JOHANNESBURG: England’s tailenders Mark Wood and Stuart Broad put South Africa to the sword with a record-breaking 10th-wicket partnership to amass 400 in their first innings and take a firm grip on the final Test at the Wanderers on Saturday.

South Africa were 11-0 from as many as 12 overs in reply at tea on the second day as they began the long haul to try to get back into contention but hopes of a series-levelling victory look a long way off.

Broad and Wood scored 82 runs together from just 50 balls to set a record 10th-wicket partnership at the Wanderers and inflict a morale crushing blow on their hosts, already 2-1 down in the series. The pair struck seven sixes between them during their 41-minute mayhem.

Broad, who made 43 off 28 balls, and Wood, not out on 35, thrashed the ball to all parts of the cavernous stadium, forcing South Africa into the seldom-seen scenario of eight boundary fielders trying to defend against No. 10 and No. 11 batsmen.

There were also half centuries for captain Joe Root, Ollie Pope and a valuable 32 from all-rounder Chris Woakes in his first appearance on the tour.

South Africa began their reply with circumspection and after 12 overs Dean Elgar had four and Pieter Malan seven at tea.

In contrast, South African openers Dean Elgar and Pieter Malan could score only 11 runs in 12 overs before tea as they made a cautious start.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND (1st Innings, overnight 192-4):

Z. Crawley c van der Dussen b Philander 66

D.P. Sibley c de Kock b Hendricks 44

J.L. Denly c van der Dussen b Paterson 27

J.E. Root c de Kock b Nortje 59

B.A. Stokes c van der Dussen b Nortje 2

O.J. Pope b Nortje 56

J.C. Buttler c Elgar b Philander 20

S.M. Curran c de Kock b Nortje 0

C.R. Woakes c du Plessis b Nortje 32

M.A. Wood not out 35

S.C.J. Broad c Malan b Paterson 43

EXTRAS (LB-9, W-4, NB-3) 16

TOTAL (all out, 98.2 overs) 400

FALL OF WKTS: 1-107, 2-116, 3-150, 4-157, 5-258, 6-269, 7-269, 8-309, 9-318.

BOWLING: Philander 20-2-50-2 (2nb); Hendricks

23-3-111-1 (2w); Nortje 24-1-110-5 (1nb, 2w); Paterson 20.2-3-86-2; Pretorius 11-3-34-0.

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings):

D. Elgar not out 4

P.J. Malan not out 7

EXTRAS 0

TOTAL (for no wkt, 12 overs) 11

TO BAT: H.E. van der Dussen, F. du Plessis,

T. Bavuma, Q. de Kock, V.D. Philander, D. Pretorius, A. Nortje, D. Paterson, B.E. Hendricks.

BOWLING (to-date): Broad 5-2-5-0; Curran 3-1-3-0; Woakes 3-2-1-0; Wood 1-0-2-0.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2020