Zak Crawley helps England end opening day of second SA Test in strong position

England hounded out South Africa for just 151 on day one of the second LV= Insurance Test, before an unusually stoic Zak Crawley helped them finish in a strong position at Emirates Old Trafford.

Despite skittling England cheaply twice in their innings victory at Lord’s, visiting captain Dean Elgar spurned the chance to send them in on a murky morning in Manchester.

The Proteas paid the price for that decision, knocked over inside 54 overs as James Anderson and Stuart Broad took three wickets apiece in helpful conditions.

England suffered top-order setbacks of their own, but the under-pressure Crawley, whose place has come under increasing scrutiny over the summer, played against type to help his side to reach stumps just 40 behind on 111 for three.

Subverting his reputation as a dasher, he eked out 17no from 77 balls, happily put in the shade by Jonny Bairstow’s sparkier 38no, to strengthen England’s grip.

Crawley offered little for the highlights reel but, with a game, a series and perhaps a career up for grabs, his mere survival was an important factor.

The last time Anderson and Broad did not share new-ball duties in the first innings of a Test when they played together was January 2010 – when One Direction were just a twinkle in Simon Cowell’s eye. Unlike the world famous boyband, Anderson and Broad have shown no signs of splintering but were prised apart here as Ollie Robinson shared the fresh cherry with Anderson. Broad, though, has given Stokes food for thought ahead of the Kia Oval by taking three for 37 in his 11 overs.

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No unlikely heroics with the bat, but the seamer brought up yet another record as he is into his 100th home Test. Nobody else has achieved the feat with, India’s Sachin