Root holding England together at the bullring
The third Test between South Africa and England at the Wanderers in Johannesburg is really on a knife-edge after the tourists reached 238 for five when bad light brought an early end to proceedings on day two, still trailing by 75 runs.
Batsman Joe Root might have tipped the scales slightly in England's favour as he is sitting pretty on 106 not out and will resume on the third day with Jonny Bairstow on four.
The Three Lions found themselves in a spot of bother at 91 for four but Ben Stokes (58 from 54 balls) and Root counter punched with a partnership of 111 in just 16 overs.
Proteas seamer Kagiso Rabada (two for 44) had given the hosts an excellent start to their bowling innings as he had opener Alex Hales caught in the slips for single.
Debutant fast bowler Hardus Viljoen then became the third South Africa bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket as he had Alastair Cook caught down the legside for 18.
Rabada got rid of Nick Compton (26) while Morne Morkel (two for 63) accounted for James Taylor (7) and the dangerous Stokes, who was caught and bowled by the lanky paceman.
Earlier, the home team, who resumed the morning on 267 for seven, added 46 to their overnight score as they were 313 all out an hour before lunch.
Chris Morris (28) and Rabada (24) extended their partnership to put on 56 for the eighth wicket while Viljoen played some big shots and was 20 not out in his maiden innings in the longest format.
Stokes was the pick of the England bowlers with figures of three for 53 while pacemen Steven Finn and Stuart Broad took two wickets each.
Latest
-
NewsCraig Overton displays all-round talents to put Somerset on top
James Bracey also excelled as Gloucestershire pushed for victory over Middlesex.
-
NewsNottinghamshire in control against Essex as 15 wickets fall at Trent Bridge
James Anderson removed Marnus Labuschagne cheaply.
-
NewsEngland could stage remaining IPL games in September as counties contact ECB
It is believed the matches could be wrapped up in little over a fortnight if a model of two games a day and three on weekends was adopted.
-
NewsOn This Day in 1988 – Worcestershire’s Graeme Hick scores 405 in single innings
Hick set a 20th-century County Championship record six years before Brian Lara broke it with his 501 not out for Warwickshire.
-
NewsJofra Archer shows flashes of top form on return from injury
Archer continued his return to action in a Second XI County Championship match at Hove.
-
NewsChris Jordan says suspending IPL ‘the right call’ as he awaits return to England
There has already been plenty of debate over whether the tournament should have continued as long as it did during a public health emergency.
-
NewsOn this day in 2011: Alastair Cook was named as England’s new ODI captain
Cook replaced Andrew Strauss, who retired from one-day cricket, while Broad took over from Paul Collingwood.
-
NewsFormer Australian Test cricketer victim of targeted kidnapping, police say
MacGill played 44 Tests for Australia and took 208 wickets.
-
NewsEngland contigent start to return home after IPL postponed due to coronavirus
The majority of England’s players at the tournament are expected to fly home imminently.
-
NewsEnglish contingent aiming to secure flights home with IPL postponed due to Covid
Positive cases in three of the eight franchises effectively proved that the players’ bio-secure bubbles were no longer able to stave off the threat.