Spinner Dom Bess yesterday picked up the key wicket of South Africa captain Faf du Plessis before lunch to strike a heavy blow to South Africa’s bid to save the second Test on the final day.
With South Africa 170-4 at the interval, thoughts of chasing down a test record 438 for victory were long gone.
Instead, the hosts face an uphill battle to save the Test over the remaining two sessions.
Debutant opener Pieter Malan was unbeaten on 83 from 271 balls, and much could rely on his ability to hold up an end for the remainder of the day. Rassie van der Dussen was on one not out.
The home side would still have a hope of drawing the Test, with the wicket offering little assistance to the seam bowlers, although the rough built up over the previous four days is offering turn for the slow bowlers.
England have the new ball, taken 10 minutes before lunch, to provide opportunities to take more wickets in what could be the key period in the game after lunch.
Du Plessis (19) was desperately disappointed with his shot selection as he tried to take on Bess with a powerful sweep, but succeeded only in picking out Joe Denly at square leg.
That poor judgement from the mainstay of South Africa’s batting lineup provided England with a major boost in their search for a win to level the series.
Nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj (2) was the other wicket to fall in the morning session. After James Anderson (2-23) had broken his bat, he was trapped leg before wicket by the experienced seamer.
England are seeking a first win at Newlands since 1957, while South Africa must bat for 146 overs to save this Test, after they won the opening game of the four-match series by 107 runs in Pretoria.
England opening batsman Rory Burns is to miss the tour of Sri Lanka in March after undergoing successful surgery on ruptured ligaments in his left ankle, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced yesterday.
Burns suffered the injury playing soccer — part of the squad’s warm-up routine — on Thursday last week, the eve of the second Test against South Africa.
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