All-rounder Ben Stokes bowled England to an epic fifth-day victory in the second Test at Cape Town, edging a compelling battle of wills with a defiant South Africa.
Stokes claimed the last three wickets in the space of 14 balls deep into the concluding session of the match as England clinched a 189-run win.
Stokes was named ‘Man of the Match’ but felt obliged to highlight the contribution of maiden Test centurion Dom Sibley, who he insisted should have been given the award.
“I thought Dom put all the hard yards in,” said Stokes, who tried to drag the Warwickshire batsman up for the post-match presentation. “He should be the one up here. Full credit should go to him.
A heart-touching gesture from Ben Stokes #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/dbmxWnsp53
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 7, 2020
“The future looks great for us. We showed an outstanding amount of character,” Stokes added.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
There is an aura about @benstokes38 now. Quite simply the standout test match all-rounder of our times. Like all great players, he makes things happen.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 7, 2020
SA will be despondent at losing after showing gr8 determination for 2 sessions. One bad shot by de Kock exposed the tail which marvellous Stokes cleaned it up. Riveting match reaching result in dying minutes of 5th day. Bound to fuel further debate on tenure of Test matches!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 7, 2020
Stokes is amazing for his ability to bend a match to the end he wants for it. No writer would dare write up such a sequence of climaxes.
— Tom Holland (@holland_tom) January 7, 2020
South Africa has lost a New Year Test match in Cape Town for the first time since their readmission. (Between 1993 and 2019: Won – 16, Draw – 5) #SAvENG
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) January 7, 2020
Huge celebration from @TheBarmyArmy as @englandcricket win a thrilling Test at Newlands.
70 thousand people attended over the 5 days with a huge amount of them from the UK. #bbcccricket #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/DnaTothMQT
— Adam Mountford (@tmsproducer) January 7, 2020
The more I watch @benstokes38 I realise he is gifted with so much natural external talent .. But .. it’s his inner determination & relentless ability to never ever give up which all kids should try & copy .. #SAvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 7, 2020
Well played England…Such a good idea to end 5day test cricket….full house watching cricket at its best !! Leave the flag ship of cricket alone it’s a real test of character, skill,guts,stamina & ability…it’s real cricket for real players !!! Leave it Alone !!!!!!
— BeefyBotham (@BeefyBotham) January 7, 2020
England + @TheBarmyArmy = ❤️ pic.twitter.com/PDYNNeKFN1
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 7, 2020
👏 Test cricket at its finest.
A brilliant match at Newlands concludes with @englandcricket sealing victory after five enthralling days.#SAvsENG pic.twitter.com/KXXB7VjCYp
— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) January 7, 2020
Ben Stokes. What. A Man. #bbccricket
— Matt Harris (@MattHarris6) January 7, 2020
BOOM! 2 in 2… Cometh the hour, cometh that man again. @benstokes38 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/vPeAC1GVi7
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 7, 2020
Runs with the bat
Record number of catches
Final three wickets to seal the gameNew decade, same Ben Stokes. pic.twitter.com/jZ3hrOA2Te
— bet365 (@bet365) January 7, 2020
Ben Stokes: "Test cricket is not made for four days, it’s made for five. It’s called Test cricket for a reason. Change it to easy cricket if they make it four days."
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) January 7, 2020
need a Netflix series on the last 6 months in the life of Ben Stokes.
— AZ (@azkhawaja1) January 7, 2020
