England in the pound seats at St George’s

Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope scored superb hundreds as England took a firm grip on the third test against South Africa at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

The tourists declared their innings on 499 for nine after tea on the second day and left a deflated South Africa 26 awkward overs to face of which only 18 were bowled before rain brought about an end to play for the day.

During that time their they reached 60 for two having first lost the wicket of Pieter Malan for 18, caught and bowled by Dom Bess.

Then the offspinner also had Zubayr Hamza caught at short leg by Pope for 10.

Dean Elgar (32) will continue on Saturday with nightwatchman Anrich Nortje, who has yet to score.

Keshav Maharaj took five for 180 in 58 overs, his sixth five-wicket haul in tests for the Proteas.

But his effort paled in comparison to those of Stokes and Pope.

ICC Player of the Year Stokes was first to provide the fireworks in the morning session with one of the more dominant displays of batting seen at this venue in modern times.

South Africa had no answer for his aggression from the outset in making his 120. But he also picked his moments to have go in a stand of 203 for the fifth wicket with Pope.

When debutant Dane Paterson removed Stokes for his maiden test wicket, Pope, whose previous best for England had been 75 scored against New Zealand in Hamilton last year, stepped out of the shadow of his lefthanded partner to reach a three-figure mark of his own.

The 22-year-old’s performance in the afternoon was just as entertaining as Stokes’ was in the morning.

South Africa were not able to remove him and he was left not out on 135 when the declaration came.

He and Sam Curran (44) shared a stand of 59 for the seventh wicket and his innings included 18 fours and a six off 226 balls.

That was followed by an explosive innings of 42 from only 23 deliveries from Mark Wood who clubbed five sixes and two fours.

Maharaj picked up the last four wickets to fall in the innings to add to his one of the previous day while Kagiso Rabada finished with two for 97.

South Africa head coach Mark Boucher was not pleased with how his bowlers carried out their plans,” said Boucher.

“The day was tough. It was a tough day yesterday and the heat took it out of a lot of the guys.

“We got here today and had our plans and I don’t think we executed them well. But you got to give them credit, they batted really well. Stokes was good and then Pope took over from him.

“We under pressure because they got 500. But if we can get a partnership going that will be good.”

England’s Pope was lost for words after his superb effort with the bat.

“It’s quite difficult to put into words,” Pope said.

“I was lucky enough to see Dom Sibley get his maiden hundred in Cape Town. It looked really special.

“To actually go and get it today was amazing. It was a really special moment.”

Report Day 1

SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar, Pieter Malan, Zubayr Hamza, Faf du Plessis (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson

ENGLAND: Zak Crawley, Dominic Sibley, Joe Denly, Joe Root (capt), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood