Ben Stokes produced a sensational late flourish as England levelled the series against South Africa with an epic 189-run victory in the second Test.
With time running out, Stokes ripped through the South African tail in the final session of the match, taking three quickfire wickets after tea on day five.
Rassie van der Dussen and Quinton de Kock looked set to guide the hosts to a hard-earned draw after surviving the second session, leaving England with an improbable five wickets to take after tea, having got just three up to that point on day five.
A thrilling conclusion saw both batsmen perish before Stokes took two wickets in as many balls, with Zak Crawley taking a stunning catch to dismiss Anrich Nortje first up.
And it was England’s man of the moment who took the final wicket, this time finding the edge of a stubborn Vernon Philander.
Earlier in the match, Stokes took a record-breaking five catches in one innings and scored 119 runs in total with the bat, once again stating his case as perhaps the world’s greatest all-round cricketer right now.
England’s chances of victory at a ground where they had not won since 1957 had looked slim, to say the least, after losing Jofra Archer and Rory Burns to injury just 24 hours before the match.
But not only was it a first success for England at the famous Newlands ground in 63 years, it was also an outstanding advert for the long-form story-telling that is five-day Test cricket – a format at this very moment in danger of being curtailed by administrators.
It leaves the four-match series beautifully poised at 1-1, and England should be boosted by the return of pacemen Archer and Mark Wood for the third Test in Port Elizabeth.
We’ll be reliving England’s victory in the second Test with South Africa in a two-hour special from 10am tomorrow morning on talkSPORT 2.
You can follow the entire series exclusively live on talkSPORT 2.
