking the wicket of Elgar.
Stokes celebrates taking the wicket of Elgar. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

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24th over: South Africa 81-1 (Elgar 40, Amla 34) Nope, it’s not drinks. Amla gets a thick inside edge looking to drive and gets a single out to square leg. A quiet over, from the last ball of which Elgar takes a single.

23rd over: South Africa 79-1 (Elgar 39, Amla 33) Stokes is human after all - he sends a woeful bouncer flying straight into the hands of Cook at first slip. That’s a wide - when was the last time we saw 14 wides in a Test match? That should be drinks.

22nd over: South Africa 78-1 (Elgar 39, Amla 33) Ooh there was the faintest of spikes on UltraEdge when the ball passed Amla’s bat in that last over. His bat was away from the body and so away from the stump mic, but I don’t think it’s enough that the decision would have been overturned. Elgar muscles an ugly pull out to square leg for a single here. Then, from the final ball, Amla smites a vicious pull of his own out to the deep midwicket fence for four. Glorious shot.

21st over: South Africa 73-1 (Elgar 38, Amla 29) Elgar picks up his fifth boundary by nudging a leg stump half volley through midwicket. I’ve not seen a huge amount of him before this series, but Elgar looks like the real deal as an opener. He takes a single, then Amla pushes through point for a couple more. The captain then chases one down leg side and there’s a noise - it’s not given and, after some deliberation, Cook decides against the review. Rightly so, I think.

20th over: South Africa 66-1 (Elgar 33, Amla 27) Double change for England as Broad replaces Finn, who was a bit too full on occasion. Elgar knocks one off his pads for two out to deep midwicket. He follows this up with a similar one, closer to the fielder, and gets one more. Two more singles and these two are looking comfortable, even if they are 363 from saving the follow on.

19th over: South Africa 61-1 (Elgar 29, Amla 26) Call me Nostrodamus, here’s your new god, Ben Stokes. He has his new best mate Bairstow excited when Amla swings and misses at a bouncer, but the wicketkeeper is the only man interested in that one.

18th over: South Africa 61-1 (Elgar 29, Amla 26) The wind is getting up now. One from the over and you would think Stokes will be given a bowl soon.

17th over: South Africa 60-1 (Elgar 29, Amla 25) Not before time, Moeen comes over the wicket where he’ll have a spot of rough to aim for. Amla goes across to off though and punches to extra cover for a couple. He gets another single into the on side, then Elgar punches four down to long off to bring up the 50 partnership from 14.3 overs.

He’d need to throw a boot over the pavilion. That’s the real quiz.

16th over: South Africa 53-1 (Elgar 25, Amla 22) Shouts of “catch it” as Amla turns one to square leg. It glances Taylor’s hand down to his right, but came out the middle of the hand and was far too quick for anyone who isn’t Spiderman. They run a single and Finn has Elgar fending off a very good lifter; it’s well played with soft hands though and safely run to gulley.

15th over: South Africa 52-1 (Elgar 25, Amla 21) Moeen isn’t finding a huge amount of turn from round the wicket, although he does push one through quicker than Elgar was expecting and hurries the batsman. Elgar responds perfectly though, lifting one from outside off gloriously down the ground for a beaut of a six. That’s 50 up for South Africa.

14th over: South Africa 45-1 (Elgar 19, Amla 20) Another half volley from Finn and Elgar punches to cover for one. “Hashim, Hashim Hashim, Hashim Hashim, Hashim Ha-shim Ha-shim!” sing some people in the crowd, to the tune of 2-Unlimited’s “No Limits”. I hate those people more than anything in the world right now.

13th over: South Africa 43-1 (Elgar 18, Amla 19) Amla goes very deep in his crease and blocks the first five balls, then goes very deep in his crease to the sixth and whips it hard through midwicket for four. Whisper it, but he’s looking really good.

12th over: South Africa 39-1 (Elgar 18, Amla 15) Finn from the other end and he opens with a mean bouncer to Elgar, the batsman chasing it and pulling out of the shot at the very last moment. That’s a hell of a ball. Elgar comes back well, punching back down the ground for a barrel-straight four. Two balls later he repeats the trick - by my reckoning that’s his third boundary in that area. Finn is probably a wee bit too full right now, although as I write that he pulls it back and hits the batsman in the ribs via the gloves.

11th over: South Africa 31-1 (Elgar 10, Amla 15) Yep as suspected, Moeen has changed ends, He begins with a short, wide one that Amla misses out on, cutting straight to the man at backward point. He won’t be too upset though as he turns the next ball down to fine leg for four.

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10th over: South Africa 27-1 (Elgar 10, Amla 11) We’re back and Joe Root is on after tea, presumably to allow Moeen to change ends and bowl into the breeze. He’s round the wicket to Elgar, with a short leg and a slip in place. The over is milked for three runs, a single and a two.

“Aren’t you forgetting Paul Farbrace?” asks Paul Ewart, as if I was the one who asked the bloody question. “The transformation began under his aegis. 50% Trevor Bayliss, 50% Paul Farbrace, the man you unleashed the latent potential.”

“65% Bayliss and 35% Moores???” asks an incredulous John Bottomley. “Don’t the players merit even a measly 1 per cent?”

No, it’s all down to the coaches.

I’m off to get some, er, tea. Back with you in 20 minutes. In the interim, Mark Dixon asks: “Loving the OBO from here in Zimbabwe….can someone who understands cricket better than me explain whether this English brilliance is down to Trevor Bayliss or Peter Moores?”

I’d say 65% column A, 35% column B.

Tea: South Africa trail by 605 (!!!) runs

9th over: South Africa 24-1 (Elgar 8, Amla 10) A double change for England: Finn is going to get an over before the break. Amla drops the second delivery into the off side and gets off strike. Finn is bowling very full to Elgar, looking to induce the drive and the edge. He gets the former from the final ball, but it’s middled straight back past the bowler for a lovely four down to long off. What a lovely way to end the session for South Africa. I’m sure that’ll be a massive comfort.

8th over: South Africa 19-1 (Elgar 4, Amla 9) We’re going to get an over of spin here, Moeen bowling it with the breeze. He hits Elgar on the pad with a quicker one first up, but it’s going a long way down leg, before another yes-no call puts hearts in South African mouths. Elgar is given lbw but hit the leather off the thing and he doesn’t even bother to consult his captain before reviewing it, successfully. Time for one more over before tea.

Not out!

There’s a massive inside edge and this will be overturned. Bah! for England.

Review! Elgar lbw b Moeen 4

Pushed through quicker and he’s given out! Elgar reviews straight away.

7th over: South Africa 19-1 (Elgar 4, Amla 9) Niiiice from Amla, getting up on his toes and punching a shorter one from Jimmy through cover point and away to the boundary. South Africa can probably do as they did against India and dead-bat Anderson’s overs, but that’ll be suicide against Finn’s bounce I’d have thought.

6th over: South Africa 15-1 (Elgar 4, Amla 5) Remember when Stokes came in and fended off Rabada’s hat-trick ball? Those were nervy times, weren’t they? Elgar blocks out a maiden.

5th over: South Africa 15-1 (Elgar 4, Amla 5) A bit of width from Anderson and Elgar drives loosely through extra cover for a couple. He’s even looser next up, aiming for the same region and getting a thick inside edge back through his legs and past off stump. They run one. The final ball brings an uppish drive from Amla, which flies off the edge and runs through the vacant gully region for four.

4th over: South Africa 8-1 (Elgar 1, Amla 1) Gully comes around to fourth slip for Amla, who sees out a maiden.

“Just checked back on Cook’s 263 at Abu Dhabi - 528 balls. If Stokes batted that long at today’s scoring rate of 130.3 he’d have made 688,” notes Tom Bowtell.

3rd over: South Africa 8-1 (Elgar 1, Amla 1) Anderson is finding a tiny bit of shape back into the left-handers and Van Zyl leaves one that’s not too far from his stumps. He’s out two balls later, dismissed for four from 12 balls, making his innings as useful as ever. There was probably a run there, but Elgar was ball-watching and Bairstow was very quickly up to the stumps when Compton’s throw came in. Good keeping that. Amla rushes to get his pads on and comes to the middle with his side in a bit of bother and gets off the mark with a single.

Wicket! Van Zyl run out 4

South Africa are mentally fried. A yes-no call and Van Zyl, turning back, is a good couple of yards short when the ball comes back in from cover.

Bairstow runs out Van Zyl from Compton’s throw off Anderson’s bowling.
Bairstow runs out Van Zyl from Compton’s throw off Anderson’s bowling. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Updated

2nd over: South Africa 7-0 (Elgar 1, Van Zyl 4) Broad begins round the wicket, with three slips and a gully, though you wonder how useful they’ll be given Van Zyl’s stumps’ predilection for getting rearranged. The first ball is full and on the pads and Van Zyl whips it very nicely through midwicket for four. There’s a massive appeal next up though as the opener is trapped in front, but umpire Oxenford says no. Good call too, as he whacked the leather off it and Alastair Cook declines to review. The final ball is off the hip and round the corner for a leg bye.

I don’t know why I said tea was in seven minutes. It’s in half an hour.

1st over: South Africa 2-0 (Elgar 1, Van Zyl 0) Jimmy Anderson has the ball in his hands. Exactly what the South Africans wanted to see, some 629 runs behind. He’ll get a burst with the new ball before tea in seven minutes, then another afterwards. Second ball is on leg stump and Elgar nudges it square for a single. There’s a strangled appeal when he raps the left-hander Van Zyl on the pads, but it pitched a comfortable distance outside leg and they get a leg bye.

BA Stokes run out 258 (338m 198b 30x4 11x6) SR: 130.30

Another record: Stokes’ score is the highest by a No6 in Tests.

Yeah he has kinda ruined my fun. There are 10 and a half sessions left in this Test after all.

England’s day so far, I would say. England scored 312 runs in 38.5 overs today. I honestly can’t remember a better session and a half’s batting by an England side than that, truly astonishing stuff.

South Africa’s Red Wedding will continue when Stokes takes four wickets before tea, beginning in 10 minutes or so. I’d certainly give him the new ball, considering how high his confidence must be now.

End of innings: England 629-6

126th over: England 629-6 (Moeen 0, Bairstow 150) Rabada continues his punishment and his first ball is lifted gloriously over square leg for six, bringing up Stokes’ 250. His second is over long on for six more. The latter is the 11th of the innings, taking Stokes past Wally Hammond’s record. The fun comes to an end next ball though as Stokes is run out. This wonderful, ludicrous, astonishing partnership ends, frustratingly, on 399 from 57.4 overs. The batsmen crossed, so Bairstow is on strike and he hoiks up over backward square leg for the third six of the over. A nudge to square leg brings up his 150 and Cook declares!

Wicket! Stokes run out 258

I am so, so sorry.

Stokes whacks it miles in the air and De Villiers drops another dolly at mid on. Unfortunately, Stokes was mid pitch waiting for him to take the catch, so De Villiers has plenty of time to throw down the stumps.

Hello folks. Did I miss much?

125th over: England 610-5 (Stokes 246, Bairstow 143)

Oh Morne. Chris Morris is back into the attack and Bairstow swings and connects, but not very well. The ball heads towards Morkel at deep mid off who jogs in, sets himself... and drops it! Worse still, he does so in front of the heaving Barmy Army support. Naturally, the next two deliveries comes to him – both along the floor – and he’s given the big build up and “WAHEY” as he fields. Drinks now and that’s all from me. That was special – time to let Dan have some fun.

124th over: England 601-5 (Stokes 242, Bairstow 138)

Jonny Bairstow loses a bit of shape, reaching for one that isn’t there, trying to cart it over Table Mountain. Rabada’s around the wicket now, so Bairstow opens up his stance. He’s chest on now and is setting himself like a defensive linesman. Rabada goes for the blockhole but is hit to cover for four. Short ball next and Bairstow swivels on his heels to help it over the fine leg boundary for four. Another short ball, this time on an off stump line, and Bairstow top edges... for another four! Dane Piedt was at third man and ran in but can’t get close enough to catch it and it squirts under him. Geez, that score...

Updated

123rd over: England 586-5 (Stokes 242, Bairstow 123)

“Wait till these two batsmen get to Joburg,” beams Neil Waterfield at the carnage here, at sea level. Thin air = big hits. Bairstow keeps going – van Zyl is short and larruped through midwicket. Stiaan overcorrects and he’s butchered back over his head for another. And again, though this time along the carpet.

122nd over: England 574-5 (Stokes 242, Bairstow 111)

The worst over of the lot: Rabada bowls a god awful bouncer that sails high over de Kock’s head for four byes. Then, an LBW shout – the ball was clearly pitching outside leg stump – is review by Amla. Time wasting the only reasonable explanation. Stokes looks a bit pissed off by it all, so hammers Rabada to the midwicket boundary for yet another four. Ends with a very deliberate edge that races fine of third man. That boundary brings up the 350 partnership.

121st over: England 558-5 (Stokes 232, Bairstow 110)

There it is – Stokes gets hold of van Zyl and sends him to the stands! That’s nine sixes in the innings for Stokes. Wally Hammond has the English record with 10.

Not a bad soundtrack to carnage.

120th over: England 549-5 (Stokes 225, Bairstow 108)

Good pace from Rabada, but it doesn’t really matter at this juncture: essentially, South Africa have to bore England into declaring.. The boundaries have dried up (relatively).

Funny what happens when the power that be focus on cricket rather than petty nonsense...

119th over: England 546-5 (Stokes 225, Bairstow 105)

Four singles off Elgar, as Bairstow and Stokes look to impart their own pace on the ball.

“Well played Jonny. Your dad would be so proud. You have to feel a little for him though, since Stokes’ knock will always be uppermost in our minds when we remember this one.” Well said on that first bit, Steve Hudson. As for the second, I think the two will go together well when recalling this session and a half.

118th over: England 542-5 (Stokes 223, 103)

A dab to third man takes Bairstow to 99. Stokes returns the strike to him... and that’s it! A back cut for four, as the field close in on the one, and Jonny Bairstow has his Test hundred – one he has coveted for a long time. An emotional celebration, too: he roars before taking off his helmet and looking to the skies. Excellent knock.

117th over: England 536-5 (Stokes 222, Bairstow 98)

Dean Elgar into the attack and Stokes thrashes him hard through square leg, just for one. To Bairstow, Elgar changes his length and pace. Credit to the batsman, who isn’t lured into trying to take apart the part-timer. No issue for Stokes, who gets on one knee and heaves to deep square leg for four.

116th over: England 530-5 (Stokes 217, Bairstow 97)

Bairstow happy to do it in singles - and why not. A push to mid off allows Stokes to try and hit van Zyl into orbit. Settles for deep cover.

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115th over: England 528-5 (Stokes 216, Bairstow 96)

Simon McMahon checks in: “How many do you reckon England need here? Bairstow to get his hundred, a few more boundaries from Stokes, say 551-6 dec. What could possibly go wrong?” Don’t think Stokes is done yet: Morkel is hammered over mid on for a tremendous six. Tries to tuck Stokes up on his hip but is worked behind square leg for four! A Test best for Bairstow, who takes a single off the last ball.

114th over: England 516-5 (Stokes 204, Bairstow 95)

Stiaan van Zyl – very medium pace – into the attack for the first time today. Quinton de Kock comes up to the stumps and is rewarded with a very wide delivery on the offside, which only just lands inside the pitch. The call is a bye but it should be wide. Bairstow gets on strike, mishits a full toss into the ground but gets to the other end as de Kock has trouble gathering what should have been a regulation take.

113th over: England 513-5 (Stokes 204, Bairstow 95)

Here we go again. Bairstow on strike, Morkel with the ball and a serene start. Morkel hammers out a good length, Bairstow defends with blocks and pushes and a leave. A maiden. Remember those?

Twitter peaking during the break, so I thought I’d give you all a quick run down of the best tweets going...

LUNCH

112th over: England 513-5 (Stokes 204, Bairstow 95)

All eyes on Bairstow, who drives Morkel well through extra cover for four. He moves to his career best 95, against the same opposition, with a tuck into square leg. And that’s the session. The right honourable Selvey has the breakdown of the session numbers. All I can say is wow. As for the Ginger-combo, the previous highest was Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood’s 184 in Chittagong 2010 (courtesy of Ali Martin via Dan Lucas).

I’m going to have a lie down. See you after the break.

Alex Gaywood asks the important question: “Question for the stattos: What is the highest test partnership between two batsmen of the red haired variety? This must surely be challenging.”

111th over: England 508-5 (Stokes 205, Bairstow 90)

Mavis Cruet: “Just seeing I think it was du Plessis field well and get a bit of a pat on the bottom from a slip. Where has that been? Where’s the motivation and direction from Amla? Why does every cricket team insist on the best batsman being captain (notwithstanding Amla’s for compared to de Villiers)?” It’s a good question and, judging from the noises in the media and from Amla himself, he might not last much longer. Runs off every ball of the over. Quality from these two.

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110th over: England 501-5 (Stokes 202, Bairstow 85)

Morris keeps tabs on things for a chance, and Bairstow can only get him away for a single – pushing into the offside to retain the strike.

BEN STOKES HAS A TEST DOUBLE HUNDRED

109th over: England 500-5 (Stokes 202, Bairstow 84)

Drink this in. Ben Stokes pulls Morkel well in front of square for the four that takes him to 202.

108th over: England 496-5 (Stokes 198, Bairstow 84)

Morris back into the attack and Stokes thumps him over mid off for four. Another four comes, this time over mid on: Stokes working a pull in that direction to beat the covering fielders straight and out on the legside. A good yorker from Morris and Stokes is beaten. For a change.

107th over: England 487-5 (Stokes 189, Bairstow 84)

Only one run from that over ROFL

106th over: England 484-5 (Stokes 188, Bairstow 83)

Rabada struggles with his front foot, singles are exchanged and Stokes signs off the over with a huge six over square leg and out of the ground. “Absolute butchery, here at Newlands,” says Michael Atherton.

105th over: England 471-5 (Stokes 181, Bairstow 79)

Special. Truly special. After heaving Piedt into the legside for four, Stokes hits two clean as a whistle. The first is a slog sweep over the legside fence. The second is straight as a die, into the black tarpaulin behind the bowler’s arm. That’s now 107 runs off 56 balls for Stokes in this session. Christ on a bendy bus...

104th over: England 454-5 (Stokes 165, Bairstow 78)

Rabada finds something in the pitch and a delivery to get big on Bairstow. A high edge is found but the ball squirts well wide of the two slips – about fourth, maybe a fine gully – for a single. Stokes plinks two into midwicket as he mistimes a pull. Six from the over.

103nd over: England 448-5 (Stokes 162, Bairstow 76)

“‘Paul Mitchell is doing that weird self-subediting thing. I thought we’d decided that that was bad form on OBO?’, twinkles the ever-pertinant and dashingly handsome Steve Hudson.” There are only three people in “the ring”. Still, Stokes has his sights set on boundaries. Second ball, Piedt gives the ball some air and Stokes skips down and hits inside out over cover... for SIX!

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102nd over: England 440-5 (Stokes 155, Bairstow 75)

Rabada gets called for a no ball. Been coming, that. Bairstow’s playing him with ease and gets him away for four with a pull shot that was more toe than middle. Two to midwicket and a swing and a miss end the over.

101st over: England 432-5 (Stokes 154, Bairstow 69)

“Vittie, Hazlehurst is a genius,” writes Robert Wilson. “That made my day. Only an English fan could get a sinking feeling from watching this full-on bullying bit of English swagger. England fans should be declared a protected species, they’re decorative. fragile and permanently good for a laugh.” Well said, Robbie. Speaking of bullying with swagger, Piedt is deposited over his head for six by Stokes, who moves to 150 off 135 deliveries. A couple of singles sandwich a well executed reverse sweep from Bairstow, for two.

“I’m at the ground,” boasts Paul Mitchell (his words).

“I can see two SA flags that aren’t on top of the pavilion, and one of those is upside down. Various England flags in a more or less continuous ring around the ground. Feels like a home game for England. Apart from the weather.”

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100th over: England 420-5 (Stokes 146, Bairstow 65)

Rabada’s radar is all over the place: strays onto the hip of Stokes and is away for four byes. Tries a bit harder next ball and oversteps, but it’s not given by the standing umpire. That was a big no ball too – not sure how the umpire missed that considering Rabada was basically shaking the batsman’s hand as he delivered it.

99th over: England 412-5 (Stokes 145, Bairstow 63)

Finally, Amla actually makes a decision. Dane Piedt is on and, second ball, he’s reverse swept by Stokes for four. Piedt pulls his length back and Stokes chases him to lift the ball over mid on – including the despairing dive of Stiaan van Zyl – for six. “I’m listening to the festivities on TMS,” writes Ant Pease. “Every time they describe a ball being bowled by saying ‘Rabada in,’ it sounds like someone with a cold who wants to know where they can a terrible night of sleep.”

98th over: England 401-5 (Stokes 134, Bairstow 62)

Punched, on the up, from Bairstow, in the air through mid on for four. Fine way to start the over. He’s kicking himself later, as he tries to work Morkel through gully, but fails to connect. That’s better: bit more width from Morkel and Bairstow wristily flays him through cover for four. That’s the team 400, at better than four an over. Series defining from these two.

97th over: England 391-5 (Stokes 133, Bairstow 53)

Four singles from the over – one leg bye – and you start to wonder if they even care anymore?

From Steve Hudson: “Robin Hazlehurst has the fear? I have the horn.”

96th over: England 387-5 (Stokes 131, Bairstow 52)

A maiden. Bloody hell.

95th over: England 387-5 (Stokes 131, Bairstow 52)

Amazingly, Robin Hazlehurst has the fear: “Well done to Stokes and all that, but am I the only one getting a bit of a sinking feeling about this? If Stokes can do this, what will ABV etc do? The higher and faster the England score clicks up, the more convinced I become of our certain doom. Not looking good at all frankly.” A couple of singles and then Stokes bludgeons Rabada through midwicket for another boundary.

94th over: England 381-5 (Stokes 126, Bairstow 51)

Morne Morkel continues and draws an error from Bairstow. Not a costly one, mind, as the ball squirts off his inside edge and safely in front of his stumps on the legside, for one. Stokes then goes after a length ball and slices it over cover for an easy three.

Updated

93rd over: England 377-5 (Stokes 123, Bairstow 50)

Fifty for Johnny Bairstow (from 69 balls), as he tucks one off his hip to fine leg. Amla’s decided to change things up, but he’s keeping pace on the ball in the form of Kagiso Rabada. With Stokes back on strike, Rabada drops one short and is flayed through midwicket for four. Good running and Stokes gets two to the off side sweeper with a dab through cover. Two more, to the same reason, as he wrists one wider of van Zyl, running around from fine leg. This one more leisurely.

92nd over: England 367-5 (Stokes 114, Bairstow 49)

Morkel improves his line and wraps Stokes twice on the back thigh (well not really, but it is Sunday). Sensing the batsman might be hanging back after the blows, he pitches up and Stokes simply smacks him over mid off for four.

BEN STOKES BRINGS UP HIS HUNDRED

91st over: England 362-5 (Stokes 109, Bairstow 49)

Stunning innings. Came in when the ball was reversing, scored his first 50 off 70 balls – the second took just 35. It’s his third of his career, and he’s not done yet: even with men out, Stokes finds two boundaries – one on either side. A guide to third man beats Bavuma’s dive, while a short ball from Morris is whipped between square and fine leg.

Updated

90th over: England 349-5 (Stokes 97, Bairstow 48)

Thought I could catch my breath that over with Ben Stokes off strike. No chance, as Bairstow hooks Morkel for four and then punches him down the ground, through mid-on, for another.

89th over: England 341-5 (Stokes 97, Bairstow 40)

Steve Hudson has a question: “Has there ever been a boy that can swim faster than a shark?” No, not that. “I mean has there ever been an England side with more players in it with famous sporting relatives? Broad, Bairstow, Compton and Stokes, in other words. Is sporting success so genetically-determined?” I’d like to think so – may explain my lack of talent (the Ehantharajahs don’t have the sporting touch). Stokes is back on that front foot again to chip Chris Morris over cover for four. A sweeper goes out and Stokes simply leans further forward to scythe through extra cover, beating the man out comprehensively. Morris moves around the wicket and bounces Stokes (who hooks for two) and then tries to cramp him for room with one just outside off stump, at hip height. Stokes simply makes a bit of room and cuts over gully for another boundary. Geez, this is good fun.

88th over: England 327-5 (Stokes 83, Bairstow 40)

England and Johnny Bairstow up and running first ball, with a tuck into the legside for one. Morne Morkel’s opening the bowling and, third ball, Stokes flays him through cover for four. And again for the fifth. The first was perhaps the better shot but the second wasn’t half bad. That’s the century partnership up, too, off 120 balls. Ten from the first over. I’m awake.

Updated

The England players will be wearing black armbands today, after last night’s news of the passing of Sussex bowler Matthew Hobden.

Born in Eastbourne, Hobden was one of a number of promising local cricketers making their way at Hove, expected to come into his own in the professional game: 48 wickets in 18 first class matches suggested as much.

He had the ability to bowl serious pace, thanks to a frame that looked tailor made to cope with the stresses and requirements of fast bowling. England had noted as much, picking him for Performance Programmes for the last two winters.

Above all else, he was a 22-year-old with life ahead of him. And he will be deeply missed by those who know and love him.

Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this tragic time.

Updated

Morning all – Vish here to kick off your Sunday morning with some over-by-over action.

Yesterday was a compelling day’s cricket: all things considered, England should probably have finished it well ahead of South Africa. As it is, a top-order of unconverted starts ensured things were neck and neck for the first two sessions until Ben Stokes (74*), with the help of Jonny Bairstow (39*), took the game away from the hosts in the evening. The new ball was carted to all parts as 150 runs were scored in the last session.

Stokes will be eyeing up a third Test hundred, Bairstow might even entertain thoughts of a first. England have had made a habit of folding the morning after a good day’s batting. Fingers crossed they break that today.

Dan will be here shortly. In the meantime, read Ali Martin on why Jimmy Anderson’s return for England yesterday could prove risky, according to Alistair Cook.

England have the chance to go 2-0 up in the series with their first victory at the picturesque Newlands since 1957 and Cook would love to unleash his record wicket-taker against a side shorn of their own injured fast bowler Dale Steyn. But he also remains mindful of his bowler having sent down just five competitive overs on tour and the damaging effect on the team should the problem flare up again mid-Test match.

Cook said: “If Jimmy is fit and ready and confident, then he’ll be opening the bowling. But we have to make sure we’re right. We don’t want to hinder ourselves and have an injury caused that we could have prevented, if that makes sense. Obviously, there will be a bit of a risk about it.

“It’s fair to say that the XI who played in Durban did a pretty good job, but when you’ve got him and his wickets in the background, if he’s fit to go, then he’ll play. It’s an interesting call because of how many overs he’s bowled so far on this tour – it’s not a huge amount – and the conditions will be a tough test for all of us.”

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