SA 126/2, need 312 runs to win 2nd test against England, Sibley scores unbeaten 133

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Patna : Chasing a stiff target of 438 runs, South Africa (SA) were 126/2 in 56 overs at stumps on Day 4 in their second innings in 2nd test against England at Newlands, Capetown, South Africa, on January 6, 2020, with opener Pieter Malan unbeaten on 63 in 193 balls hitting only 2 fours and spinner Keshav Maharaj batting on 2. SA still need 312 runs to win the 2nd test with 8 wickets in hand and the entire fifth day’s play left. The most runs scored on Day 5 in a test at Cape Town is 354 by West Indies against SA in 2003-04. That match had ended in a draw.

SA openers Dean Elgar and debutant Pieter Malan gave good start to their team adding 71 runs for the first wicket. Elgar fell to spinner Joe Denly for 34 in 78 balls with 2 fours. Malan and Zubayr Hamza then added 52 runs for the 2nd wicket. Hamza fell to James Anderson for 18 in 59 balls with 1 four just before stumps making it 123/2. Anderson has now taken 92 wickets against SA in tests surpassing Shaun Pollock’s 91 wickets.

Earlier, England had declared their second innings at 391/8 in 111 overs in second session of play with opener Dominic Sibley scoring an unbeaten 133 in 311 balls with 19 fours and a six, his first test century, and all-rounder Ben Stokes scoring 72 in 47 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes. Sibley and Stokes added 92 runs for the 5th wicket. Captain Joe Root scored 61 runs while Jos Buttler (wk) scored 23 in 18 balls with 2 sixes. England had scored 269 runs in their first innings while SA had scored 223 in their first innings.

Fast bowler Anrich Nortje took 3/61 in 18 overs while Kagiso Rabada took 2/69 in 20 overs.  Spinner Keshav Maharaj took 2/160 in 43 overs. Dwaine Pretorius took 1/56 in 16 overs.