Key events
Erwee is not out! Yep, it pitched outside leg, so England lose a review.
It was a beautiful delivery from Anderson, which straightened sharply off the seam to hit the flap of the front pad. Here comes ball-tracking…
England review for LBW against Erwee! I suspect it has pitched outside leg but England are going for it.
2nd over: South Africa 2-0 (Erwee 0, Elgar 2) Ollie Robinson has four slips and a gully for Elgar, who gets off the mark with a very thick edge for two. He plays a strange shot to the next ball, trying to manufacture a whip across the line that meets nothing but fresh air. But he’s solid enough for the remainder of the over.
“I’m a bit late to the (street) party,” says Lorraine Reese, “but may I offer Broad Sanctuary in London, for when Stuart feels things aren’t going his way…”
Or, as his father calls it, Oceania.
1st over: South Africa 0-0 (Erwee 0, Elgar 0) Sarel Erwee survives a huge LBW appeal after being beaten by a beautiful delivery from Anderson. It was too high, and deep down Anderson knew it – he barely discussed a review. But that’s a menacing first over from Anderson, with plenty of swing.
“Trevor Bailey got teased by his TMS colleagues for moving to a house in a road called The Drive,” writes Jezz Nash. “He replied that he couldn’t find a Forward Defensive Avenue.”
The players are back on the field, and Jimmy Anderson has mischief in mind.
The difference a day makes
This morning, Ben Foakes’ Test batting average was 26.91. This evening, it’s 31.82.
“Ben Foakes’ Test batting average is now higher than any of England’s top
three in this match,” says Romeo. “When Crawley was out it was 147 for 5, and all the plaudits will be for Stokes. He did very well, obvs, but if Foakes had got out early, it would have turned out very different. Ben Foakes is a very top Test cricketer.”
WICKET! England 415-9 declared (Leach b Maharaj 11)
Leach is bowled by Maharaj, and Ben Stokes calls the players in. That means Ben Foakes will finish on 113 not out, and he walks off to a standing ovation. He raises the bat a little sheepishly to the crowd, but he is unable – and he’s trying, you can tell – to suppress a smile as he walks into the dressing room. It’s a really lovely moment for one of the good guys.
Right, brass tacks. England lead by 264 runs, and there are nine overs remaining tonight.
106th over: England 412-8 (Foakes 113, Leach 9) Jimmy Anderson is getting his kit on, so maybe England won’t declare after all. There are 12 overs remaining after this one, with two taken off for the change of innings.
I should have said that this is now Ben Foakes’ highest Test score, surpassing the 107 he made on debut at Galle in 2018. This innings should secure his place for the winter, which is important with England going to Pakistan – Foakes is excellent against spin both with bat and (wicketkeeping) gloves.
England move to 411 for eight, an evocative score in this fixture, but Foakes stymies the nostalgia by pulling a single off the last ball.
Stokes and Foakes have now made more runs in partnerships in Test cricket (212) than Stokes and Woakes ever did (211).
— Richard Jolly 🇺🇦 (@RichJolly) August 26, 2022
105th over: England 407-8 (Foakes 108, Leach 8) Foakes survives a stumping referral. He charged Maharaj and missed, but the ball turned so wide of off stump that Foakes had time to get back before Verreynne could break the stumps. It was tight, but he made it.
Leach plays an outrageous shot later in the over, switch-hitting Maharaj to the extra cover boundary. Stokes and Brendon McCullum loved that.
104th over: England 400-8 (Foakes 105, Leach 4) I’ve just realised that Benjamins is slang for a $100 bill, which must lend itself to a decent line after the centuries by Stokes and Foakes. Paxo wants to stuff… stuffing…
Meanwhile, Leach edge the new bowler Ngidi for four to bring up the 400. They’ve come a long way since this morning, when they were 147 for five and the game was in the balance.
103rd over: England 395-8 (Foakes 103, Leach 0) Jimmy Anderson is sitting on the balcony in a T-shirt, so it looks like England will declare when they lose their ninth wicket. That’s right, when. Deal with it.
“Hello Rob,” says Tim Sanders. “In Kent, there’s a Foakes Ton, homophonically.”
WICKET! England 395-8 (Robinson c Markram b Maharaj 17)
Robinson’s breezy cameo – 17 from 22 balls – ends when he edges a lovely delivery from Maharaj to slip.
Ben Foakes makes his second Test hundred!
102nd over: England 394-7 (Foakes 103, Robinson 17) Foakes’s eyes light up when Nortje drops one short outside off stump, but his pull shot doesn’t beat midwicket. No matter: he forces the next ball to third man for four to reach his second Test hundred!
Foakes has a smile the size of Salford as he runs down to embrace Ollie Robinson, and there’s so much warmth in the reaction of the England balcony. Ben Stokes, in particular, looks utterly thrilled; of course he does. It’s been a typically precise, unobtrusive innings from Foakes: 206 balls, nine fours.
101st over: England 389-7 (Foakes 98, Robinson 17) After four dot balls, Foakes works Maharaj for a single to move to 98.
“Just to add to the US contribution,” begins Angus Dawe, “if you drive east on highway 82 in Mississippi the last exit before the Alabama state line is Stokes Rd, leading, naturally, to New Hope.”
I can’t believe cricket hasn’t taken off in the US. Turns out all you need to do to fall in love with it is go on a roadtrip.
100th over: England 388-7 (Foakes 97, Robinson 17) Robinson times Nortje sweetly through point for four, then works a high full toss through square leg for a couple. England’s lower order isn’t the best but they know how to party: between them Broad and Robinson have made 38 from 34 balls.
“Afternoon Rob,” writes Charles Sheldrick. “There is a small village near me in mid-Devon which, according to fast bowlers, most batsmen do not like… Upham. I will get my coat.”
It’s the topical references that really set the Guardian OBO apart.
99th over: England 381-7 (Foakes 96, Robinson 11) Hello! Foakes strolls down the track to chip Maharaj handsomely over wide mid-on for a two-bounce four. That’s a gorgeous shot, and a single off the next ball moves him within four of you-know-what. England lead by 230.
“There is apparently a Markwood in West Virginia,” writes Bob from Boston. “The ZIP code (US postal code) is 26710; would it have been higher but for a history of injury?”
98th over: England 373-7 (Foakes 91, Robinson 8) A short ball from Nortje is lifted over the cordon for four by Robinson. There was a bit of top-edge but he knew what he was doing, kind of.
After being beaten by two fine deliveries, Foakes drives through extra cover for two to move into the nineties. Few would begrudge him a century.
“Brian Close, Sandford, Dorset BH20,” writes the economical John Starbuck.
97th over: England 366-7 (Foakes 89, Robinson 3) There are two right-handers at the crease now, so Harmer is replaced by Maharaj even though he dismissed Broad in his last over. With three cheapish wickets on offer, I bet Harmer is thrilled with that bit of data-driven captaincy.
Robinson drags Maharaj through midwicket for three to get off the mark.
“I suppose you could add Zabriskie Point in Death Valley (sounds appropriate to the English batting unit when faced with Aussie quicks), the village of Ruislip and a place apparently called Tea Tree Gully in South Australia,” says Colum Fordham. “Closer to home we have the Norfolk Broads which, like our doughty fast-medium seamer, are always appealing.”
96th over: England 362-7 (Foakes 88, Robinson 0) Robinson is beaten for pace by Nortje, who is two wickets away from a frankly deserved five-for. The next ball is a vicious bouncer that Robinson does well to avoid, snapping his head out of the way at the last second.
“There’s a Deep Point in Maryland,” says Jamie Tucker. “There’s also a Silly Point in Northamptonshire, but that backs onto a cricket ground and is surely no accident.”
95th over: England 361-7 (Foakes 87, Robinson 0) That’s the first wicket for Harmeraj in this game. Between them they have figures of 40-8-128-1. They were picked for the fourth innings, but there might not be one.
“Cow Corner, a beach in Dorset, seems like a lovely place to while away a late summer Friday listening to TMS…” writes Tom Irving.
Thanks for all these place names, which I’m trying to read when my addled brain allows.
WICKET! England 361-7 (Broad st Verreynne b Harmer 21)
Broad’s jolly romp is over. He ran past one from Harmer and was stumped by Kyle Verreynne, who just about kept the ball in his fingertips as he broke the stumps. That was the perfect cameo from Broad: 21 from 14 balls with two fours, a six and a statgasm.
94th over: England 360-6 (Foakes 86, Broad 21) Nortje returns to the attack. He’s not exactly the poster boy for joie de vivre at the best of times, and you should see the puss on him when Broad slices another boundary over backward point.
This is great stuff from Broad, mental disintegration dressed up as lower-order biffing. He has 21 from 13 balls now. And even the false strokes – he’s just missed an almighty heave across the line – will increase South Africa’s agita.
A long over of the soul for Nortje concludes with a misfield at mid-on that allows Foakes to turn one run into three.
93rd over: England 352-6 (Foakes 83, Broad 16) It hasn’t been a great game for Harmer, who had been milked too easily and is going at more than three an over. Broad drags a sweep round the corner for four, which takes England’s lead to 200. Apparently Broad’s first five scoring shots have been 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, and that’s Numberwang.
92nd over: England 346-6 (Foakes 82, Broad 11) So much for the serene seventies: Foakes has raced through them by pulling Rabada for consecutive boundaries. Broad then steers cleverly through the covers for three, and a single off the last ball makes it 16 from the over.
“After the first Test, it’s heartening to see England doing a bit of batting,” says Matt Dony. “And even doing it in what almost at times appears to be Test match style (more Foakes than Stokes, natch). But the best thing is, it looks like the game might go on a bit longer than last time. Which is great, as there is definitely no other sport happening this weekend. None at all. Nada.”
What did we do for those first few weekends of lockdown, before the Bundesliga returned to save us all. I am sometimes guilty of forgetting that, in May 2020, SC Paderborn were my life.
91st over: England 330-6 (Foakes 72, Broad 6) Foakes clips Harmer into the leg side to move into the sedate seventies. His average is creeping back towards 30 as well; that’s slightly low for Foakes, though he has played on a few vile wickets in his short Test career.
Broad bats the same whatever the wicket, or the weather. He gets off the mark in style here, launching Harmer back over his head for six.
“There’s a Lloyd Gully in the Hawkesbury (N from Sydney, as I’m sure you’ll know),” says Nat Goodden. “Though in my recollection, that wonderful fielder Clive prowled more – Arlott’s term almost certainly, not mine – in the covers. Close enough? (not Brian!)”
90th over: England 321-6 (Foakes 69, Broad 0) Even with Ollie Robinson back in the side, Biffer Broad remains England’s No8. In fairness his Test average is more than double that of Robinson, who has underachived so far with the bat.
Broad misses an almighty slap across the line, with the ball bouncing just over middle stump.
“Cricketing place names, American edition,” writes James Golden. “Lords Point, Connecticut. There’s also a Leeds Point, New Jersey, which sort of does duty for Headingley. New Point, Virginia adjusts the field. Lastly, if David Boon were ever at point, he’d be Stumpy Point, North Carolina.”
I don’t suppose there’s a Growling Short Leg anywhere.
WICKET! England 320-6 (Stokes c Elgar b Rabada 103)
Ben Stokes’ brilliant innings comes to a slightly disappointing end. The ball after being hit amidships by a zinger from Rabada, Stokes had a zesty heave across the line and sliced the ball high in the air towards mid-off. Elgar backpedalled to take an excellent catch. Stokes isn’t happy as he walks off, but that should – should – be a matchwinning hundred.
89th over: England 320-5 (Stokes 103, Foakes 68) I thought England needed a lead of 150 as insurance against batting last on this pitch. You would think this game is almost done, though there is the odd historical precedent to encourage South Africa. Stranger things and all that.
“Wotcha Rob,” writes our own James Wallace. “There’s an Atherton Drive round the back of Wimbledon, shown here on Google Maps with an accompanying bag of rubble in shot, surely an allegory for Iron Mike’s steadfast grittiness at the crease. That hedge needs trimming though…”
For production reasons too boring to explain, I can’t upload the image. But I can confirm the hedge needs trimming, quicksmart.
88th over: England 317-5 (Stokes 101, Foakes 67) Foakes steers Rabada for four more. This is comfortably his highest score in a home Test, surpassing the 56 he made against New Zealand earlier this summer. Most importantly, England lead by 166.
“Surely,” begins George Browne, “someone has already noted Cover Drive, located near Banbury Cricket Club?”
I wouldn’t want to zoom down there in a car with James Vince.
Ben Stokes hits his 12th Test century!
87.3 overs: England 311-5 (Stokes 100, Foakes 62) Stokes drives Rabada for a single to reach his first Test hundred as England captain! It’s been a majestic innings – mature and superbly judged, with the occasional bit of bish-bosh to keep us all happy. The numbers: 158 balls, 4×4, 3×6. It’s been one of his better hundreds, and he doesn’t really do bad ones.
87th over: England 310-5 (Stokes 99, Foakes 62) Stokes taps the new bowler Harmer into the leg side to move to 99, and Foakes can’t get him back on strike for the remainder of the over. But he will be facing at the start of the next one, so start hammering that F5 button.
“Rob,” says John Starbuck. “How about Bowling in Dunbartonshire and Wicket near Wellington?”
The players are back on the field. Ben Stokes is 98 not out, and the exclamation marks are at the ready.
Tea: England lead by 157
86th over: England 308-5 (Stokes 98, Foakes 61) Foakes works the penultimate ball of the session for a single, which brings Stokes back on strike needing two for his century. Rabada ensures he doesn’t get it – yet – with a brutal delivery that jags bag to hit Stokes in a painful place and knock him off his feet.
Stokes gets to his feet, winces a bit, laughs a bit and then walks off to warm applause from the crowd and the England balcony. He and Ben Foakes played beautifully in that afternoon session, adding 96 from 30 overs to put England in a seriously good position.
85th over: England 306-5 (Stokes 97, Foakes 60) Nortje, incidentally, has come back on to replace Ngidi. Stokes took a single later in the over to move within three runs of his first Test century as England captain.
Stokes is not out! It was close to the inside edge, and South Africa aren’t thrilled with the verdict from the third umpire, but I’m pretty sure that’s the correct decision. There was a lot going on: the ball hit both pads and I think Stokes’s bat hit his boot as well.
The LBW shout was a non-event.
South Africa review for … something against Stokes
He whipped across a full delivery from Nortje that seemed to be missing leg. The ball flew to the keeper, who went up for the caught behind (I think), and eventually Dean Elgar went upstairs.
84th over: England 305-5 (Stokes 96, Foakes 60) Foakes works Rabada off the hip for a single to bring up the 300; later in the over he pings three more through midwicket. This has been such a well-judged partnership, one that has put England in complete control of this game.
“Did I hear Ian Ward on Sky saying the third umpire has to ignore the soft signal and it’s only there for if the tech fails?” says Luke Regan. “Is this a new law? (Incidentally, Soft Signal would be a good band name.)”
Did he say that? If so, it completely passed me by. You’re welcome!
83rd over: England 299-5 (Stokes 94, Foakes 56) A beautiful inswinging yorker from Ngidi beats and just misses the off stump. Then he draws a leading edge from Foakes that flies into the off side for a single. When these two came together, England were four runs behind; now they lead by 148.
“I think this partnership is huge for Ben Foakes,” says David Horn. “It’s my belief – based on nothing more than ‘a feeling’ – that a big part of Stokes backing Jack Leach over the past 12 months or so, was Leach’s role in the Headingley Ashes partnership. He showed cojones the size of Kansas – and Stokes backed that. Clearly, I’m not saying Foakes’ spot is under threat in any way – but a partnership like this could earn the undying respect of his captain. In the 1990s the ‘pure keeper’ (often, in my head, either Jack Russell or Bruce French) was always under threat from the ‘keeper who batted’ (often the admittedly outstanding Alec Stewart) – and I’d be delighted if we avoid slipping back into that tiresome discussion with Buttler/Billings/etc.”
I don’t disagree, but I fear Foakes – well liked but also unfashionable – will always be two bad games away from scrutiny. But I also agree that Stokes couldn’t really care what the outside world thinks, and that he has the ability to <2022> make people feel 10ft tall</2022>.
82nd over: England 297-5 (Stokes 93, Foakes 55) KG Rabada shares the new ball, and his teammates share his frustration when Foakes somehow survives a ferocious little working-over. A leading edge lands safely on the off side, and then Stokes is beaten by consecutive jaffas – one on the outside, one on the inside. Brilliant bowling.
“Just west of Dublin is the town of Leixlip which can be pronounced ‘leikslip’,” says Ian Davis. “Close enough?”
It’s gone to the third umpire – and it’s been given!
81st over: England 296-5 (Stokes 93, Foakes 55) A lively start with the second new ball. Stokes works Ngidi’s first delivery to fine leg for four, then charges the second and is dropped by Markram at short cover. It was a very sharp chance, two-handed to his right.
England’s lead is now a very healthy 145.
80th over: England 288-5 (Stokes 88, Foakes 54) After another quiet over from Harmer, it’s time for the second new ball.
“I always used to enjoy watching Graham Thorpe in his early England days,” says Robert Ellson. “He would come in all guns blazing, get to 20 or so, then throttle back and play more sedately, having moved the game on from whatever crisis faced England when he came in. Seems to me that England under McCullum have done a larger-scale version of that this summer, responding to the misery of the preceding 18 months by initially blazing away, changing the whole feel of their cricket, before calming things down and playing more conventionally. Really good to see. And all this is really by way of saying that I hope Thorpey is doing ok.”
Amen to that. A true hero, and those flamboyant counter-attacks were so uplifting at a time when England batters never really <2022>ran towards the danger</2022>. Thorpe 2.0 was even more productive, but the early version was just exhilarating to watch.
79th over: England 286-5 (Stokes 88, Foakes 52) Foakes crouches to repel a straight delivery from Ngidi that keeps a bit low. This is an interesting pitch – placid at times, especially when the ball is old, but never completely trustworthy.
Later in the over, Foakes survives an unusual appeal for caught behind. He squeezed a yorker towards Verreynne, who dived low to his right to take a sensational catch at the second attempt. The decision went upstairs, where the third umpire decided it was a bump ball. It’s hard to be 100 per cent sure – Foakes may have bottom edged it a split second after the ball hit the ground – but the soft signal was not out so there was no way the decision could be overturned.
“I’m certain there’s a Sweep Lane either near or in Holmfirth,” writes Paul Steed.
78th over: England 284-5 (Stokes 87, Foakes 51) Harmer replaces Maharaj, presumably in an attempt to keep Stokes quiet(er) until the second new ball. And it works, at least for now, with Stokes taking just a single off the fourth delivery.
This has been a two-paced innings from Stokes: 41 from the first 98 balls, 46 from the next 43. When the second new ball is taken, there could be a whole lotta humpty. (Or a cartwheeling off stump in the first over.)
77th over: England 283-5 (Stokes 86, Foakes 51) Ngidi, such a crafty bowler, snaps a lovely delivery past Stokes’ defensive push. Stokes works a single off the next delivery, which allow Foakes to glide a couple of third man and reach an admirable half-century: 116 balls, four fours and oodles of commonsense. He doesn’t score gazillions in Tests – this is only his fourth 50+ score in 16 games – but he does make important runs.
76th over: England 280-5 (Stokes 85, Foakes 49) Stokes crunches Maharaj to the cover boundary for four more, a wrist-breaking stroke that has the commentator Ian Ward citing Jos Buttler. Am I the only one who goes slightly rubbery when they talk about batters breaking their wrists?
Alas, there’s no time for such chat, because Stokes is on the charge. He drives Maharaj over long-off for his third six, another glorious, effortless stroke. Stokes reached a hundred against South Africa in 2017, at the Oval I think, with a sudden burst of sixes off Maharaj; he might try something similar here.
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