Daniel Gallan explains why, even though South Africa showed plenty of heart at Cape Town, they will need to engage their brains more at Port Elizabeth.
When English bowlers demanded the relinquishing of South African wickets, they were met with a thundering response.
Come and take them.
Like Leonidas’ brave 300 at Thermopylae, this was a doomed cause for Faf du Plessis’ men, who came within 50 balls of pulling off a draw for the ages.
In truth, they didn’t deserve it. Since they were reduced to 40-3 on the second day, South Africa were forced to chase a game they couldn’t catch.
England are on the board and it is now South Africa’s turn to respond. They’ve shown they have the chutzpah to charge head-first into the storm. Now, they must show enough nous to plot a path back to winning ways.
