JOHANNESBURG: England proved devastating with both bat and ball yesterday as they scored 400 runs in their first innings and then reduced sorry South Africa to 88 for six wickets at the close of play on the second day of the fourth Test at The Wanderers.
A record 10th-wicket partnership saw England amass a formidable first-innings total before rampaging through the home team’s batting order to take a stranglehold on the game and move closer to a series victory.
Quinton de Kock was 32 not out at the close after Anrich Nortje was caught in the slips off the last ball of the day, heightening the possibility of South Africa following on for a second successive Test.
The home side’s confidence had already taken a hefty knock when their bowlers were subjected to a bashing from tailenders Stuart Broad and Mark Wood, whose 82-run partnership was a record for the last wicket at the Johannesburg venue.
Wood led the way in the evening session with 3-21 as England removed Pieter Malan (15), Rassie van der Dussen (0), Dean Elgar (26), Faf du Plessis (3) and Temba Bavuma (6) with their five-man seam attack generating real pace off the quick wicket.