CAPE TOWN • England all-rounder Ben Stokes hit the second-fastest double century in Test history in a blistering assault on the South African bowlers on the second day of the second Test at Newlands yesterday.
Stokes slammed 204 not out as England reached 513 for five at lunch. He scored 130 runs before lunch, a Test record, as England added 196 runs to their overnight total of 317 for five.
Jonny Bairstow provided solid support, making 95 not out as he shared an unbeaten partnership of 290 with Stokes, an England record for the sixth wicket.
The left-handed Stokes needed only 12 balls to go from his overnight 74 to his third Test century, which he made off 105 deliveries with 16 fours and a six. He quickly went past his previous highest Test score, 120 against Australia at Perth two seasons ago.
Stokes reached 150 off 135 balls and made his double century off 163 deliveries, with 26 fours and seven sixes.
Only Nathan Astle, who reached the mark off 153 balls for New Zealand against England in Christchurch in 2001-02, has been faster.
Stokes joined a select group of players who have scored a century before lunch in Test cricket. The previous highest pre-lunch record was 123 by Leslie Ames for England against South Africa at The Oval in 1935.
Stokes was the main aggressor as 45 runs were plundered off the first four overs of the day, bowled by Morne Morkel and Chris Morris, in a continuation of the assault against the second new ball late on the first afternoon.
South African captain Hashim Amla was soon forced to place fielders on the boundary on both sides of the wicket but the 24-year-old continued to power the ball past them.
"Take a bow @benstokes38 he could write the book on taking the game away from opposition. All men on fence and still backing himself," tweeted England bowler Tim Bresnan.
By the end of the first hour, which yielded 103 runs off 13 overs, there were five men on the boundary.
Former England great Ian Botham hailed the "magnificent" display by Ben Stokes after his own record for the fastest England double century - set against India in 1982 - was smashed.
Analysing the match for Sky Sports, Botham said: "It was magnificent, one of the best examples of Test cricket I've seen in a long time.
"Ben Stokes is box office. We knew he'd got it, and this is the tip of the iceberg. He'll get it wrong once in a while, but he is a guy that wins matches, and they don't come along very often.
"You're just king of the castle. No boundary's big enough, no bowler's quick enough. It really is a moment to enjoy."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
