Late Stokes burst gives England the edge

Ben Stokes unleashed one of the most destructive test innings ever for his 258 as a rampant England declared on a huge 629-6 in the second test against South Africa.

Ben Stokes smashed the second-fastest double-hundred in Test history to put England in complete command against South Africa at Newlands. Their partnership was the best for the sixth wicket in tests and England’s second-best for any wicket.

It was a delirious example of muscular strokeplay and formed the majority share of a mammoth 399-run stand with Jonny Bairstow, who turned his maiden Test century into an unbeaten 150.

“I think this will be over on the fourth day – I don’t see any way back for South Africa”.

It was a thrilling, bravura show from Stokes, who also hit 30 fours, and at times verged on the cruel as South Africa visibly fell to pieces in the field.

Among a series of significant statistics, Stokes’ brilliant double hundred came off 163 balls, the second fastest behind Nathan Astle’s 153-ball double ton against England in 2001-02.

Stokes and Bairstow scored at a brisk tempo as their partnership got here slightly below 5 runs an over, with a lot of the runs coming after the second new ball was taken.

At the end of the day, De Villiers was not out on 25, and his partnership with Amla was unbeaten on 56.

The South African bowlers had no answer to a relentless assault, and by the end of the first hour, which yielded 103 runs off 13 overs, there were five men on the boundary. “After he dropped the catch he wasn’t going to miss the stumps”, Stokes said, although he admitted it had been a dream innings, far surpassing his previous highest Test score of 120 against Australia at Perth two seasons ago.

South Africa had already confirmed on the eve of the Test that the world No. 1 ranked bowler Dale Steyn would not be playing, as he has not recovered from a shoulder injury, and that 20-year-old Rabada would take his place.

The record for the fastest Test double century was set in 2002 by a player born in Christchurch.

Hales, who was handed a Test debut in the first match of the ongoing series against South Africa managed scores of only 10 and 26 in the two innings in Durban.

South Africa’s ragged state of mind was summed up by Morne Morkel’s drop of Bairstow on 138. The batsman drove Morris to long-off and the ball went through Morkels hands. He was sent back by Elgar and Nick Compton?s throw to wicketkeeper Bairstow beat him comfortably. Extras: (b12, lb6, nb8, w13) 39.

Bairstow chipped in a couple of sweet shots too as England left their opponents shellshocked with 45 runs in the first four overs.

Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-129, 3-167, 4-167, 5-223.

The 27th four of his innings, muscling Morkel wide of mid-on, brought him to 200 and also left him with the most runs before lunch in Test history (127).