South Africa v England: Quinton de Kock hits maiden century

Debutant Stephen Cook and former captain Hashim Amla hit hundreds as South Africa enjoyed a commanding start to the fourth Test against England.

De Kock got to his century off just 104 balls as the Proteas looked to get as many as they could.

After two early wickets left the Proteas 336 for seven at Centurion, England would have fancied themselves to wrap things up for well under 400 but De Kock batted fluently throughout the first session, making 85 not out to leave the hosts firmly on top.

Piedt deserved credit for his part too, batting almost two hours for his 19, taking care of an end to free up de Kock’s natural instincts.

England delayed his inevitable century by packing the offside and hanging the ball wide outside off stump, but when Anderson eventually straightened up Amla punched him for two to reach three figures.

England, after picking up the wickets of Temba Bavuma (35) and Rabada (0) early in the morning session, the tourists may have expected to run through the South Africa tail.

Replying to South Africa’s challenging first-innings total of 475, it was a useful response by England, who now need just 137 more runs on Sunday, with eight wickets in hand, to avoid the follow-on.

The stage seemed set for De Villiers but he came and went for nought, Broad dismissing the home captain for the 10th time via a smart take from Joe Root at second slip.

Ben Stokes attempted a hard catch in the gully off James Anderson in the second over of the day when de Kock had yet to add to his overnight tally of 25.

Alex Hales (15) got going with three boundaries in the first four overs but was out caught at point trying to drive a full delivery from Rabada (2-55).

But a stand of 50 for the eighth wicket between De Kock and Kyle Abbott (16), and 82 for the ninth with Piedt (19), kept the touring side in the field until 40 minutes before tea.

Rabada was the most impressive South African bowler having picked both the wickets.

The wicketkeeper/batsman went to 99 not out as he raised a fifty partnership with Piedt with a powerful shot straight down the ground off spinner Moeen Ali and he had to wait another over before securing a single on the off side off Ali and completing a 104-ball century.

Amla was dropped on five when he edged Stokes low to first slip, where skipper Alastair Cook, possibly obscured by diving wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, put down the chance.

It was a dream start for the 33-year-old and provided a stark contrast to his dad’s maiden test appearance in 1992 when he made a first-ball duck against India in Durban, at the age of 39.

It was De Kock’s highest Test score, beating out the 81 he scored against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2014.