Joe Root leads England fightback in third Test against S

Replying to the Proteas’ 313, England were wobbling at 22-2 and 91-4.

But a menacing 111-run stand from 97 balls between Root and Ben Stokes (58) for England again wrestled the advantage away from South Africa.

Root was 106 not out and England 238-5 when bad light and then a thunderstorm ended play around 45 minutes early on the second day.

As England teetered, they responded by flaying the Proteas to all parts of the Bullring to give the tourists, 1-0 up in the four-match series, every chance of earning a first-innings lead.

James Taylor added just seven to the scoreboard before he chipped Morne Morkel to Temba Bavuma, who took an acrobatic catch at short-leg to remove England’s number-five.

The Durham all-rounder continued his assault from Cape Town against Morris (0/62), clubbing him for four boundaries inside two overs after hitting Rabada (2/44) for a sailing six over the mid-wicket fence from the fifth delivery he faced.

“The senior players offered nothing when South Africa were going around the park, though, while I would also like to see a leader in the attack”.

However, he top edged a pull off Morkel and the lanky pacer completed the simple catch, with tensions boiling over between batsman and bowler.

“Tomorrow (Saturday) it’s about making it a big one, building a partnership with Jonny (Bairstow), trying to get some kind of lead”, said Root, who needed treatment for a cramping left calf towards the close before reassuring it was nothing serious.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan: “It’s been a masterclass in how to grab control of a situation and change the course of a Test match in an hour and a half”.

Root was less frenetic but equally effective, using South Africa’s added pace to deflect and steer his shots to the ropes. Only Maurice Tate, Intikhab Alam, Nathan Lyon and Shaminda Eranga have played in more than ten Tests, with Ted Arnold having played exactly ten matches.

Joe Root keeps on scoring the runs against India. He’s looked a class above on this surface, with energy and intensity. Stokes is a game-changer.

However, the only thing people were talking about by the end of the day was the brilliance of Root. “He’s got the lot and batted beautifully”. Viljeon was bowling with pace, clocking around 150 kmph consistently.

Debutant Hardus Viljoen made an explosive start to his Test career with the ball by taking a wicket with his first delivery.

Root completed his fifty in 77 balls and England went into the tea break positioned at 162 for four.

While Stokes tore into the South Africa bowlers like he is becoming increasingly prone to do, Root played what can be called his finest Test innings till date.

England’s objective after lunch was to put unrewarded overs into both the bowlers and the ball.

Alex Hales fell first, pushing at a full one from Kagiso Rabada and finding AB de Villiers in the cordon – his third score of 10 or fewer in five innings.

It was then the turn of Nick Compton (26) and Joe Root (106 not out) who steadied the ship with a 52-run third wicket stand. Rabada picked up the wicket of Compton, caught Dean Elgar at slip as England found themselves 74/3.

England were in danger of being rolled over.