KOBUS PRETORIUS reflects on the players and moments that shaped day five of the second Test at Newlands.
BATSMAN OF THE DAY
Jonny Bairstow (30 not out) provided stability amid wickets crumbling around him after England slumped to 115-5. He shared a 43-run partnership with Moeen Ali before bad light stopped play to confirm a draw.
BOWLER OF THE DAY
Dane Piedt took the crucial wicket of Nick Compton just before lunch to leave England on 85-4 and South Africa dreaming of an unlikely chase for victory. Piedt struck twice in the second session to put the visitors under immense pressure when James Taylor was caught at short leg by Temba Bavuma and Ben Stokes got a top edge straight to Morne Morkel on the deep midwicket boundary. The spinner ended with figures of 3-38.
SHOT OF THE DAY
Ben Stokes played a beautiful on drive off Morne Morkel in the 38th over to take his score to 15. It was a full delivery from Morkel which was met with a straight bat and superb timing to run down the ground for four.
BALL OF THE DAY
Chris Morris bowled an absolute ripper with his first ball of the day to get rid of Joe Root in the first hour of play. The ball straightened after pitching to bamboozle the batsman, missing everything except his stumps who didn’t survive and leaving England on 55-3.
CATCH OF THE DAY
Chris Morris is becoming a bit of a one-handed specialist when it comes to catching in the slips. The all-rounder pulled off his second outstanding one-handed catch of the match, this time with his right hand, to leave Alex Hales stunned and Morne Morkel jubilant.
PLAY OF THE DAY
South Africa started the day perfectly with three wickets within the first hour of the day. Kagiso Rabada struck first to get rid of Alastair Cook before Chris Morris made another one-handed catch off Morne Morkel’s bowling. Dane Piedt made England worry after having Nick Compton caught by Faf du Plessis before lunch.
RAIN, RAIN STAY AWAY
Clear blue skies dominated the first four days of this Test, but overcast conditions took over on Wednesday and even brought some light drizzle with it. While the rain lever forced the players off the field, bad light did and once the players went off they never came back.
