South Africa’s proud and spotless record at Lord’s since returning to world cricket is under threat. In five visits here they have won convincingly four times and drawn once. Currently they are 244 runs behind with five wickets in hand. From here they might settle for another draw.
On another balmy day they were tormented by two of England’s all-rounders, neither of whom was Ben Stokes. Argue among yourselves whether Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali can truly be categorised as all-rounders – maybe the former does not bat well enough and the latter’s bowling is too limited. But there was no denying that in mid-afternoon Moeen joined Broad and five other illustrious England cricketers who have hit 2000 Test runs and taken 100 Test wickets. (The others are Wilfred Rhodes, Trevor Bailey, Tony Greig, Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff). Oddly Moeen has reached 2,000 runs and 100 wickets in the same match – as did Ravi Shastri. Of the Englishmen only Greig, in 37 matches as opposed to Moeen’s 38, has reached this landmark more quickly. Both Broad and Moeen are in fine company.
Moeen contributed 87 and Broad 57 not out, an innings not quite so polished but just as entertaining to all but the purist. Then this doughty duo took the first four wickets to fall in South Africa’s reply. By then the cricket had assumed the more traditional qualities of a Test match with South Africa fighting for survival after England had posted 458.
Broad was at his most miserly as he pounded in from the Nursery End. Maybe he sensed some unevenness on a dry pitch, maybe it was just the sense of occasion that a packed house at Lord’s generates. Broad was in rhythm; he becalmed Heino Kuhn on his Test debut and then he found his edge in a six over spell that yielded just eight runs.
Profligate spell
After a profligate little spell from Liam Dawson (four overs for 29 runs), who rarely bowls as early as the 14th over for Hampshire, let alone England, Moeen was introduced and with his greater pace and – on this occasion – greater accuracy he posed more problems.
Hashim Amla had purred along beside Dean Elgar but when he tried to work an off-break from Moeen on to the leg side he misjudged both the length of the ball and the amount of turn. Even though Amla’s is a pivotal wicket there was no enthusiasm for a review.
After tea Elgar became Moeen’s 100th victim. He pushed forward and from the inside edge the ball hit the chest of Gary Ballance at short leg before being calmly snared in his hands. Moeen often bowls better when expectations are low and here he had dispatched the two most accomplished batsmen in South Africa’s makeshift top six.
When Broad broached JP Duminy’s defences South Africa were 104 for four and in trouble. But Temba Bavuma, calm and watchful, joined forces with Theunis de Bruyn, relishing his second Test appearance and this pair added 99 together, whereupon Jimmy Anderson found the edge of De Bruyn’s bat. This pair batted with impressive resolution and rather more discretion than we witnessed in the morning.
That first session was frenetic and hugely entertaining. In particular the last wicket partnership between the old guard of Broad and Anderson produced slapstick stuff.
Simple catch
At the start Joe Root doubtless had designs on becoming the first Test cricketer to hit two double hundreds at Lord’s, but it was not to be as he departed early. Against Morne Morkel he essayed what seemed to be a textbook forward defensive except that the ball flicked the outside edge to give the keeper a simple catch.
Two balls latter Dawson, who was selected to give no-nonsense ballast to the side, was heading lugubriously back to the pavilion, lbw for his second duck in three innings for England.
Soon Vernon Philander demanded another lbw from umpire Reiffel against Broad on four. The appeal was denied; a review was contemplated but rejected, which was a mistake since the replays revealed that the ball possessed all the red criteria needed for the decision to be overturned. This was a costly mishap for the South Africans since Broad would finish unbeaten with 57 runs merrily gleaned in a variety of ways.
Initially Broad, using every part of his bat, prospered alongside Moeen, who posted his 2,000th Test run during a 46 run partnership that ended when he was defeated by a full length delivery from Kasigo Rabada. His innings was another delight and a reminder of how hard it is to understand those who query Moeen’s right to be an automatic choice in this team. No doubt there were times when the same was said of Bailey and Flintoff.
Then Mark Wood was palpably lbw without scoring and the assumption was that the innings was rushing to a close. Instead Broad and Anderson engaged in an hilarious – to English eyes – last wicket stand of 45, during which the South Africans lost their discipline. Broad was able to predict Morne Morkel’s intentions all too easily which meant that he smashed two consecutive bouncers over the boundary at square leg.
Even Anderson hit a six against Rabada, pulling fearlessly off the front foot. This was his third six in Test cricket but his first against a pace bowler. He will be proud of that but unfortunately there is not yet a board in the dressing room to accommodate that particular landmark. – Guardian service
