Captain Hashim Amla got out shortly after getting his third test double century as South Africa moved closer to forcing a draw against England in the second test at Newlands on Tuesday.
Amla was 200 not out at lunch with Faf du Plessis (81) at the other end, guiding the hosts to 428 for three. Three wickets fell shortly after that. Broad removed Amla only after the SA batsman had scored a defining 201. Anderson got rid of Faf du Plessis caught by Stoke at 86. de Kock’s stay at crease was cut short by Broad who dismissed him for 5.
It’s a big relief for Amla, who has been struggling with form for quite some time now.
Unbeaten Amla has already added 160 runs for the fourth wicket with AB de Villiers, who is playing on 81.
At lunch, South Africa were 428 for three, 179 runs behind England’s first innings total.
The pitch at Newlands was perfect to bat on, with just four wickets falling in three days in Cape Town. A total of 1,057 runs have been scored in two innings so far, and South Africa has lost just one wicket in four sessions.
England leads the four-match series 1-0. A draw at Newlands, which appears increasingly likely, would set up decisive tests in Johannesburg and Centurion.
The England bowlers’ battles to get anything from the pitch were not helped by the tourists’ poor catching.
Amla had been dropped twice in his innings, De Villiers was also dropped, and England then missed a chance off Du Plessis on Tuesday when he was on 61.
Off-spinner Moeen Ali forced an edge, and James Anderson missed the catch at slip, with the ball flying past him. It was Anderson’s second miss of the test in that position.
Amla also survived a nervous moment when on 197, looping a mis-timed shot in the air toward mid-on. The ball fell safely between two England fielders, who appeared confused over who should go for it.
