Ben Stokes and former Outlaw Hashim Amla scored contrasting double centuries as England and South Africa played out a thrilling draw in the second Test in Cape Town, the tourists maintaining their 1-0 advantage.
England amassed 629-6 declared in their first innings as Ben Stokes raced to 200 off just 163 balls, the quickest double hundred by an Englishman, on his way to sharing a world record stand of 399 with Jonny Bairstow (150*).
The hosts however were resilient on a good batting pitch after being blown away in the first Test, Amla responding to Stokes’ efforts with a double century of his own, a timely return to form for the Proteas captain.
Amla eventually declared on 627-7, after Temba Bavuma had made his own three-figure contribution, and despite an early wobble on the final morning from the hosts, England battled hard to maintain their lead heading to Johannesburg next Thursday.
On the first morning Alastair Cook won the toss and chose to bat first, putting on 55 for the first wicket with Alex Hales before the England captain was brilliantly caught one-handed in the slips by debutant Chris Morris off Kagiso Rabada for 27.
Compton joined Hales and the pair steadied the ship either side of lunch against some tricky bowling, the Nottinghamshire opener completing an assured first Test fifty just after the break.
He had reached 60 before Morne Morkel, leading the attack in the absence of Dale Steyn with a shoulder injury, had Hales caught in the slips by AB de Villiers.
One of 2015’s star batsmen, Joe Root, began the New Year as he had finished the last one, scoring at a quick rate to frustrate the inexperienced South African attack.
However, Root lost Compton (45) and James Taylor (0) in consecutive delivers, and when he fell after just bringing up his half century, England were five down with just 223 on the board.
Stokes and Bairstow banished any thoughts of a below par first innings score, embarking on a world record sixth wicket stand of 399 as both batsmen surpassed personal landmarks along the way.
The explosive pair took the game away from the hosts on the third morning, scoring runs at more than eight an over either side of lunch.
The hosts had no answers as Stokes went to a 163-ball double century, the fastest by an Englishman, eclipsing the 220-ball record of Sir Ian Botham, and the second fastes in the history of Test cricket behind Nathan Astle's 153-ball effort.
Landmarks were tumbling and Bairstow, who had played second fiddle for the majority of the partnership, had his own memorable moment when he went to a maiden Test century in his 22nd game.
Stokes had reached 258, off just 198 balls including 30 fours and 11 sixes, before he was finally dismissed and once Bairstow had reached 150, Cook declared on 629-7.
South Africa’s reply got off to a shaky start, Stiaan van Zyl ran out for just four as Amla’s 707-minute marathon innings began with his side 7-1.
He lost Dean Elgar (44) when man-of-the-moment Ben Stokes had him caught at backward point by Nick Compton but found ideal support in the middle order trio of de Villiers, Faf du Plessis and Bavuma.
Amla shared in crucial stands with both de Villiers (88) and du Plessis (86) before his innings was finally brought to an end on 201, bowled by the pick of the England bowlers, Stuart Broad, who ended with 2-94.
His dismissal sparked a mini-collapse of three wickets for just ten runs before Bavuma (102*) and Morris (69) guided their side to 627-7 before Amla called a close on the first innings.
England struggled in tough conditions on the final morning, losing both openers with just 19 on the board before Compton (15) and Joe Root (29) both fell to leave the tourists 85-4.
Taylor and Stokes steadied the ship, the all-rounder continuing where he left off in the first innings with four boundaries in his 26 before his attacking intent proved his undoing.
Having swept Dane Piedt for four off the previous ball, the left-hander attempted the same shot only to find Morkel on the deep square leg boundary via a top edge.
Taylor became Piedt’s third victim soon after, caught at short leg for 27, and when the Nottinghamshire right-hander departed England only had a lead of 118.
However, first innings centurion Bairstow and Moeen Ali ensured the nerves on the England balcony were rarely tested again, other than when the former survived a tight stumping appeal off Elgar.
Bad light ultimately brought an end to South Africa’s charge as England ended on 159-6, the series standing at 1-0 heading in to the third Test in Johannesburg.
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