Summary

  • Sibley nears maiden Test century

  • Sibley 85* - adds 116 with Root (61)

  • Root 61, Denly 31, Crawley 25

  • Nightwatchman Bess falls to final ball

  • Two wickets for Nortje

  • SA 223 - deficit of 46: Anderson 5-40

  • Stokes five catches - England record

  • SA lead 1-0 in four-Test series

  • Second Test, day three, Cape Town

  1. Eng 17-0published at 09:34 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Lead by 63

    Rabada had the plan, but the execution was awry. With Crawley maybe expecting the bumper, Rabada looks for the yorker, but it turns into a leg-stump full toss that is flicked fine for four. Remember, England led by 46. Every run here pushes South Africa further into the distance.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:31 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Text 81111

    A couple of years back we took all the decorations down on the 6th but left the tree up just with lights on. It brightened dull January up so much we kept it up til clocks changed!

    Phil from Leicester

  3. Eng 12-0published at 09:30 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Under-floor heating? Do you live on a football pitch?

    Rabada vs Crawley again, just as the sun pokes through....

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:29 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Text 81111

    Under-floor heating did for my tree. It had dried out and died before Christmas Eve. It'll limp on to the 6th of Jan, though, as is the rules.

    Tom, London

  5. Eng 12-0published at 09:29 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    For the first time, Philander finds the crack and the ball scuttles through. Sibley is safe enough to leave on line, but the variable bounce will be in the back of the mind. And again! This time leaping into the back thigh. Cleverly, Philander has gone wider of the crease to bring the gorge into play. From being relatively unthreatening, he's found his zip.

  6. Postpublished at 09:25 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Mark Ramprakash
    Ex-England batsman on The Cricket Social

    Crawley and Sibley have done OK so far this innings. Crawley's basics are really good but I agree with Aggers, it's a huge test for a young batsman facing real pace. Crawley has probably not faced much of this bowling.

  7. ouch!

    Eng 12-0published at 09:25 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Hit again. This time on the shoulder, ducking into a bumper. Kagiso Rabada comes for a word, short leg goes into the pocket. Crawley can probably expect plenty of this from now on. When he defends the last ball, he gets warm applause from the Barmies.

    Zak CrawleyImage source, Reu
  8. Postpublished at 09:24 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent in Cape Town

    Zak Crawley is going to have to sort out how to play the short ball because he's going to get a lot of them if he keeps on just standing there and wafting the bat towards the leg side.

  9. ouch!

    Eng 12-0published at 09:22 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    The first hint of trouble for Zak Crawley, who tries to pull a short one from Rabada, only to top edge into his grille. He gets checked out and is fine. He may, however, be playing a few too many shots...

    Zak CrawleyImage source, Getty Images
  10. Postpublished at 09:20 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    "You see, Nico, I insist on a real tree. Up on 1 December, down on 6 January."

    Mark Nicholas and Kevin PietersenImage source, Getty Images
  11. Eng 12-0published at 09:19 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    A shot of the England dressing room reveals that someone has got the brews in. Ben Stokes and Joe Denly are amongst those nursing a paper cup. Sibley gets away by crabbing over, revealing leg stump, and whipping Philander to fine leg for a single. Newlands is becalmed, the din turned down slightly, as if it is recovering from the earlier excitement. The ground is full once again, the old stands looking resplendent.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Text 81111

    Real tree going to the tip this morning. It opens at 9 so I think 9.23 is the optimum post-rush time. The rest of the day will be spent picking needles out of the car.

    James, Cheddar

  13. Eng 10-0published at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Lead by 56

    Rabada's radar hasn't found the right calibration just yet. He's either drifting on to Crawley's pads, or not drawing the right-hander into playing. The Crawley batalike I was thinking of might be Graeme Hick. However, his bat twirl is 100% Alec Stewart.

  14. Postpublished at 09:11 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Mark Ramprakash
    Ex-England batsman on The Cricket Social

    People can get too preoccupied by pace. It does make things happen but Vernon Philander shows that if you are super accurate and skilled, you can still be very effective bowling in the low 80s in Test cricket.

  15. Eng 8-0published at 09:11 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Vernon Philander, the metronome in human form, will shuffle in to examine Dom Sibley.

    Sibley, who I'm certain hasn't shaved during this Test, sets up with his open stance, showing the maker's name in defence.

    Philander has the crack to aim at, but I wonder if his natural length is fuller than what would be required. These bowlers might be at the wrong ends.

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:07 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Text 81111

    England's wicket-takers looking like a good set of exam results: 5 As, 2 Bs & 2 Cs.

    Shaun in Scunthorpe

  17. Eng 8-0published at 09:07 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Lead by 54

    Shot! Crawley whips Rabada off his toes to the square leg boundary.

    Even better! Full face of the bat through mid-off for four more.

    He's tall, Crawley. Elegant too. He reminds me of someone, but I can't think who.

    This is almost one shot too many. A drive on to the back of his leg, nearly tricking back on to the stumps.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:05 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Text 81111

    You can rent Xmas trees now - cheaper and much better for the environment as they are replanted after.

    Jon in Brighton

  19. Postpublished at 09:04 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    That's a good point. Our living room isn't very big, so it feels like it's all Christmas tree at the moment.

    The England openers are out there. The education of Zak Crawley and Dominic Sibley is set to resume. It will be Crawley facing Kagiso Rabada to get us under way...

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:03 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Text 81111

    I went to play a quick 9 holes on Friday and came back to find the Christmas Tree, light et al had been taken down by the wife. I'm a January 6th man myself so I wasn't happy. On the plus side, how big does your living room suddenly look once it's all gone?!

    Andy in Liverpool