Ben Stokes led England’s quest for damage limitation in the first Test against South Africa as the Proteas reached 289-7 and earned a 124-run lead on day two at Lord’s after the hosts’ meagre tally of 165 runs.
England started the day on 116-6 but day one hero Ollie Pope was swiftly bowled out before Stuart Broad, Jack Leach and James Anderson lasted no time at all.
As South Africa motored towards England’s paltry target, they led 158-2 at tea and were in a confident mood.
Ben Stokes led England’s quest for damage limitation in the first Test against South Africa
But just after tea, Aiden Markram edged Jack Leach’s first ball behind to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes for 16, with South Africa 160 for three.
Stokes changed tactics and was rewarded when Erwee gloved his short delivery and Foakes took the catch. Erwee departed for 73, with South Africa 187 for four and leading by 22.
The England captain added a second wicket shortly afterwards, trapping Rassie van der Dussen lbw for 19. Van der Dussen unsuccessfully reviewed the decision as South Africa faltered slightly at 192 for five.
Stuart Broad of England celebrates dismissing Kyle Verreynne – his 100th Test wicket at Lord’s
Stuart Broad claimed his 100th Test wicket at Lord’s by dismissing Kyle Verreynne for 11. He had the Proteas wicketkeeper caught behind to leave the tourists 210 for six.
Just as England looked to be fighting back, South Africa duo Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj put on 72 runs for the seventh wicket. Their stand was ended when Maharaj was caught off Stokes for 41.
Earlier, Sarel Erwee shared an 85-run partnership for the opening wicket with captain Dean Elgar, who made 47 before he was dismissed in unfortunate circumstances to become James Anderson’s first wicket at the age of 40.
Sarel Erwee knocked an unbeaten half century to score 60 and hand South Africa a clear lead
It was a rare highlight for England during a tough afternoon session where Matthew Potts was the only other home bowler to earn reward with their first innings’ total of 165 almost wiped out by the Proteas.
Opener Erwee backed up fine work at the start of the day by Kagiso Rabada, who claimed a five-wicket haul, to reach tea unbeaten on 60 with South Africa 158 for two and firmly on top.
After Elgar and Erwee negotiated a tricky 50-minute period before lunch, the pair made the most of some wayward bowling at the beginning of an extended afternoon session of two-and-a-half hours.
Potts was initially expensive, going for 36 from his first six overs, with Elgar clipping him to the boundary any time he drifted onto the pads of the South Africa captain.
The Proteas’ bowling attack continued to hurt England as the hosts were bowled out for 165
The tourists’ skipper was eager to cash in after two close shaves, successfully reviewing a caught behind off Stuart Broad before Zak Crawley put down his thick outside edge off Potts on seven, but Anderson received a slice of luck to make the breakthrough.
Elgar was three away from fifty when despite smothering Anderson’s delivery, the ball ricocheted off his elbow guard and rolled back onto the stumps with the bails dislodged.
Ben Stokes’ decision to turn to Anderson had worked but Erwee remained unflustered at the other end.
Ollie Pope was the only bright spark for England in the first innings and was dismissed for 73
The Proteas new opener started after lunch with two fine drives for four before he took advantage of England’s attacking field with four slips to help himself to a succession of singles and twos in his fifth Test.
Erwee reached his half-century off 89 balls when he guided the ball through cover for a boundary off Broad, back on earlier than expected after Stokes worryingly cut short his stint following four overs having pulled up earlier in the session while fielding.
Broad should have run out Keegan Petersen not long after Erwee’s milestone, but missed with three stumps to aim at and threw wide of his captain after the South Africa number three had raced down the wicket.
Tailender Jack Leach tried to fight back with 15 off 17 but was soon bowled by Marco Jansen
Potts did end Petersen’s breezy knock of 24 when he found the outside edge and Jonny Bairstow did the honours at third slip.
Rabada had been the key figure earlier in the day with the scalp of Ollie Pope crucial in dismissing England for 165.
The hosts resumed on 116 for six and all eyes were on Pope but he failed to make the most of a life from the sixth ball of the morning.
Stuart Broad thought he had Elgar caught behind but the decision was changed upon review
Pope edged Rabada to Erwee, who in comical fashion spilled the first chance, almost clung onto the second before he could not gather at the third attempt while falling over.
England’s number three played on soon after to Rabada having added only 12 runs to his overnight total of 61 and despite some brief positivity from Broad and Jack Leach, who both made 15, South African’s chief seamer dismissed the former with a slower ball.
Rabada extended his spell into a seventh over and earned his reward when he pinned Anderson in front for a golden-duck to claim five for 52, which put his name on the Lord’s honours board and wrapped up the hosts innings inside an hour of the second day.