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. Postpublished at 15:16 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Steven Finn
    England bowler on The Cricket Social

    The most aggressive player I ever played with was India spinner Murali Kartik.

    He would absolutely lose his rag if any batsman even attempted to sweep him.

  2. Eng 184-2published at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Is it that easy just to magic a left-arm pacer from nowhere? It's like when the England football team went years without a left winger. Sibley is happy to defend a maiden from Maharaj. There are 13 overs left in the day, but I doubt we'll get them in before the 16:00 cut-off.

  3. Postpublished at 15:13 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

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  4. Eng 184-2published at 15:11 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Lead by 230

    This pitch has gone to sleep. No sign of the bounce that England extracted yesterday. There's a theory in South Africa that the ball is less likely to swing when it's cloudy, and more likely to move when the sky is clear. That's certainly the case at the moment. Remember when I said the Barmy Army would soon be singing? They are a predictable bunch....

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:09 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    #bbccricket

    Jimi Hollemans: I served dinner to one Rodney Marsh. We discussed the upcoming Ashes. It was only when he later led out the team as a Tampa Bay Rowdies legend that I realized he was the former England midfielder and not the Aussie cricketer I’d hastily googled at the restaurant.

  6. Eng 182-2published at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Have you really got an OBE? Marvellous.

    Here comes Anrich Nortje....

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Text 81111

    Dr Felix B Rowbotham OBE: As a kid at a county game, Phil Tufnell was fielding on the boundary and signed my mate's merch before turning his back and walking off. I loudly called him a rude word, then realised he was walking in for the next delivery. He returned after the next ball and complimented my vocabulary for such a young man. I got my autograph, rather red faced.

  8. Eng 182-2published at 15:06 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Lead by 228; min 14 overs left

    Sibley gets a complete gift from the returning Maharaj, a half-tracker that he cuts square for four. In the crowd, you can just about hear one or two voices starting to tune up. That will be a full chorus before the close.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:04 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Text 81111

    Two years ago, at Euston Station waiting for Manchester train day before Old Trafford Test, encountered Mikes Atherton and Gatting. Asked Athers for a selfie, he said "Come on in Gatt, that's if you're not too wide for the shot."

    David, Stanmore

  10. Eng 178-2published at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Sibley 70, Root 42

    Faf du Plessis is at first slip as Philander bowls to Root. The skipper has his shirt untucked and trousers that look very snug. It's a bit like when a club cricketer forgets his whites and has to beg around the dressing room for some spares. In the crowd, a lady is reading Number One Chinese Restaurant, which I believe is a novel, rather than a guide.

  11. Postpublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

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  12. Eng 176-2published at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Lead by 222

    There's just over an hour to go in the day, 17 overs, including this one that Dwaine Pretorius is bowling. I'm not sure that's enough time for Dom Sibley, currently on 70, to reach three figures. Come to think of it, I can't actually remember a time when Pretorius wasn't plugging away at this end. When was the last time anyone saw Anrich Nortje?

  13. Postpublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Alex Hartley
    England women's spinner on The Cricket Social

    I switch the bails over when nothing is going my way to try and change my luck.

  14. Postpublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    The hoover is a vitally important piece of kit for any groundsman. I'm trying to think of other household items you might need at the cricket.

  15. Postpublished at 14:53 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

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  16. Postpublished at 14:53 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Meanwhile, in a T20 between India and Sri Lanka....

  17. Postpublished at 14:49 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent in Cape Town

    England are working very hard and that's what I like about this. They just have to bat and bat and bat.

  18. drinks break

    Drinks breakpublished at 14:49 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Eng 171-2

    There's a lot of tangoing going on between the non-striker and Rassie van der Dussen, the man fielding at short mid-on. Umpire Dharmasena even has a word with Van der Dussen to tell him not to encroach on to the pitch. VDD switches the bails around, either to get a change of luck or just to annoy the batsmen. Drinks come out. One South Africa sub is carrying a teacup.

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:46 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Text 81111

    After a long day watching Kevin Pietersen hit a hundred at Old Trafford, my pal was in the loo of a local bar and was feeling mentally lubicated enough to have a chat with the chap next to him at the urinals. "Been at the cricket too, have you?" he asked. "What part of the ground?" "In the middle," said KP. "Batting." Danny Pinkus the offender!

    Phil Lee, El Palmar, Cadiz

  20. Eng 170-2published at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2020

    Lead by 216

    Root has been searching for a gap on the off side and finally finds it with an open face, pushing Pretorius square for four. Later in the same over, he drops and runs, scurrying through for a single. The noise around the ground is polite. It feels like the Barmies are regrouping before a big push at the end of the day.