South Africa’s Sarel Erwee fumbles catch in attempt to dismiss Ollie Pope FOUR times

South Africa enjoyed a productive morning against England at Lord’s after bowling the hosts out for 165 – but that didn’t prevent the tourists from suffering huge embarrassment in the field. 

Ollie Pope was hoping to steer the hosts towards a more respectable score on the second morning of the first Test match of the series between the teams, standing on 67 with England struggling at 122-6.

But Pope caught a thick edge off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada while trying to block and looked certain to be caught at slip by Sarel Erwee.

Sarel Erwee of South Africa drops a catch from the bat of Ollie Pope at Lord’s in the first Test

Yet despite the ball being diverted straight to his chest for a simple catch, the South African somehow fumbled the ball as it bounced back off his torso.

However, he was then given a second chance to gather with the ball hovering in front of him following the rebound which again he failed to grasp by only cupping the ball upwards.

By now with his legs down on the ground, Erwee had a just as easy chance to claim the ball at a third attempt as he waited for the ball to drop down into his cupped hands.

However, he somehow poked the ball away, and despite a final grasp to try and take a one-handed catch by his shoulder, could only slap the ball away to allow Pope to survive.

Ollie Pope though was not as fortunate a few balls later when he played a shot onto his stumps

South Africa players, including Rabada reacted with frustration at such an excellent chance to claim Pope’s wicket had passed but thankfully for Erwee, his mistake did not prove costly.

Pope only added six to his score before being bowled by Rabada having played a ball back onto leg stump.

After a rain hit first day, England had resumed on 116-6 but slumped to 165 all out in a morning that left South Africa in control of the Lord’s Test.

The tourists then reached 27 without loss heading into lunch.