Ben Stokes special takes England to 353

Ben Stokes's fifth Test century gave England a strong total of 353 in their first innings before South Africa lost Dean Elgar to go into Tea at 18 for 1, on Day 2 of the third Test at the Kennington Oval in London. Stokes, unbeaten on 21 overnight, led the way as the home side added 182 runs to their Day 1 score in under two sessions to nullify the South African pace threat. He added a crucial 75-run partnership with Jonny Bairstow (36), and then some more with the tail to give the home team an above-par score in testing conditions.

England, however, did not have a bright start to the second morning, losing Cook before he could add to his overnight tally of 82. Umpire Joel Wilson raised the dreaded finger to an LBW appeal from Morne Morkel and despite a review - the ball-tracking returned 'umpire's call' with the ball projected to just about clip the top of leg-stump - a visibly disappointed Cook trudged back, 12 short of what would have been his 31st Test hundred.

Stokes and Bairstow, however, combined for the sixth-wicket stand that vaguely reminded of their Cape Town act. With the sun out and the pitch relatively easier to bat on, the duo added quick runs in the morning. Chris Morris was welcomed into the attack with a heavy, 12-run over where Stokes did all the scoring with three crisp boundaries. Bairstow then meted out similar treatment to the lone spinner, Keshav Maharaj, just before the drinks break.

Stokes, who earlier in the day completed 2000 Test runs, followed it up with his 10th half-century, off 71 balls but went into hiding soon after. With the new ball taken as soon as it was made available, it was Kagiso Rabada who limited the damage by prising out Bairstow. The comeback pacer tempted the wicketkeeper-bat into poking at one bowled just outside off and Faf du Plessis reverse-cupped it with ease at second slip to curtail the blooming partnership.

Moeen Ali did well to keep South Africa at bay before Lunch but became the first victim soon after the break. Morkel gave the visitors a window of hope by taking out the allrounder on 16, courtesy a review. And while they briefly managed to keep a well-set Stokes off the strike, Toby Roland-Jones kept inflicting more damage. England's third debutant of the game, Roland-Jones, chipped in with a brief cameo worth 25, going particularly after Morris, to take England past the 300-run mark.

Rabada peppered Stuart Broad with the short balls and consequently, England's No. 10 edged a swinging delivery to Hashim Amla at first slip. Nine away from a hundred, and a last batsman for company, Stokes then decided to switch gears. At the receiving end was Maharaj, brought on more out of desperation as Philander was taken to hospital to treat his stomach ailment.

Stokes clobbered three sixes on the trot in a drama-filled over that could have also cruelly ended his innings short of a ton. The batsman found a backtracking du Plessis at deep midwicket who completed the catch but also fell onto the ropes due to momentum, to take Stokes to 97. The hundred came off the next hit that went sailing over the bowler's head, and the final one was deposited into the deep square leg stands. Morkel put an end to the carnage, keeping England to 353.

South Africa's reply was dented early by Roland-Jones, brought on for just a couple of overs before the impending break. The move worked as umpire Aleem Dar raised the finger despite an uncertain look on the bowler's face. The UltraEdge confirmed a faint spike to give him his maiden Test scalp at the stoke of Tea.

Brief scores: England 353 (Ben Stokes 112, Alastair Cook 88; Morne Morkel 3-70, Kagiso Rabada 3-85) lead South Africa 18/1 (Heino Kuhn 10*; Toby Roland-Jones 1-5) by 335 runs.

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