Ben Stokes took the last three wickets as England subdued a stubborn South Africa to win a thrilling second Test by 189 runs late on Day Five last week, their first victory at Newlands since 1957. Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen had frustrated England for 44 overs before Stokes provided late drama to finish the match with 8.2 overs to spare and level the four-match series.
The win will be especially pleasing for England for the way they stuck to their task on a flat fifth-day wicket, with Stokes’s superb burst earning the all-rounder figures of 3-35. “A great day’s play and a great Test match,” England seamer Stuart Broad told Sky Sports. “We had to work incredibly hard, we knew we were going to have to do that. It was incredible discipline from South Africa throughout the day but we kept saying one bit of magic. We set some funky fields. One breakthrough and we could apply some pressure. You need a lot of character and skill to chase 10 wickets. We are proud of taking our chances.”
Chasing a Test record 438 to win, South Africa looked relatively comfortable as they reached 237 for five with 26 overs remaining in the match. For the second time in the innings, however, a key man gave his wicket away. De Kock (50) attempted to pull a dragged down delivery from part-time leg spinner Joe Denly and succeeded only in picking out Zak Crawley at mid-wicket.
It was an unnecessary stroke that opened the door for England and when Broad removed Van der Dussen (17 from 140 balls), it was well and truly ajar.
BRIEF SCORES: England 269 & 391/8 decl.vs South Africa 223 & 248 (P Malan 84, Q de Kock 50; Stokes 3/35, Anderson 2/23, Denly 2/42)
