Johannesburg: Steven Finn led a persistent England bowling attack as South Africa failed to capitalise on a promising start on the first day of the third Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday. South Africa were 267 for 7 at the close, a disappointing return after reaching 117 for 1 at the mid-afternoon drinks break.
Having negotiated what could reasonably have been expected to be the trickiest part of the day — after winning the toss and batting in cloudy conditions on a pitch with pace and bounce — wickets fell at regular intervals.South Africa slipped to 225 for 7 before Chris Morris and Kagiso Rabada took them to the close with an unbeaten partnership of 42.
Eight of the nine batsmen in action reached 20, with Faf du Plessis scoring 16, but Dean Elgar’s 46 was the highest score. Elgar’s dismissal, pushing at an off-spinner from Moeen Ali to be caught behind by Jonny Bairstow, started a slide. It ended a second wicket partnership of 73 with Hashim Amla, who fell to a superb delivery from Finn shortly afterwards for 40.
The tall Finn was hostile throughout the day, taking the wickets of Amla and Faf du Plessis for a return of two for 50. Ben Stokes took two for 46, including the key wicket of captain AB de Villiers, who looked in supreme form before getting a faint edge to an attempted pull shot after making 36.
SCORECARD
South Africa (1st innings): D. Elgar c Bairstow b Ali 46, S. van Zyl c Bairstow b Stokes 21, H. Amla c Bairstow b Finn 40, A. de Villiers c Bairstow b Stokes 36, F. du Plessis c Hales b Finn 16, T. Bavuma (run out) 23, D. Vilas c Ali b Broad 26, C. Morris (batting) 26, K. Rabada (batting) 20. Extras (b1, lb9, nb2, w1) 13. Total (for seven wickets in 89 overs) 267.
FoW: 1-44, 2-117, 3-127, 4-161, 5-185, 6-212, 7-225.
Bowling: Anderson 20-5-46-0, Broad 17-4-58-1, Finn 18-4-50-2, Ali 16-4-50-1, Stokes 18-1-53-2.
