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PHOTOS: England on top as South Africa collapse on Day 2

January 25, 2020

Images from Day 2 of the 4th Test played between South Africa and England in Johannesburg on Saturday.

IMAGE: England fast bowler Mark Wood celebrates after dismissing Anrich Nortje. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

England proved devastating with both bat and ball on Saturday 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's team 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 on the last ball of the day, heightening the possibility of South Africa following on for a second successive Test.

IMAGE: South Africa captain Faf du Plessis is struck on the pads by a ball from Chris Woakes which is given out lbw after review. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

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.

South Africa, 2-1 down in the series, would still have held out hopes of a fightback when they had England 318-9 but after leaking runs and then being tumbled out by the touring bowlers, they again have their backs to the wall.

IMAGE: England captain Joe Root plays the upper cut during his innings of 59. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

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.

Ben Stokes took two catches after a series of dropped efforts in the third Test last weekend.

"We found the right, fuller length on that surface and now we're in a really strong position," Chris Woakes said.

 

IMAGE: England's Ollie Pope is bowled out by South Africa's Anrich Nortje. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

In contrast, South Africa’s bowlers were punished as Broad, who made 43 off 28 balls, and Wood, not out on 35, thrashed the ball to all parts, forcing South Africa into the seldom-seen scenario of eight boundary fielders trying to defend against No. 10 and No. 11 batsmen.

There were also half centuries for captain Joe Root and Ollie Pope and a valuable 32 from Woakes in his first appearance on the tour. Nortje (5-110) took a maiden Test five-wicket haul.

IMAGE: England's Stuart Broad hits out. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

England were 192-4 overnight when play began 45 minutes late because of a rain delay and steadily moved the scoreboard along as Pope, first, and then Root got to 50.

Pope (56) continued to build on his growing reputation and looked the senior batsman at times as he and Root (59) put on 101 runs for the fifth wicket.

Source: REUTERS
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