The Proteas moved to 90-2 at lunch on day four of the fourth and final Test against England at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Monday.
Opener Pieter Malan was the initial casualty of the first session, dismissed shortly after Monday’s opening drinks break. Slip fielder Ben Stokes was at hand for a good catch, as Malan failed to negotiate seamer Chris Woakes’ nagging line and length.
Fellow opener Dean Elgar perished soon thereafter, with Stokes again on cue for a good return catch.
OPINION: Pantomime at the Bull Ring
Captain Faf du Plessis and sidekick Rassie van der Dussen will resume the hosts’ pursuit of a 466-run target after lunch. The Proteas are still 376 runs shy.
The home side’s first innings had amounted to 183 all out, after the tourists had amassed 400 – and later 248 in the second innings.
This Test is all-rounder Vernon Philander’s last. He will retire from international cricket next week in favour of a Kolpak contract with Somerset in English county cricket later this year.
England lead the series two-one. They lost in Centurion before winning in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.
South Africa: Dean Elgar, Pieter Malan, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis (captain), Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Temba Bavuma, Dwaine Pretorius, Vernon Philander, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Beuran Hendricks.
England: Zak Crawley, Dominic Sibley, Joe Denly, Joe Root (captain), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad.
Photo: Gallo Images
