Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes hit tons of; England dominate South Africa on day two at Emirates Old Trafford

Ben Stokes (103 off 163) and Ben Foakes (113no off 217) deflate South Africa with 173-run stand as England dominate at Emirates Old Trafford Test, lead by 241 after day two – watch day three on Sky Sports on Saturday (10.15am on air, 11am begin)

Ben Stokes scored a superbly-paced twelfth Test century and Ben Foakes his first at dwelling as England seized full management of the second Test towards South Africa on a dominant day two at Emirates Old Trafford.

Stokes (103 off 163) notched his first ton since turning into skipper, sharing a 173-run stand with Foakes (113no off 217) for England’s sixth wicket because the hosts turned a four-run deficit at 147-5 right into a lead of 264 by the point Stokes declared with the rating on 415-9 an hour earlier than stumps.

South Africa openers Dean Elgar (11no) and Sarel Erwee (12no) got here by way of a difficult nine-over spell earlier than the shut in entrance of an more and more vocal crowd, with the Proteas ending on 23-0 and their arrears lower to 241 runs.

Ben Stokes’ hundred – his first since turning into England Test captain – featured three sixes and 6 fours

Stokes was noticeably extra restrained after taking part in some frenetic, gung-ho knocks earlier in the summertime, reaching 50 from 101 deliveries earlier than accelerating to his century from 158 within the Manchester sunshine.

Stokes was lastly dismissed after a uncommon swipe towards Kagiso Rabada (2-110) with England main by 169, however that benefit swelled manner past 200 as Stuart Broad (21 off 14), Ollie Robinson (17 off 22) and Jack Leach (11 off 17) performed dashing late-order cameos and Foakes accomplished his second Test century – nearly 4 years after his first, in Sri Lanka – from 206 balls.

Foakes performed a terrific hand, having come to the crease with South Africa buoyed by the dismissals of Jonny Bairstow (49 off 63) and Zak Crawley (38 off 101) throughout a searing five-over spell from Anrich Nortje (3-82) to kick off the morning after England had resumed on 111-3, trailing by 40.

However, Nortje was not introduced again into the assault till over half-hour into the afternoon session, by which era England have been 239-5, a wholesome 88 runs to the great and with Stokes and Foakes firmly settled.

England are actually in pole place to stage up the three-match collection and will even fancy inflicting a three-day, innings defeat on South Africa having suffered a type of themselves at Lord’s final week within the collection opener.

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Ben Foakes clinched his second Test hundred and first on dwelling soil from 206 deliveries with a boundary off Anrich Nortje

Nortje strikes twice earlier than England take cost

Nortje’s wicket of Bairstow snapped a 91-run stand with Crawley for England’s fourth wicket with the batters having joined forces at 43-3 on Thursday afternoon following the exits of Alex Lees (4), Ollie Pope (23) and Joe Root (9) because the hosts replied to South Africa’s lowly 151 all out.

Crawley, so dogged final night as he floor his technique to 17 from 77 balls, was extra dynamic within the morning, putting three fours earlier than falling to a magnificence from Nortje and following Bairstow in being caught behind.

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England have been 5 down and nonetheless trailing by 4 runs when South Africa speedster Nortje dismissed Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow within the morning session

Stokes and Foakes quickly guided England into the lead and it was not lengthy earlier than Stokes smoked South Africa off-spinner Simon Harmer (1-73) for six over the leg-side – a feat he repeated within the second session to nail his fifty.

Stokes appeared to tweak his knee shortly earlier than morning drinks, however after some remedy carried on and and didn’t look troubled by that niggle for the reminder of his innings, which contained three sixes and 6 fours.

A selected spotlight was an impressive straight-driven 4 off Lungi Ngidi (1-61), one of many few events the left-hander danced down the pitch to a seam bowler, one thing he had executed with abandon in latest Tests.

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Check out one of many three sixes Stokes struck throughout his twelfth Test hundred – this one clubbed off Simon Harmer

Stokes overturned an lbw dismissal on 72 with Ngidi’s wonderful slower ball proven to have been inside-edged onto his pad, whereas he was dropped on 92 off the identical man as Aiden Markram shelled a tricky probability at additional cowl.

Foakes was given out on 28 near lunch, however the resolution was altered on evaluation with Keshav Maharaj’s supply having pitched outdoors leg stump.

Foakes – the quieter accomplice in that monster stand with Stokes – performed serenely as he turned a 3rd Test fifty, from 116 balls, right into a second Test ton and first since making 107 on debut at Galle in November 2018.

England went on to win that match towards Sri Lanka by 211 runs and can have eyes on a equally convincing win in Manchester earlier than the ultimate Test towards South Africa at The Kia Oval from September 8.

Watch day three of the second LV= Insurance Test between England and South Africa, from Emirates Old Trafford, stay on Sky Sports The Hundred on Saturday. Build-up begins at 10.15am forward of the primary ball at 11am.