Late strikes by England hold back South Africa, end day 1 at 309 for six

South Africa lost four wickets in the final session of a fluctuating first day of the second test against England at Trent Bridge on Friday but finished with a defiant flourish to end on 309 for six. Heavily beaten in the first test, where spinners Moeen Ali and Liam Dawson took 14 wickets between them, the tourists had to battle swing and seam this time. Pacemen took all six wickets, Stuart Broad picking up three on his home ground.
Morning cloud cover meant that deciding to bat first after winning the toss was “a tricky decision” according to returning captain Faf du Plessis.

By tea, a score of 142 for two appeared to have justified his choice but after a century stand by Hashim Amla, passing 8,000 test runs, and Quinton de Kock, both were dismissed in the first six overs after the interval. Ben Stokes then snapped up two quick wickets but Vernon Philander, with an unbeaten 54, and Chris Morris (23 not out) carried the tourists past 300 without further damage. James Anderson became the first man to take test 300 wickets in England when he had opener Dean Elgar brilliantly caught at backward point by a diving Dawson …read more