England v South Africa LIVE: Cricket result and scorecard as England win second Test at Old Trafford
England are looking to build on a strong start to this Test match and level the three-match series with the Proteas
Ben Stokes produced the crucial double strike to set England on course for a three-day thrashing of South Africa at Old Trafford.
England romped home in the second Test by an innings and 85 runs - an even bigger margin than the one they lost by in similarly crushing fashion last week at Lord’s - as they flattened the tourists for 179. And it was captain Stokes who once again proved his inspirational all-round qualities, following up his fine century on day two with a long spell of bloody-minded brilliance with ball in hand.
Fourth-wicket pair Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen had successfully sucked the heat out of England after a strong start from the hosts, blocking their way in a determined stand of 87 in 261 balls.
With inspiration in short supply it fell to Stokes to break their will as he removed the pair in successive overs at the start of the evening session. His decisive moment came in the middle of a draining 14-over stint either side of the tea break, as flogged himself for the cause and came up trumps. With his work done he tossed the new ball to James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, who finished things off in a blaze of glory by taking the last five wickets for just seven runs in the space of just 30 deliveries.
Follow all the latest score updates and live commentary from Old Trafford below.
Ben Stokes double strike key as England beat South Africa inside three days
Ben Stokes produced the crucial double strike to set England on course for a three-day thrashing of South Africa at Old Trafford.
England romped home in the second Test by an innings and 85 runs – an even bigger margin than the one they lost by in similarly crushing fashion last week at Lord’s – as they flattened the tourists for 179.
And it was captain Stokes who once again proved his inspirational all-round qualities, following up his fine century on day two with a long spell of bloody-minded brilliance with ball in hand.
Fourth-wicket pair Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen had successfully sucked the heat out of England after a strong start from the hosts, blocking their way in a determined stand of 87 in 261 balls.
With inspiration in short supply it fell to Stokes to break their will as he removed the pair in successive overs at the start of the evening session.
His decisive moment came in the middle of a draining 14-over stint either side of the tea break, as flogged himself for the cause and came up trumps.
With his work done he tossed the new ball to James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, who finished things off in a blaze of glory by taking the last five wickets for just seven runs in the space of just 30 deliveries.
Ben Stokes double strike key as England beat South Africa inside three days
England bowled South Africa out for 179 to win by an innings and 85 runs and level the three-Test series at 1-1.
WATCH: England seal victory over South Africa
Here’s how England sealed victory by an innings and 85 runs
WATCH: Anderson brings up 100 wickets against South Africa
Jimmy Anderson secured his 100th wicket against South Africa by clean bowling Kagiso Rabada
England win by an innings and 85 runs
Brilliant by England. Superb bowling and they’ve polished off South Africa by an innings and 85 runs. They’ve levelled the series at 1-1, heading for a decider at The Oval.
OUT! Lungi Ngidi b Robinson 0 (2); South Africa 179 all out (85.1)
WICKET! And it’s over! That lasted all of one ball of the over... Robinson bowls wicket to wicket and clean bowls Lungi Ngidi. England win!
South Africa 179-9 (85); K Verreynne 17, L Ngidi 0 - SA trail by 85
Can Anderson finish things off from, fittingly, the James Anderson end? It’s Verreynne on strike, who defends the first few balls of the over well.
Will he try to farm the strike to protect Ngidi? At the moment, all he can do is survive, as he digs out another snorter from the penultimate delivery. He’ll want a single off the final ball but can only block out. Ngidi will be on strike to Robinson.
South Africa 179-9 (84); K Verreynne 17, L Ngidi 0 - SA trail by 85
Lungi Ngidi the last man in. One ball to face... Ooooh - he hangs a bat at it outside off but misses as it whizzes through to Foakes.
OUT! Anrich Nortje ct Foakes b Robinson 0 (2); South Africa 179-9 (83.5)
Ollie Robinson still steaming in and looking for a third wicket. And he finds it! WICKET! Great line and length for the seamer, in the channel, a bit of extra bounce, Nortje plays at it and edges through to Foakes.
Easy street for England!
OUT! Kagiso Rabada ct Root b Anderson 2 (7); South Africa 178-8 (83)
Jimmy Anderson continuing as England smell blood here. Verreynne takes on off the first ball which suits England fine as Anderson gets to bowl at Rabada.
A half-appeal for lbw follows when one swerves late but it was drifting down leg. He then beats Rabada all ends up with another beauty - too good for him.
That one is not though! WICKET! Final ball of the over and Rabada plays at one outside off, he edges it and well caught in the slips by Joe Root. England ont he brink of victory.
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