Stokes, Pope punish Proteas
Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope both scored centuries as a dominant England took a firm grip on the third Test against South Africa, declaring on 499 before reducing the hosts to 60 runs for two wickets at the close of the second day on Friday.
South Africa trail by 439 runs and will need to bat for much of the weekend to stay in the contest and avoid going 2-1 behind in the four-Test series. Dean Elgar, 32 not out, and nightwatchman Anrich Nortje will return on Saturday, chasing down England’s first-innings score of 499 for nine declared, after spinner Dom Bess removed opener Pieter Malan (18) and Zubayr Hamza for 10 in fading light and left South Africa in a perilous position.
An unbeaten 135 from 22-year-old Ollie Pope, his maiden Test ton, and 120 from Ben Stokes helped England achieve the fourth highest Test innings score at Port Elizabeth, the oldest Test venue in South Africa.
Pope displayed his potential as he came in at 39 not out overnight, sped to his 50, survived two scares before getting to 100.
SCORES IN BRIEF
ENGLAND: First innings 499 for 9 declared (Crawley 44, Sibley 36, Root 27, Stokes 120, Pope 135 not out, Curran 44, Wood 42; Maharaj 5-180)
SOUTH AFRICA: First innings 60 for 2 (Elgar 32 not out; Bess 2-12)
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