BeardGuy: "I don't think England are losing this game because of bazball. You can't call it bazball if you don't win the toss and bowl first in swinging conditions and then chase a high score on a flat fourth innings wicket. England lost the toss and batted first. This isn't bazball." --- Hopefully, that's the last we hear of the B-word in the hour leading to lunch. Lees and Crawley have stepped out. Elgar is giving his team a pep talk before they take their positions. Should be a fun 50 minutes.
J I Pearce: "I reckon England will need 450 in their 2nd innings. 290 will be tough to chase." --- Cricket logic would suggest so, but then Test cricket has thrown up some massive surprises over the last couple of years.
Mark: "So, what do we think: England need 400 to make a game of this?"
12.07 pm Thanks Alan. Looking forward to what happens through the rest of the day. Clearly, England won't take too many backward steps. What will give them immense hope is that it seems like a pretty good batting wicket at the moment. As ever, their two key players, you feel, would be Joe Root and YJB.
12pm: A lively hour at Lord's, and both teams have (just about) got what they wanted. South Africa's lead is a healthy 161, and the bowlers should be rested up and raring to go again. But England have made a habit of turning Tests around from unpromising positions this summer, and will doubtless be keen to see what they can do should they wipe off the deficit and get into a lead. They'll be back out for their second innings in 10, when Debayan Sen will take you through the action
L Ngidi c Bairstow b Broad 0 (12m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
END OF OVER:89 | 8 Runs | SA: 326/9
- Anrich Nortje28 (42b)
- Lungi Ngidi0 (5b)
- Ben Stokes18-3-71-3
- Stuart Broad19-3-71-2
"Stop it Ben," murmurs Tiggsy. "Give Jimmy a go..."
"Lungisani means 'make things right'," says Senzo. SA can't go wrong from here, can they?
Stokes continues, England one wicket away from batting again
END OF OVER:88 | (wicket maiden) | SA: 318/9
- Lungi Ngidi0 (5b)
- Anrich Nortje20 (36b)
- Stuart Broad19-3-71-2
- Ben Stokes17-3-63-3
Luckily PD is here to do the job for me: "Get ready to sound the gong - Bazball time is just around the corner, proven to be at its most lethal in 3rd / 4th innings"
"England have a deficit almost equal to their first innings score!! Is there any way out?" Don't make me mention the B-word, Abhi...
Out comes last man, Lungisani True-man Ngidi
M Jansen c Crawley b Broad 48 (157m 79b 4x4 1x6) SR: 60.75
END OF OVER:87 | 4 Runs | SA: 318/8
- Anrich Nortje20 (36b)
- Marco Jansen48 (78b)
- Ben Stokes17-3-63-3
- Stuart Broad18-2-71-1
