ENGLAND captain Ollie Stone produced the sort of inspired leadership spell that used to make Eddie Barlow famous at Sahara Park Newlands to give his side control of the first Coca-Cola Youth Test match at the famous Cape Town ground on Monday.
South Africa had reached a fairly comfortable 120/3 at tea in reply to England’s first innings total of 313 when Stone struck immediately after tea to break the back of the home innings. They collapsed to 194 all out, giving England a lead of 119 which they subsequently extended to 143 without the loss of a wicket by the close of play.
Stone could only come on to bowl as England’s fifth change after dislocating a finger at the warm-up and having to wait for clearance from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) medical team to bowl. Once he started he broke through straight after tea, taking two wickets in two balls and putting the South African middle and lower-order on the rack thereafter.
South Africa made a spirited start to the second day when they dismissed England for a manageable total of 313 with the last three wickets falling for 36 runs in 19.1 overs. The home side then continued their fightback by reaching 16 without loss by lunch.
