England registered a comprehensive victory by an innings and 85 runs South Africa in the second test Within three days to draw 1-1 in the three-match series and come down from the top of the ICC World Test Championship standings on Saturday (27 August).
South Africa confirmed their position at the top of the WTC table after their win at Lord’s, but an innings defeat here reduced their win percentage to 66.67 per cent, less than Australia’s 70 per cent.
Sri Lanka are third with 53.33 per cent, but South Africa will look to win the next Test to ensure they are on course to reach the ICC World Test Championship final in England next year.
From the start of Day 3, the England bowlers were on the money and hardly gave a loose ball for South Africa to redeem. The constant pressure eventually led to the downfall of Dean Elgar, who dislocated his off-stump with the peach of a James Anderson delivery.
Notable Records of Jay Anderson:
– Became the first player to play 100 Tests in one country (England)
– He now has the most wickets among pacers in Intel. Cricket – 951
– He became the third player to take 100+ wkts v SA in Tests
– He now has over 100 wickets against three opponents #ENGvSA— Umang Pabri (@UPStatsman) August 27, 2022
Searle Irvy returned to the pavilion with Ollie Robinson behind his captain and passed the lead into the safe hands of Ben Fox. Stuart Broad dodged the stumps of Aidan Markram, only to be declared a no-ball by the third umpire. Markram’s lifeline lasted less than two overs as Broad had the last laugh, tempting the Proteas batsman with a wide.
Rassi van der Dussen and Keegan Pietersen then batted carefully to ensure that South Africa did not lose any more wickets in the morning session.
South Africa held off England’s charge with a promising stance after the break. Pietersen and van der Dussen put on an 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket as England kept on searching till the tea break.
The partnership gave South Africa a glimmer of hope, but player of the match Ben Stokes returned after tea to pick up two quick wickets, sending van der Dussen and Pietersen back in successive overs to turn the game in England’s direction. Firmly twisted.
Anderson added another feather to his cap by taking the wicket of Simon Harmer, surpassing Glenn McGrath as the highest wicket-taker at the international level. It was Anderson’s 950th international wicket, improving one by one at the end of the day to help England win an innings.
The 40-year-old Anderson is five wickets away from Anil Kumble’s tie and will be followed by only Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, both of whom have more than 1000 scalps. The veteran finished the Test with six wickets as England won their sixth game in the ICC World Test Championship.
Brief Scores: South Africa 151 and 179 (Keegan Petersen 42, Rassie van der Dussen 41; Ollie Robinson 4-43, James Anderson 3-30) lost to England 415/9 (Ben Fox not out 113, Ben Stokes 103; Enrique Nortje 3- 82, Keshav Maharaj 2-78) by an innings and 85 runs