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CAPE TOWN: Opener Dominic Sibley struck a career-best unbeaten 85 as England seized control of the second Test against South Africa at the close of the third day at Newlands on Sunday, grinding down their hosts ahead of a fourth innings victory charge.
The tourists reached 218 for four at stumps, a lead of 264 that already looks substantial on a wearing wicket and with two full days remaining, providing an excellent chance to level the four-match series.
Sibley put on 116 for the third wicket with captain Joe Root (61), before the latter steered Dwaine Pretorius to Faf du Plessis at slip late on.
Nightwatchman Dominic Bess gloved a leg-side delivery from Anrich Nortje (2-36) to end the day.
Sibley will seek to take the game further away from South Africa with Ben Stokes on day four with England’s travelling fans in full voice in Cape Town.
Sibley’s previous best in Tests was 29 and he showed impressive patience and concentration to see off the new ball and then accumulate his runs by waiting for the right opportunities to score.
He took 140 balls to reach his 50 and batted for almost the full day, which allowed Root to score more freely at the other end.
South Africa’s other two wickets in England’s second innings were that of Zak Crawley (25), who edged Kagiso Rabada to wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock, and Joe Denly (31), caught at long leg attempting a hook off Nortje.
It was, at times, a war of attrition that the visiting side won with risk-free, smart cricket.
South Africa’s bowling attack were unable to find the movement and pace off the wicket that England enjoyed as they bowled them out for 223 early on the third day.
Seamer James Anderson took five wickets and Stokes an England record five catches as they made short work of wrapping up the South African first innings.
Anderson’s haul overtook Ian Botham and now alone in seventh on the all-time list.
Anderson (5-40) knocked over Rabada (0) with the first ball of the day and completed his England record 28th Test five-wicket haul when Nortje (4) edged to Stokes at slip for the all-rounder to take his fifth catch of the innings.
It is the joint most by any player in Test cricket and the 12th time a fielder had taken five catches in an innings, but a first for England.
South Africa won the first Test in Centurion by 107 runs to lead the four-match series but England now has a strong chance to draw level in Cape Town.
Australia’s Steve Smith was the last player to do it in Test cricket. His five catches also came at the Cape Town ground in 2018. No fielder has taken more in a Test innings.
Scoreboard
ENGLAND (1st Innings) 269 (O.J. Pope 61 not out, B.A. Stokes 47; K. Rabada 3-68).
SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings, overnight 215-8):
D. Elgar c Root b Bess 88
P.J. Malan c Root b Broad 5
Zubayr Hamza c Stokes b Broad 5
F. du Plessis c Stokes b Anderson 1
H.E. van der Dussen c Stokes b Curran 68
Q. de Kock c Anderson b Curran 20
V.D. Philander not out 17
D. Pretorius c Stokes b Anderson 4
K.A. Maharaj c Sibley b Anderson 4
K. Rabada c Buttler b Anderson 0
A. Nortje c Stokes b Anderson 4
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, NB-1) 7
TOTAL (all out, 89 overs) 223
FALL OF WKTS: 1-26, 2-38, 3-40, 4-157, 5-191, 6-200, 7-207, 8-215, 9-215.
BOWLING: Anderson 19-6-40-5; Broad 18-6-38-2 (1nb); Curran 13-3-39-2; Bess 27-3-62-1; Stokes 9-0-34-0; Root 3-1-4-0.
ENGLAND (2nd Innings):
Z. Crawley c de Kock b Rabada 25
D.P. Sibley not out 85
J.L. Denly c Pretorius b Nortje 31
J.E. Root c du Plessis b Pretorius 61
D.M. Bess c de Kock b Nortje 0
EXTRAS (B-14, LB-2) 16
TOTAL (for four wkts, 79 overs) 218
FALL OF WKTS: 1-28, 2-101, 3-217, 4-218.
BOWLING (to-date): Rabada 13-3-41-1; Philander 12-6-12-0; Nortje 15-2-36-2; Pretorius 12-3-34-1; Maharaj 27-8-79-0.