Amla ton guides South Africa reply

The pitch remained placid, the batsmanship of Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers was conscientious in its defence and, when the batsmen did err, England’s fielding was found wanting. There was a time as tea approached at Newlands when England must have feared a wicketless day – then Ab de Villiers fell with the interval 20 minutes away and the second Test stirred once more.

England’s breakthrough fell to Steven Finn, whose bounce and hostility in unfavourable conditions made him comfortably the most dangerous component in an attack which held South Africa in check, but struggled to find solace. De Villiers departed on 88, pulling a short ball to midwicket where James Anderson held a head-high catch at the second attempt. England, who had dropped three, had finally clung on.

At tea, Amla remained unbeaten on 132, his first century since 2014. That form did not return with loud statements – he is not that type of player – but with a sheen and grace to his strokeplay that reasserted his quality.

Amla and de Villiers dutifully set their sights on a long haul to safety, poring like senior librarians over a stand of 183 in 69 overs. South Africa failed to file away a single century stand in 2015 as they rarely justified their No. 1 Test ranking. In the first innings of the New Year, they addressed that shortcoming.

It was a striking contrast to the fun of the fair on the previous day when Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow rattled up 399 in 59. Test cricket’s appeal lies in the fact that it is a game of many moods.

The 339-run deficit remained a daunting one, but it was onerous work for England’s pace attack and South Africa had achieved their first task in settling emotions after the havoc caused by England’s Red Devils, Stokes and Bairstow, on the previous day. The Test had passed its mid-point, there was no sign of spin for Moeen Ali and their chances of saving the Test had risen considerably.

England will rue those three dropped chances, evenly spread like fumbled water bottles on a marathon. De Villiers was spared on the second evening on 5 when Joe Root spilled an opportunity engineered by Anderson; Amla allowed a let-off on 76, half an hour before lunch on the third day when this time Anderson flapped down a quick edge off Root. That left them evens, although a bit more sulking had been evident when Root dropped the edge from Anderson. Part-time bowlers are not allowed such liberties: for them, every wicket is a bonus.

Amla also escaped on 120, Nick Compton failing to hold an acceptable chance to his left at backward point as Finn’s insistence forced another opportunity.

De Villiers passed 8000 Test runs before lunch, becoming the third South African alongside Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith to achieve the feat when he struck Moeen down the ground, one of the most adventurous moments in a session characterised by sober defence. There were only 20 runs by drinks, and only 58 in the session at two runs per over, as South Africa’s third-wicket pair concentrated on watchful defence.

England, though, curbed South Africa’s progress. Anderson’s morning salvo was a stalemate, largely delivered outside off stump to packed off-side fields. Moeen gazed forlornly at cracks that failed to widen. Broad’s hot spurt was nowhere to be seen. But Finn caused discomfort from the start, his extra bounce unsettling de Villiers who produced an uneasy edge, cut and pull in quick succession, all of which fell short of expectant fielders.

With de Villiers and Amla both having the capacity to go big, England knew that the second new ball – eight overs away at lunch – would be crucial. In England’s innings, that new ball was the catalyst for Stokes and Bairstow’s assault. Nobody expected such tomfoolery this time: there was work to be done.

The new ball came at 230 for 2 and no discussions were necessary: England grabbed it. A daring captain might have gambled and thrown the ball at Finn, but Cook preferred his tried and trusted. It was only when Finn appeared that things began to happen.

It would have been tough on Amla if he had been run out on 119 when Finn got a finger on a return drive from de Villiers, but Amla regained his ground in time. Stokes then won an lbw appeal from Aleem Dar when de Villiers was 85, but even as de Villiers signalled for a review, Stokes knew that the batsman had got an inside edge.

By the time de Villiers fell, England were desperate for a release. They found it but South Africa, on a ground where they have been so successful, had also rediscovered their spine.