| 0.0 : TOSS - Up goes the coin and it lands in England's favor. They have elected to BOWL first. |
| South Africa (Playing XI) - Dean Elgar (C), Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Ryan Rickelton (In for Aiden Markram), Khaya Zondo (In for Rassie van der Dussen), Kyle Verreynne (WK), Wiaan Mulder (In for Simon Harmer), Marco Jansen (In for Lungi Ngidi), Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje. |
| England (Playing XI) - Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook (In for Jonny Bairstow), Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes (WK), Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach and James Anderson. |
| English skipper, Ben Stokes is in for a chat. He starts by saying they will bowl first. Adds that they have done well bowling first this summer. Says the pitch has been under covers for a while and hopes that they can make the most of the conditions on offer. |
| Dean Elgar, the captain of South Africa says that it looks like a good surface but it will be difficult for batting early on. Adds that they didn't do well in the previous Test but it is still 1-1 which is a positive thing. Informs that they have made four changes to the Playing XI. |
| UPDATE 3.53 pm IST (10.23 am GMT) - Well, it has gone a lot darker in the last few minutes and the ground staff aren't taking any chances. The covers are being brought on and the pitch is being covered. Hopefully, this isn't a big delay and we can get started with the game. Stick around for more updates. |
| UPDATE 3.59 pm IST (10.29 am GMT) - The rain Gods are back and it looks like we're in for a longer wait. Thankfully, the ground staff had the pitch under covers before it started pouring down. We'll be back with the latest updates, stick around. |
| UPDATE 4.34 pm IST (11.04 am GMT) - Still no good news from the ground as the rain is sticking around. We are in for what looks to be a long wait. It has now been confirmed that EARLY LUNCH will be taken at 5 pm IST (11.30 am GMT). Also, there is some latest cricketing news but from the other side of the world where Australia have bundled New Zealand for 82 runs (who needed 196 runs for victory) to seal the three-game ODI series 2-0. |
| UPDATE 5.03 pm IST (11.33 am GMT) -Â Early lunch has been taken and there is some good news as well. The conditions look a bit brighter and the RAIN HAS STOPPED for the time being. The ground staff are on their toes and working their magic but given the English weather, you never know when it might start raining again. For now, we hope that it remains bright and play can begin at the earliest after the interval. Stay tuned. |
| UPDATE 5.14 pm IST (11.44 am GMT) - There is yet another update from the ground. If we do not have any more rain, then there will be an inspection at 6 pm IST (12.30 pm GMT). Fingers crossed. |
| UPDATE 5.37 pm IST (12.07 pm GMT) - Oh, no! It has started raining again and the crowd has their umbrellas out. The covers are sadly coming back on. |
| UPDATE 6.27Â pm IST (12.57Â pm GMT) - Nothing has changed in the last hour or so. The covers are completely on and the conditions are gloomy. It will take a lot for the ground staff when the rain clears to get the ground ready for play late in the day. |
| UPDATE 6.53 pm IST (1.23 pm GMT)Â - Finally some good signs. The rain has stopped for now and the groundstaff is working on getting the covers off now. All on the call of the officials now! Hopefully, we get to see some action soon. |
| UPDATE 7.14 pm IST (1.44 pm GMT) - The sun is out! But lets not get carried away. There will be an inspection at 7.40 pm IST (2.10 pm GMT). Looking at the signs it shouldn't be long before we get going. Lets hope for the best. |
| UPDATE 7.50 pm IST (2.20 pm GMT) - The umpires are currently on the field. There is a square cover still intact. There is no rain though at the moment which is a really good sign. |
| UPDATE 8.04 pm IST (2.34 pm GMT)Â - Unfortunately the wait game continues as the umpires are dissatisfied with the playing conditions. There will be another inspection at 8.30 pm IST (3 pm GMT). Hopefully, we are back with some good news. Fingers crossed! |
| As we wait for the details of the next inspection, you can switch tabs and catch the action from the Asia Cup where India are playing Afghanistan and have had a brilliant start. India are currently 125/2 in 13 overs. |
| UPDATE 8.33 pm IST (3.03 pm GMT) - OH DEAR! Right on cue. Just when the inspection was scheduled the rain gods have decided to reappear. The covers are back on the field and the wait game shall go on. Still no official word on Tea yet. Stay tuned for more updates. |
| As we continue to play hide and seek with the rain in London, elsewhere in the UAE, Virat Kohli has finally ended the long, long wait for his 71st international century. |
| Well, well, well! The inevitable has happened. The rain has been persistent throughout the day and the umpires have finally concluded that the play on Day 1 has been ABANDONED. It was mostly a frustrating day for cricket. Firstly, it was the delayed toss due to the overnight rain and later, the rain gods just kept interfering throughout the day whenever it looked like we could be able to squeeze in some game time. That's it from the coverage albeit there was nothing much to cover. The health o |
| ...THIRD TEST... |
| Unfortunate news as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has passed away. The world is mourning and condolences are pouring in from around the world. England and Wales Cricket Board has informed us that Friday's play between England and South Africa Men will not take place. The updates regarding the fixture beyond Friday will be provided in due course. We will keep you posted. |
| UPDATE 8.28 pm IST (2.58 pm GMT) - We have some news regarding the latest developments from the 3rd and deciding Test match between England and South Africa. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have released a statement in which it states that the match will resume on Saturday, the 10th of September and will go on till Monday. So, it will be effectively a three-day game as South Africa have to leave for home on Tuesday. The follow-on will be reduced to 150 instead of 200 runs and before the st |
| ... DAY 3, SESSION 1 ... |
| In terms of actual play, there isn't much to talk about other than the toss which was won by England and Ben Stokes has put South Africa into bat. There are still grey clouds hovering over London but little to no rain is expected in the remaining 3 days and the revised playing conditions, 98 overs per day should get completed smoothly. We have seen a result in three days before and that too in this series itself, so, the game and the series still hang perfectly in balance with the shortened gam |
| Hello and welcome ladies and gentlemen to Day 3 of the third and final Test match between England and South Africa at the Oval in London. As all of the UK mourns the demise of Queen Elizabeth II, play is set to resume and will go on as per the usual timings, i.e., beginning at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT) but 10 minutes before the play begins, there will be a Guard of Honour, followed by a minute's silence. Then there will be a one bell chime at the Oval by the highest-ranking military before the nat |
| As we patiently wait for the start of play at the Oval, a few miles to the north at St. James Palace in London, everything is being readied for the proclamation of the new King, Charles III. It will be the first televised proclamation and also the flags at the Oval will be at full mast for the entirety of the day and not at half-mast. Another thing to note is that there is a good crowd building up around the Oval and the sun is coming out as well. |
| 0.1 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Anderson starts off with a length ball, outside off and Elgar just lets it through. |
| 0.2 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Good length, around off and just shaping away a touch. Dean Elgar dabs it down towards gully. |
| 0.3 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, First run for Elgar and South Africa! Full length, sliding down leg. Elgar clips it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 0.4 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, Length ball, on leg stump. Erwee gets an inside edge on his pads. |
| 0.5 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, Good length, outside off, left alone. |
| 0.6 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, A great start by James Anderson. It is a length ball, outside off. Erwee presses forward and blocks it out. |
| Ollie Robinson to share the new ball with James Anderson. |
| 1.1 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, Woah! Ollie Robinson asking the right question straightaway. It is a length ball, on top of off. It holds its line off the deck. Elgar looks to push it away but gets beaten on the outside edge. |
| 1.2 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, This one is outside off and Elgar does not bother. |
| 0.0 : We are moments away from the start of play. The players are already on the ground and they have observed a minute's silence as well. The ground has been quiet for a while now but there goes the chime, followed by the national anthems. It will be South Africa's national anthem first followed by a rendition of 'God Save the King.'Done with the pre-game formalities and we are now ready for play. The English players make their way out to the middle followed by the South African opening pair of Dean |
| 1.6 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, No run. |
| 1.3 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, Ollie Robinson continues to come around the wicket. It is fuller, outside off. Elgar has no shot to offer. The umpire signals a no ball as the bowler oversteps. |
| Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Ollie Robinson srikes in his very first over. Just the start England were after. Ollie Robinson does very well to use the angle to his benefit. He steams in from around the wicket and hurls a length ball, outside off. It nips in off the deck. Dean Elgar tries to defend it out but misses it completely. The ball sneaks through the gap between bat and pad to shatter the stumps. An early success for England. |
| 1.4 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, Top delivery! Good length, around off and nipping in sharply. Keegan Petersen makes an assured leave as the ball just goes over the top of off stump. |
| 1.5 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, A length ball, outside off and left alone for the keeper to collect. |
| 2.2 : Ryan Rickelton is in at number 4. |
| James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Trouble for South Africa. James Anderson gets his man now. England right on top. Sarel Erwee walks back to the pavilion on a duck. Anderson serves a length ball, around off, angled across the left-hander. Sarel Erwee hangs inside his crease and tries to have a poke at it. All he manages to get in a thick outside edge. Ben Foakes does really well to dive to his left and pouch the ball safely. Both the openers for South Africa are sent b |
| 1.6 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, Full and straight, Keegan Petersen clips it away in front of mid-wicket and gets off the mark with a three. |
| Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, NO BALL! Good length, around off, Peterson has a little dab at it but misses. Another no ball has been called for overstepping. |
| 2.5 : James Anderson to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR! Ryan Rickelton gets off the mark in some fine fashion. This should ease the pressure for him. It is fuller, outside off. Ryan Rickelton leans in and creams it through the gap at covers for four. |
| 2.4 : James Anderson to Ryan Rickelton, Anderson goes full again, around off, does not get the ball to nip in off the deck. It is very comfortable for Ryan Rickelton to leave it alone. |
| 2.6 : James Anderson to Ryan Rickelton, Length ball, on middle and leg. Ryan Rickelton blocks it out solidly. A wicket-taking over by Anderson comes to an end. |
| 2.1 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, On a good length, around off and moving away a touch. Peterson plays it away past point for a single. |
| Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, Ollie Robinson comes over the wicket for the right-hander. It is fuller, angled into the pads. Keegan Petersen tucks it to the leg side. |
| 3.2 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, Good-length ball, outside off. This time it nips in off the deck but not much. Keegan Petersen trusts the bounce and leaves it alone for the keeper. |
| 2.3 : James Anderson to Ryan Rickelton, A dot now! It is touch fuller, outside off, moving away with the angle. Ryan Rickelton shuffles across and leaves it alone. |
| Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, This is wide of off, Keegan Petersen shoulders his arms at it. |
| 3.4 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, Good running! It is a full-length ball, outside off. Keegan Petersen gets it past gully off the outer half. The batters take three before the fielder cuts it out. |
| 3.5 : Ollie Robinson to Ryan Rickelton, Robinson comes 'round the wicket now. It is fuller, angled in on off. Ryan Rickelton shuffles across and flicks it to mid-wicket. |
| 3.6 : Ollie Robinson to Ryan Rickelton, A single to end the over! Fuller, on off. Ryan Rickelton dabs it to covers and gets across for one. |
| 4.1 : James Anderson to Ryan Rickelton, Anderson goes full and on off. It nips in a touch off the deck. Ryan Rickelton gets an inside edge onto his pads. It rolls out to covers and the batters scamper through for a single. |
| 4.2 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, Good-length ball, in the channel. Keegan Petersen hops and taps it out to covers. They take one more. |
| 4.3 : James Anderson to Ryan Rickelton, Fuller, outside off, leaving the batter this time. Ryan Rickelton shoudlers his arms at it. |
| 4.4 : James Anderson to Ryan Rickelton, BEAUTY! It is a length ball, on off, angled across the left-hander. Ryan Rickelton looks to defend it out but gets beaten on the outside edge. |
| 4.5 : James Anderson to Ryan Rickelton, Length on off, Ryan Rickelton shuffles and tucks it to mid-wicket. |
| 4.6 : James Anderson to Ryan Rickelton, Four dots on the trot to end the over! It is a length ball, on off. Ryan Rickelton blocks it to the off side. |
| 5.1 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, An inswinger, full and on off. Keegan Petersen blocks it out to short extra cover. |
| 5.2 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, FOUR! Incredible shot! It is much fuller this time, outside off. Keegan Petersen frees his arms and drives it through backward point for a boundary. |
| 5.3 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, Fraction short, outside off, left alone. |
| 5.4 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, OUT! TIMBER! Top of off stump yet again for Ollie Robinson. He has been magnificent this morning. Ollie Robinson hurls it on a length, outside off. Keegan Petersen thinks that this will hold its line and shoulders his arms at it. Although, he was left shook, as he stared at the disturbed stumps as the ball nips back in sharply off the deck and hits the top of off. Keegan Petersen trudges back to the pavilion. South Africa are in a spot of bother. |
| Khaya Zondo walks in with South Africa in a spot of bother. Five slips put in place. |
| 5.5 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, EDGED but does not carry! Ollie Robinson is on fire here! It is a length ball, on off. Khaya Zondo shuffles across and looks to block it out. It takes the outside edge and goes towards the slip cordon. It lands short of the fielder though at second slip who collets it on a bounce. |
| 5.6 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, Good length, outside off. Zondo taps it to point for one. |
| 6.1 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Risky single this time! It is full, on off. Zondo bocks it out to covers. Alex Lees is quick to get to the ball, as the batters decide to take a single. Ryan Rickelton puts in a dive to get inside the crease, although the effort of Lees missed the stumps at the striker's end. |
| 6.2 : James Anderson to Ryan Rickelton, Full length, on off. Ryan Rickelton taps it to mid off for a quick single. |
| 6.3 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, A length ball, on off. Zondo strokes it past backward point. They take two. |
| 6.4 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, On off, blocked out solidly. |
| 6.5 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Good length, outside off, left alone by Zondo. |
| 6.6 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, A tidy over by James Anderson comes to an end. It is a length ball, on fifth stump, holds its line this time. Khaya Zondo shuffles across and shoulders his arms at it. |
| 7.1 : Ollie Robinson to Ryan Rickelton, Ollie Robinson stays over the wicket for the left-hander this time. It is angled across the left-hander, full and outside off. Ryan Rickelton has no shot to offer. |
| 7.2 : Ollie Robinson to Ryan Rickelton, It is a length ball, around off, shaping away a touch. Ryan Rickelton stays inside the crease and shoulders his arms at it. |
| 7.3 : Ollie Robinson to Ryan Rickelton, This time Robinson goes full and on off. Ryan Rickelton gets an inside edge onto his pads. Joe Root is seen appealing for lbw from the slip cordon but Ollie Robinson shows no interest. |
| 7.4 : Ollie Robinson to Ryan Rickelton, Length ball, on off, blocked out. Four dots in a row now. Excellent from Ollie Robinson. |
| 7.5 : Ollie Robinson to Ryan Rickelton, Make that 5 now! It is on a good length, around off, shaping away with the angle. Ryan Rickelton looks to push it away but misses. |
| 7.6 : Ollie Robinson to Ryan Rickelton, Beaten again! It is a length ball, around off, angling across the left-hander. Ryan Rickelton looks to defend it out on his front foot but gets beaten on the outside edge. |
| Stuart Broad comes in as first change now. |
| 8.1 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Broad starts with a good-length ball, wide of off. Zondo shuffles across and blocks it out. |
| 8.2 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Outside off, yet again. Zondo gets behind and defends it out watchfully. |
| 8.3 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Swing and a miss! Broad goes short this time, outside off. It nips in a touch off the deck. Zondo hangs back and looks to cut it away but only connects with thin air. |
| 8.4 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, This one is angled into the pads, Zondo tucks it to square leg and gets across for a single. |
| 8.5 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR! Nicely played! It is a length ball, outside off. Ryan Rickelton stays back and punches it past gully. The ball races away to the boundary. |
| 8.6 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Ryan Rickelton does not even wait for the decision and walks back instantly. Stuart Broad serves it full and on off, this one is angling across the left-hander. Ryan Rickelton looks to defend it out but only gets a thick outside edge. It carries to Ben Foakes behind the sticks who makes no mistake. Stuart Broad gets his first wicket here. South Africa lose 4 wickets inside the first hour of play in the morning session. |
| Kyle Verreynne walks in at number 6. |
| 9.1 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, LEG BYE! A length ball, angled into the pads. Zondo looks to tuck it away but misses. It hits him on his thigh pads and goes past the diving fielder at short leg. They collect a leg bye. |
| 9.2 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, Length ball, on off, defended out solidly. |
| 9.3 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Ollie Robinson is on fire here. He gets his third wicket now. Kyle Verreynne is the target this who has been hunted down by Robinson. This man is on a mission. Robinson serves a length ball, around off. It nips away a touch of the deck. It enough to get some wood on the way. Kyle Verreynne outside-edges it to Ben Foakes, who takes it with ease. |
| Wiaan Mulder is the new man in. |
| 9.4 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, Length ball, on middle and leg, blocked to the leg side. |
| 9.5 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, Angles it in, full and on off. Mulder defends it into the deck. |
| 9.6 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, A successful over by Robinson comes to an end. It is full and on off. Mulder blocks it out watchfully. |
| 10.1 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Broad pitches it around the off stump and angles it in. Khaya Zondo has a tentative push at it and manages to get it past point for a single. |
| 10.2 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Very full and well outside off, Wiaan Mulder leaves it alone. |
| 10.3 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Broad goes shorter now and serves it outside off, Mulder looks to have a go at it but pulls out of his shot in the end. |
| 10.4 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, A bit of swing there but the line is not the correct one. Length ball, well outside off and shaping further away, no shot offered by Mulder. |
| 10.5 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Nicely played! Full and outside off, at 140 clicks. Wiaan Mulder waits for it and plays it under his eye line, behind point and for a couple of runs. |
| 10.6 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Pitched up on middle, this is pushed away towards mid on for an easy single. |
| Drinks break! The first hour has completely belonged to England and one man in particular, Ollie Robinson. Robinson has been immaculate with his lines and lengths and has picked up 3 wickets with Anderson and Broad chipping in with one each. South Africa have just not shown up yet and have paid the price for some nervy batting. Khaya Zondo and Wiaan Mulder, the last recognized pair is at the crease and will hope to get them out of this hole and to a decent total. |
| 11.1 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, On a good length, around off. Wiaan Mulder pushes it towards the short leg. |
| 11.2 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, Short of length, around off. Wiaan Mulder lets that ball go through to the keeper. |
| 11.3 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, Fuller this time, outside off. Wiaan Mulder leaves that ball alone. |
| 11.4 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, On a good length, outside off. Wiaan Mulder let that ball go through to the keeper. |
| 11.5 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Not the greatest of shots by Wiaan Mulder. That ball was full, outside off. Wiaan Mulder plays a half-hearted shot towards cover but the ball is swinging away. Mulder gets an outside edge and the ball is pouched comfortably by Ben Foakes. Simplest of catches. South Africa is in deep trouble. |
| Marco Jansen is the new man in. |
| 11.6 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, BEATEN! A gem of a delivery to end the over and it is a wicket-maiden! Robinson serves it a bit fuller and in that channel around off, the ball nips away off the surface. Marco Jansen looks to defend but is beaten past the outside edge. |
| 12.1 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Length ball, a bit wide of the off stump. Khaya Zondo looks to play at it but then pulls out of the shot. |
| 12.2 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Length again, angling onto the pads, Zondo tucks it away past square leg for a single. |
| 12.3 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Broad slides one down the leg side, Jansen looks to get a fine tickle on it but misses. |
| 12.4 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Stuart Broad goes full and bowls it on off. The ball nips back in sharply, going through the defence and in between bat and pad. There is a noise as the keeper catches the ball and there is a huge appeal for caught behind but it has been turned down! Ben Stokes opts for the review almost instantly. The third umpire checks UltraEdge first and it shows up a flat line as the ball passes the bat. The LBW is also checked but the ball missed the pads as well. NO |
| 12.5 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Good length, around off, Jansen defends this one off the front foot. |
| 12.6 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Full and wide, shaping away, Marco Jansen looks for the cover drive but misses. |
| 13.1 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, Short of length, around pads. The ball hits his pads and rolls towards short square leg for a leg bye single. |
| 13.2 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Fuller length, around the middle. Marco Jansen punches it towards mid on and a couple of runs are being taken. |
| 13.3 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Tad fuller, on off. Marco Jansen punches it towards mid-on for a quick single. |
| 13.4 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, Fuller length, angling in. Khaya Zondo knocks it towards short mid-wicket. |
| 13.5 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, On a good length, outside off. Khaya Zondo tries to play it towards cover but misses it. |
| 13.6 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, Fuller length, on off. Khaya Zondo knocks it towards silly mid-off. |
| 14.1 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, This is a bit fuller and angled into off stump, Jansen pushes it off the front foot and towards mid on. |
| 14.2 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Play and a miss! Full and outside off, shaping away a touch. Marco Jansen looks to push it out towards covers but gets beaten past the outside edge. |
| 14.3 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, FOUR! Nicely worked away. On the pads, Jansen flicks it away in front of mid-wicket and the ball runs away into the fence. |
| 14.4 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Lovely! Perfect length, tighter on off stump, Jansen looks to defend but the ball zips past the outside edge. |
| 14.5 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Another good shot by Marco Jansen. Full and on the pads, worked away by Jansen through mid-wicket. Jack Leach from behind square on the leg side runs around to his left and keeps it down to three. |
| 14.6 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Good length, on off and angling in sharply. Khaya Zondo gets squared up and has to hop to keep it out. Zondo misses and the ball thuds into the pads. There is an appeal for LBW but it is turned down. Ben Stokes has a chat with his players and he has gone for the review. On first look, there seems to be no bat involved and the third umpire goes straight to Ball Tracking. It is confirmed that the ball is going over leg stump and they have now lost their secon |
| 15.1 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Fuller length, outside off. Marco Jansen lets that one go through to the keeper. |
| 15.3 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, FOOUR! Classic on drive! That was full, onto the middle stump. Marco Jansen shows the full face of the bat and plays it straight past the stumps for a boundary. This also brings up 50 for South Africa in style. They have something to cheer about. |
| 15.2 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Surprise short ball. Ollie Robinson bowls it quicker onto the body. Marco Jansen tries to duck this one but he gets hit on the elbow and the ball goes through to the keeper. |
| 15.4 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Fuller length, on off. Marco Jansen blocks it off the front foot. |
| 15.5 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, On a good length, outside off. Marco Jansen gets beaten by the swing and the ball goes through to the keeper. |
| 15.6 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, On a good length, outside off. Marco Jansen lets that ball go through to the keeper. |
| 16.1 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Broad goes a bit wider of the crease and angles it around off stump. The ball straightens after pitching and beats the outside edge. |
| 16.2 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Inside edge! Fuller and a bit quicker, angling into the off stump, Khaya Zondo gets a thick inside edge onto the pads as he looks to block it out. |
| A huge dark cloud is making its way towards the stadium. It is not a really good sight to be honest. |
| 16.3 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Good length, drifted down the leg side, Zondo leaves it alone. |
| 16.4 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Just a tad shorter and around middle, Zondo neatly tucks it away past square leg and picks up a couple of runs. |
| 16.5 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Good length, around off and nipping in off the surface. The ball stays a touch low and Zondo does well to get some bat on it. |
| 16.6 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Beaten! Pitched up, around off and this time the ball leaves the right-hander. Khaya Zondo looks to drive at it but gets beaten past the outside edge. |
| 17.1 : James Anderson to Marco Jansen, Fuller length, around off. Marco Jansen tries to defend it but gets an inside edge and the ball just falls short of slip. |
| 17.2 : James Anderson to Marco Jansen, On a good length, around off. Marco Jansen blocks it from the front foot. |
| 17.3 : James Anderson to Marco Jansen, Fuller length, around leg stump. Marco Jansen tries to play it towards mid-wicket but gets a leading edge and the ball goes towards covers. |
| 17.4 : James Anderson to Marco Jansen, Fuller length, around off. Marco Jansen blocks it back to the bowler. |
| 0.0 : Change. James Anderson (4-0-12-1) is back into the attack now. The ball is still moving ferociously in these helpful conditions. Can James Anderson break this stand? |
| 17.5 : James Anderson to Marco Jansen, A huge appeal by James Anderson but the umpire doesn't seem interested. That was full, angling in. Marco Jansen misses getting the bat to it and the ball hits the front pad but the replay shows that the ball is missing to hit the leg stump. |
| 17.6 : James Anderson to Marco Jansen, Fuller length, onto the leg stump. Marco Jansen plays it towards mid off. |
| 18.1 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Good length, around the top of off and solidly kept out on the off side by Zondo. |
| 18.2 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Length again, on the fifth stump line and this time Khaya Zondo just plays inside the line of the ball. |
| 18.3 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, A touch fuller and attacking middle stump, Zondo gets across well and defends it out. |
| 18.4 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Very full and around middle, this is defended back towards the bowler. |
| 18.5 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Full and angling onto the pads, Zondo looks to flick but misses and the ball pings him on the pads. Stuart Broad goes up in appeal for LBW but it is turned down. The English players think about it but eventually, the review isn't taken and rightly so. |
| 18.6 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, On the pads, this is clipped away through square leg for a single. |
| 19.1 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Fuller length, outside off. Khaya Zondo lets that ball go through to the keeper. |
| 19.2 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Fuller length, outside off. Khaya Zondo raises his hands and lets them go to the keeper. |
| 19.3 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, On a god length, around off. Khaya Zondo plays it towards cover. |
| 19.4 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Play and a miss. James Anderson bowls it fuller, outside off. Khaya Zondo tries to drive it through covers but misses it. |
| 19.5 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Fuller length, outside off. Khaya Zondo tries to go aerial from the crease but didn't connect. |
| 19.6 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, On a good length, onto the middle stump. Khaya Zondo tries to work it towards mid-wicket but gets a leading edge and the ball goes towards cover and a single is being taken. |
| Change. Jack Leach comes into the attack now for the first time in the morning session. |
| 20.1 : Jack Leach to Khaya Zondo, Starts off with a fullish delivery on middle, Khaya Zondo gets forward to defend. |
| 20.2 : Jack Leach to Khaya Zondo, A bit quicker and on off, Zondo taps it out and onto the off side. |
| 20.3 : Jack Leach to Khaya Zondo, SIX! Excellent use of the feet by Khaya Zondo! Tossed up on middle, Zondo skips down the track and just times the lofted shot back over the bowler's head for a biggie. |
| 20.4 : Jack Leach to Khaya Zondo, Flatter one, on off, Zondo solidly keeps it out. |
| 20.5 : Jack Leach to Khaya Zondo, FOUR! Short and wide, duly punished. Leach drops it short and around off, Khaya Zondo rocks back and cuts it behind point for a boundary. |
| 20.6 : Jack Leach to Khaya Zondo, Floated up, full and around off, Zondo defends it out with soft hands. |
| 21.1 : James Anderson to Marco Jansen, On a good length, angling in, onto the pads. Marco Jansen tries to play it towards mid-wicket but misses it. |
| 21.2 : James Anderson to Marco Jansen, Short of length, outside off. Marco Jansen pushes it towards the point fielder. |
| 21.3 : James Anderson to Marco Jansen, James Anderson bowls this one fuller, outside off. Marco Jansen drives it through cover for a couple of runs. |
| 21.4 : James Anderson to Marco Jansen, On a good length, angling in. Marco Jansen gets an inside edge and the ball goes towards the square leg for a single. |
| 21.5 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, On a good length, outside off. Khaya Zondo blocks it off the front foot. |
| 21.6 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, On a good length, outside off. Khaya Zondo lets that one go through to the keeper. |
| 22.1 : Jack Leach to Marco Jansen, On a nagging length and in that channel around off, Marco Jansen shoulders his arms. |
| 22.2 : Jack Leach to Marco Jansen, A touch fuller and around off, defended with gentle hands towards point. |
| 22.3 : Jack Leach to Marco Jansen, On a length and on off, Jansen defends it back onto the deck. |
| 22.4 : Jack Leach to Marco Jansen, Tosses it up a bit now and pushes it wider. Marco Jansen drives it with the turn but straight towards short cover. |
| 22.5 : Jack Leach to Marco Jansen, On middle and leg, kept out on the leg side. |
| 22.6 : Jack Leach to Marco Jansen, Nicely bowled and well left as well. Fuller and close to the off pole, inviting the lofted shot but Jansen just leaves it alone. Maiden! |
| 23.1 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, On a good length, outside off. Khaya Zondo lets that one go through to the keeper. |
| 23.2 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Fuller length, outside off. Khaya Zondo raises his arm and leaves it. |
| 23.3 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, On a good length, on off pole. Khaya Zondo defends it off the front foot and gets an outside edge and the ball just falls short of the slip fielder. |
| 23.4 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Fuller length, around off. Khaya Zondo plays it towards the point. |
| 23.5 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Fuller length, outside off. Khaya Zondo plays it towards mid-off for no run. |
| 23.6 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Fullish length, a bit wider and shaping in late. Khaya Zondo leaves it alone and it will be a maiden to conclude the morning session on Day 3. The umpires signal for Lunch! |
| In a spine-tingling atmosphere across the United Kingdom, England were able to put up an exhilarating performance at the Oval to put them in the driving seat in this encounter. The morning session truly belonged to the hosts as South Africa were dismantled with the new ball.  |
| South Africa were nowhere near their potential this morning. Their batters just did not turn up to the game. The top-order nicked almost everything this morning which saw South Africa teetering at 36/6. The conundrum for Marco Jansen and Khaya Zondo, who was playing his first ever Test match, was mostly of how they approach the game forward. They decided to stop chasing after all the ball and capitalize on the few bad ones on offer. The doughty pair put up a stand on of 33 runs to remain unbe |
| So, two days ago England opted to bowl and the bowlers have justified their skipper's decision. It was certainly a fine display of seam bowling this morning session by the English pacers. Ollie Robinson was on song from the word go. He picked up four wickets in no time. James Anderson and Stuart Broad chipped in with a wicket each as well. Jack Leach leaked a few runs in his short spell right at the fag end of the session. England would be hoping to get back on the field and get rid of the |
| ... Day 3, Session 2 ... |
| We are back for the afternoon session. The two umpires make their way out to the middle. Marco Jansen and Khaya Zondo are out of the dressing room and striding towards the crease. Soon, the England players also gather nears the ropes before they take the field. It will be Stuart Broad to start with the ball. Four slips waiting for the outside edge. Here we go... |
| 24.1 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Runs straightaway after Lunch! Broad starts off with a fullish delivery on the pads, Marco Jansen flicks it 'round the corner for a single. |
| 24.3 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Broad keeps it full and on off stump, blocked out by Zondo. |
| 24.2 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Stuart Broad goes full and angles it into the pads. Khaya Zondo gets stuck on the crease and looks to play it through mid-wicket. Zondio misses and gets hit on the pads. There is a huge appeal for LBW and this time it is given. Khaya Zondo has a chat with Marco Jansen and does go for the review. UltraEdge confirms that there's no bat involved and Ball Tracking shows that the ball is sliding down the leg side, missing the stumps. A good review by Zondo and |
| 24.4 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Full and wide this time, nicely driven through cover-point for a couple of runs. |
| 0.0 : A good use of the review by Khaya Zondo here. He was pretty confident while taking the review and it pays off here. South Africa still have all the reviews in their kitty, unlike England who just have a single left. |
| 24.5 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Length ball, around off and nipping in off the deck. Zondo defends it out. |
| 25.1 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Robinson starts off with a fullish delivery, well outside off and it is left alone by Jansen. |
| 24.6 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, OUT! CAUGHT! Extra bounce from Stuart Broad and the useful stand is broken right away after the interval. Broad digs it in a bit short and around off, the ball shoots up off the deck. Khaya Zondo is batting outside his crease and gets hurried on and the ball takes the shoulder of the bat. The ball pops up around the gully region where Alex Lees takes a simple catch. Zondo's resistance is over and South Africa lose their 7th wicket. |
| Keshav Maharaj is the new man in. Also, it will be Ollie Robinson to bowl from the other end. |
| 25.2 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Nicely driven! Pitched up around off, Marco Jansen plays a beautiful cover drive but the ball just slows up due to the sluggish outfield and Jansen picks up a couple of runs. |
| 25.3 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Excellent running! Robinson keeps it fuller and around off, Jansen leans forward and just pushes it out towards short extra cover for a quick single. |
| 25.4 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, Good length, angling it into the body, Keshav Maharaj looks to play at it but misses and gets hit on the thigh pads. |
| 25.5 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, Full and straight, Maharaj punches it straight back past the bowler and to the left of mid on. The batters scamper across for one as Stuart Broad at mid on tidies up. |
| 25.6 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Play and a miss! Pitched up, around off and Jansen goes for the booming drive this time. Luckily for him, the ball beats the outside edge. |
| 26.1 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, Good length, around off, Maharaj gets pushed on the back foot and gets an inside edge onto the pads as he looks to punch it away. |
| 26.2 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, Good length again, angling it into the pads. Keshav Maharaj looks to work it leg side but misses and gets hit on top of his pads. |
| 26.3 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, Back of a length and on off, Maharaj goes on the back foot to play it towards mid on. |
| 26.4 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, Goes fuller now, on off stump and blocked towards short mid-wicket for a quick run. |
| 26.5 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Length ball, around middle, defended onto the leg side. |
| 26.6 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Half an appeal but there's no bat on that one. Good length, around off and the ball nips back in off the surface. Marco Jansen gets squared up and the ball goes off the thigh pads and into the hands of the man at first slip. |
| 27.1 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, Fuller length, on leg stump and this is flicked away to short mid-wicket. |
| 27.2 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, Well left! Length ball, close to the off stump and Maharaj judges the length to perfection as he makes the leave. The ball goes over off stump and is collected by the keeper. |
| 27.3 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, Around the top of off, played back to the bowler. |
| 27.4 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, Back of a length, around off and played off the back foot towards cover. |
| 27.5 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, Around middle, Maharaj gets across and tucks it away down to fine leg for a couple of runs. With that, Keshav Maharaj brings up 1000 runs in Test cricket. |
| 27.6 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, Robinson pushes this one wider of the off stump, Maharaj lets it through to the keeper. |
| 28.1 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, On the shorter side and over off stump, Jansen solidly defends it out. |
| 28.2 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Edged and dropped! Pitched up, outside off and out comes the cover drive. Jansen gets a faint outside edge on it and the keeper, Ben Foakes dives to his right. The ball does wobble a bit and late as well and Foakes ends up spilling it. |
| 28.3 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Good length, around off, pushed away towards cover. |
| 28.4 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Length again, outside off and Jansen makes an easy leave. |
| 28.5 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Edged and four! Full again from Broad, around off and inviting the drive. Marco Jansen goes for the cover drive once again and once again the outside edge is found. Ollie Pope at fourth slip dives low to his left and fails to grab it as the ball runs away to the fence. Two chances dropped in the very same over and Jansen's stay at the crease isn't over yet. |
| 28.6 : Stuart Broad to Marco Jansen, Around middle, kept out by Jansen. |
| 29.1 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, Nagging length, around off, Keshav Maharaj looks to play it off the back foot but ends up chopping it past the stumps. The ball goes towards backward square leg and they get a single. |
| 29.2 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Length ball, around the fifth stump line, Jansen shoulders arms at it. |
| 29.3 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Around the top of off, Jansen defends it out from his crease. |
| 29.4 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, FOUR! Top shot! Very full and on off, Marco Jansen drives it straight back past the bowler and picks up a boundary. |
| 29.5 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, NO BALL! Robinson goes for the bumper now and over middle and leg, Jansen ducks under it well. A no ball though has been called but for overstepping. |
| Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Another bouncer, this time around off and Jansen gets comfortably underneath it. |
| 29.6 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Another short ball, around off, Marco Jansen gets well behind it and keeps it down on the off side. |
| 30.1 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, On a good length, angling in. Keshav Maharaj tries to work it towards mid-wicket but misses it and the ball hits his pads. |
| 30.2 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, FOUR! No need to run! That was short, outside off. Keshav Maharaj cuts it through the point region for an easy boundary. |
| 30.3 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, Beautiful delivery by Stuart Broad. That was on a good length, angling in. Keshav Maharaj tries to block that one but the ball goes through to the keeper between bat and pad. |
| 30.4 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, On a good length, around off. Keshav Maharaj pushes it towards point for no run. |
| 30.5 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, Fuller length, down the leg. Keshav Maharaj lets that ball go through to the keeper. |
| 30.6 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, On a good length, around off. Keshav Maharaj blocks it solidly from the crease. |
| 31.1 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Full and straight, clipped away behind square on the leg side for a single. |
| 31.2 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, FOUR! Well played! A bit of a long hop by Robinson, around off. Keshav Maharaj pulls it away, the ball goes aerially and in front of square for a boundary. |
| 31.3 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, Just short! Banged in short and over leg stump this time. Keshav Maharaj goes after it and the ball goes off the top edge and on the bounce to the man at deep square leg. Single taken. |
| 31.4 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Good length, outside off and the ball just straightens off the deck. Jansen has a dab at it but the ball goes past the outside edge. |
| 31.5 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, On a hard length, around off and nipping back in. Jansen stays on the back foot and solidly keeps it out. |
| 31.6 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Pitched up in the channel around off, Jansen looks for the cover drive but gets beaten past the outside edge yet again. |
| 32.1 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, Fuller length, angling in. Keshav Maharaj knocks it towards silly mid-on. |
| 32.2 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, Short, around middle stump. Keshav Maharaj tries to pull that one but misses it. |
| 32.3 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, Fuller length, outside off. Keshav Maharaj lets that ball goes through to the keeper. |
| 32.4 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, Fuller delivery, onto off. Keshav Maharaj pushes it towards mid-on for no run. |
| 32.5 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, Short of length, down the leg. Keshav Maharaj lets that ball go through to the keeper. |
| 32.6 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, On a good length, swinging away from Keshav Maharaj. That ball just missed the off-pole. |
| 33.1 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Good length, around off and Jansen plays inside the line of the ball. |
| 33.2 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, OUT! CAUGHT! There it is, a five-wicket haul for Ollie Robinson and it has been a superb spell from him. Robinson serves it full and around off, inviting the drive from the batter. Marco Jansen does go for it and this time the outside edge is found. The ball goes quickly and straight into the bread basket as Joe Root takes a sharp catch at first slip. Jansen's important contribution comes to an end and South Africa are now eighth down. |
| 33.3 : Ollie Robinson to Kagiso Rabada, Full length, angled into the pads. Rabada flicks it to deep square leg. The batters take a single and 100 is up for South Africa. |
| 33.2 : Kagiso Rabada is the new man in. |
| 33.4 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, A short ball, on off. Keshav Maharaj makes some room and cuts it hard to the man at backward point. |
| 33.5 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, NO BALL! Full length, outside off. Maharaj looks to chase it but gets beaten this time. The crowd is getting into the act as well now. It is a no ball as the bowler oversteps. |
| Anrich Nortje is the last man in for South Africa. |
| Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, Short ball, on off. Maharaj makes some room and flat-bats it over the bowler's head. Two taken this time. |
| 33.6 : Ollie Robinson to Keshav Maharaj, Maharaj flicks it to deep square leg and the batters take two. |
| 34.1 : Stuart Broad to Kagiso Rabada, Stuart Broad start round the wicket. That was fuller, around off. Kagiso Rabada blocks back to the bowler. |
| 34.2 : Stuart Broad to Kagiso Rabada, On a good length, angling in. Kagiso Rabada tries to play it towards off but gets a leading edge and the ball just falling short of mid-on. |
| 34.3 : Stuart Broad to Kagiso Rabada, Fuller length, outside off. Kagiso Rabada drives it off the front foot but he was not in complete control and the ball hits the outside half of the bat. The ball goes towards point for a couple. |
| 34.4 : Stuart Broad to Kagiso Rabada, Full length, on middle and leg. Rabada flicks it to deep mid-wicket for three runs now. |
| 34.5 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, OUT! TIMBER! Stuart Broad gets his third wicket. Back of length, around fourth stump. Keshav Maharaj clears his front leg and goes for the pull but he gets a bottom edge. The ball goes onto shatter the stumps. Stuart Broad is in a hurry to end things here. |
| 34.6 : Stuart Broad to Anrich Nortje, A dot to end the over! Broad serves it on a length, outside off, nipping into the batter. Anrich Nortje stays back, closes the face of his blade and blocks it out. |
| 35.1 : Ollie Robinson to Kagiso Rabada, Robinson goes full and on off. Rabada drives it towards mid off. They take one. |
| 35.2 : Ollie Robinson to Anrich Nortje, On a length, outside off, shaping in from outside off. Nortje blocks it out on his front foot. |
| 35.3 : Ollie Robinson to Anrich Nortje, Two dots in a row now! It is angled into the pads, on a fuller length, Nortje flicks it to mid-wicket. |
| 35.4 : Ollie Robinson to Anrich Nortje, Make that three! This one is a short ball, on leg. Anrich Nortje ducks under it wisely. |
| 35.5 : Ollie Robinson to Anrich Nortje, Touch fuller, around off. Anrich Nortje pushes it gently towards covers. Does not get any run off it. |
| 35.6 : Ollie Robinson to Anrich Nortje, Anrich Nortje finally opens his account. It is fuller, outside off. Nortje drives it past short extra cover. The batters take three before the fielder cuts it out. |
| 36.2 : It has been a comprehensive performance by the English pacers on Day 3 of the third Test match and the inexperienced South African batters have had no answers. England will come out to bat much earlier than they would have expected but will be happy about it. Also, Ollie Robinson leads the English players off the field with his five-wicket haul. |
| The conditions did favor the pacers and South Africa did not have many batters in the lineup who had the experience of playing Test cricket in England and it showed. The skipper, Dean Elgar though will be disappointed as he was the first to fall and that set the tone for those who followed. Only the stand between Khaya Zondo and Marco Jansen for the 7th wicket was a positive with the bat for the Proteas and Keshav Maharaj too did well to muster up a few runs. They will now have to come out a |
| 36.1 : Stuart Broad to Anrich Nortje, FOUR! Edge over the fielder at third slip. That was short, outside off. Anrich Nortje goes hard at the ball but gets an outside edge and the ball travels over the slips for a boundary. |
| 36.2 : Stuart Broad to Anrich Nortje, OUT! CAUGHT! Stuart Broad ends his innings with a four-fer. It is a full-length ball, on off stump. Anrich Nortje ends up slicing it towards covers. Ben Stokes takes the simplest of catches to bundle out South Africa for just 118 here. A forgetful innings for South Africa. |
| The English pacers were on song from the word go and once Ollie Robinson got that first breakthrough, they started to send back one batter after the another. With the opposition at 36/6, one would have thought that the hosts will bundle them out for a score of under 100 runs but that wasn't the case. Stuart Broad was excellent with the ball in the post-Lunch session which helped them to get rid of the tail quickly. In the end, though, they will take 118 runs and it is now up to their batters t |
| ... SECOND INNINGS ... |
| 0.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Zak Crawley opens his account with a lovely boundary. Overpitched and on off stump, Crawley drives it straight back past the bowler and finds the fence. |
| 0.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Alex Lees and England are away! Kagiso Rabada starts off with a fullish delivery on the pads, a bit of a freebie and Lees just plays it in front of mid-wicket. The ball slows down and the fielder from mid-wicket is able to hunt it down. Three taken. |
| 0.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, On a fullish length and outside off, Zak Crawley makes a watchful leave first up. |
| 0.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Rabada goes very full and on off stump, Crawley does well to dig it out. |
| 0.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Pitched up, in that channel around off and not much movement on offer. Crawley lets it through to the keeper. |
| 0.5 : Is that a clean catch? The fielder looks pretty excited. The umpires take it upstairs to check if it is a fair catch. The replays later confirm that it is a bump ball and Zak Crawley is safe. |
| 0.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Clearly off the deck! Very full and around off, Zak Crawley looks to jam it out on the off side but the ball goes u[ppishly and towards point. The fielder over there takes a low catch and appeals. It is sent upstairs and the replays show that the ball was dabbed onto the deck by Crawley before it went to the fielder. End of an exciting first over by Kagiso Rabada and England are off to a positive start. |
| 1.1 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Fuller length, angling in. Alex Lees plays it towards deep square leg for a single. |
| 0.6 : It will be Marco Jansen to steam in from the other end. |
| 1.2 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Short of length, around off. Alex Lees tucks it towards cover for a quick single. |
| 1.3 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, On a good length, outside off. Zak Crawley lets that ball go through to the keeper. |
| 1.4 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, Fuller length, onto middle stump. Zak Crawley blocks it off the front foot. |
| 1.5 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, Great leave! That was short, around the middle. Zak Crawley lets that ball go over the stumps by trusting the bounce this time. |
| 1.6 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, On a good length, outside off. Zak Crawley lets that one go through to the keeper. |
| 2.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, FOUR! Not the best of opening spells by Rabada here. Length ball, around off, Alex Lees goes after it and gets it off the middle of the bat, through cover-point and picks up a boundary. |
| 2.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Nicely timed yet again. Length, on middle and leg, Lees flicks it well in front of square on the leg side and the ball seems to be running away. The sluggish outfield slows it down and it will only be a three. |
| 2.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Pitched up, on off stump and solidly blocked off by Crawley. |
| 2.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Length ball, in that channel around off, Zak Crawley leaves it alone. |
| 2.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Around the top of off, at 142 clicks and nipping back in off the deck. Crawley manages to keep it out on the leg side. |
| 2.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Full and outside off, Crawley lets it through to the keeper. |
| 3.1 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Marco Jansen draws first blood for South Africa against the run of play and sends Alex Lees packing. Length ball from Jansen, around off stump and Lees is drawn forward. Lees looks for the straight drive with hard hands but the ball nips in off the deck and goes between bat and pad to hit the top of middle stump. Lees departs after a fast start and South Africa will now look to build up on this. |
| 0.0 : Ollie Pope comes in at number 3. |
| 3.2 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, On a good length, around off. Ollie Pope pushes it towards the point for a quick single. |
| 3.3 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, On a good length, wide of off. Zak Crawley lets that ball go through to the keeper. |
| 3.4 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, On a good length, outside off. Zak Crawley looks to poke it but in the end leaves this one alone. |
| 3.5 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, Fuller delivery, around middle. Zak Crawley pushes it towards short mid-wicket. |
| 3.6 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, On a good length, onto the leg stump. Zak Crawley looks to hit this towards square leg but misses it. |
| 4.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, Good length, close to the off pole, straightening off the deck. Ollie Pope plays inside the line of the ball. |
| 4.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, On a hard length this time, around off and Pope defends it back onto the deck. |
| 4.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, Good carry from Rabada! Pitched up, around off and this is left alone by Pope. |
| 4.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, Lovely bowling! Rabada serves it a bit fuller and angles it in from around off. The ball straightens sharply off the deck and zips past the outside edge. |
| 4.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Banged in short this time, around off, Ollie Pope is quick to latch onto it and plays a well-controlled pull shot through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 4.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, FOUR! This time in front of square! Short of a length and around off, Pope pulls it past the man at wide mid on and the ball just about beats that same man to the ropes. |
| 5.1 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, It is a full-length ball, angled across the right-hander, in the channel. Zak Crawley walks down the track and looks to defend it out but misses. |
| 5.2 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, This is outside off, angled across. Crawley shoulders his arms at it. |
| 5.3 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, NO BALL! It is full, around middle, nips into the batter off the deck. Crawley misses his flick. It goes to the leg side off his pads. The umpire signals a no ball as the bowler oversteps. |
| Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, Jansen getting some swing here. This one lands around middle and shapes in. Zak Crawley gets rapped on his pads. Going down leg. |
| 5.4 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, A length ball, on off. Crawley blocks it out watchfully. |
| 5.5 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, This is on a good length, lands outside off and shapes in off the deck. Zak Crawley shoulders his arms at it. The ball sails over the stumps and into the keeper's mitts. |
| 5.6 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, Fuller, straying on the pads this time. Crawley flicks it to mid-wicket for a single. |
| 6.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Length ball, on top of off. Crawley blocks it back to the bowler. |
| 6.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Fraction short, outside off, nipping in a touch. Crawley has no shot to offer. |
| 6.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, On a length, wide of off. Zak Crawley lets it through to the keeper. A great start to the over by Rabada. |
| 6.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, A huge appeal for lbw but turned down. Rabada serves it on a length, outside off. Zak Crawley thinks it will be much straighter and offers no shot at it. Although, it hits the rough patch and nips is a touch off the deck. Zak Crawley is rappes on his back pad. Kagiso Rabada appeals but the umpire denies. South Africa take a review. The UltraEdge confirms no bat is involved. The Ball Tracking shows that the ball is missing the wickets. South Africa lose a re |
| 6.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, JAFFA! A full-length ball, outside off. Zak Crawley looks to defend it out but gets beaten past the outside edge as this one nips away. |
| 6.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Another one that nips away. A length ball, wide of off, moves away a hint off the deck. Zak Crawley looks to chase it but misses. |
| 7.1 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Outside off, left alone. |
| 7.2 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Easy pickings for Ollie Pope. It is a length ball, on the pads, much straighter. Pope hangs back and glances it down to fine leg for a boundary. |
| 7.3 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, It is touch fuller, on off. Pope comes down the track and drives it past mid on. The batters take three before the fielder cuts it out. |
| 7.4 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, Good length, angled across the right-hander, in the channel. Crawley lets it be. |
| 7.5 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, Much fuller, on off, this is straightens a bit after hitting the deck. Zak Crawley reads it really well and leaves it alone for the keeper. |
| 7.6 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, Three dots in a row to end the over! Full length, wide of off. Crawley looks to go for the booming drive but gets beaten on the inside edge this time. |
| 8.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, Rabada drags his length back this time, in the channel. Pope stays back and looks to have a poke at it but gets beaten this time. |
| 8.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, Rabada dishes it full, on off. This is the perfect length that he would be aiming for. Pope drives it to covers on the front foot. |
| 8.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, Ollie Pope uses his feet this time and blocks it to the off side. |
| 8.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, A length ball, around off. Pope gets it past gully off the outer half. Two taken this time. |
| 8.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Ollie Pope is on fire here. He has been quick off the pull so far. It is a short ball, on off. Pope picks up the length quite early and pulls it through square leg for a boundary. The umpire signals a no ball now as the bowler oversteps. England right on top at the moment. |
| Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, Fuller in length, outside off, it shapes in late off the deck. Pope leaves it alone. |
| 8.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, It is full again, wide of off. Pope leans in and drives it towards point. Kagiso Rabada has to reload his final delivery as he oversteps yet again. |
| Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, A length ball, on top of off. Pope gets it to backward point off the outer half. |
| 9.1 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, OUT! LBW! Marco Jansen breaks this stand which was starting to hurt them. It looks plumb to the naked eye. Zak Crawley has a chat with his partner and goes for the review. Coming to the delivery, it is a length ball that lands around off and nips in off the deck. Zak Crawley looks to push it down the track but misses it. The ball goes through to ping his pads. Marco Jansen appeals an the umpire raises his finger in a flash. Later the review also does not hel |
| 0.0 : Joe Root walks in next. |
| 9.2 : Marco Jansen to Joe Root, Outside off, left alone. |
| 9.3 : Marco Jansen to Joe Root, Full length, outside off. Root dances down the track and pushes it gently towards covers. |
| 9.4 : Marco Jansen to Joe Root, Good movement yet again! It is a length ball, around middle, shaping in off the deck. Root is caught inside his crease and gets pinged on his thigh pads. |
| 9.5 : Marco Jansen to Joe Root, Joe Root gets off the mark here. It is full, drifting down leg. Root flicks it to deep square leg and takes a single. |
| 9.6 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Good length, outside off, angling across. Pope leaves it alone for the keeper. A successful over from Jansen comes to an end. |
| 10.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Joe Root, FOUR! Muscled! Just a fraction short and around off, Joe Root picks up the length early and pulls it well in front of mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 10.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Joe Root, Around the top of off, Root goes on the front foot and pushes it past the diving fielder at backward point for a brace. Another no ball has been called for overstepping and Rabada is getting more and more frustrated out there. |
| Kagiso Rabada to Joe Root, Too full and too straight from Kagiso Rabada, Root flicks it away through mid-wicket and races back for the third. |
| 10.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, On a fullish length, angling it into the leg stump, Pope flicks it towards square leg. |
| 10.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Edged away and nothing is going Rabada's way at the moment. Length ball, around off, Ollie Pope steps out and looks to go across the line. The ball goes off the outside edge and past backward point as well for a boundary. |
| 10.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, Goes a bit fuller and around off, Pope looks to step out yet again but this time he is beaten past the outside edge. |
| 10.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, NO BALL! Length, outside off and it is left alone but Rabada has overstepped yet again and a no ball is called. |
| Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, FOUR! It's going from bad to worse here for Kagiso Rabada. Serves it full and straight, Ollie Pope drives it gloriously down the ground for a boundary. Rabada has now gone for 49 runs in just 6 overs. |
| 11.1 : Marco Jansen to Joe Root, On a good length, outside off. Joe Root lets that ball go through to the keeper. |
| 11.2 : Marco Jansen to Joe Root, Short of length, onto the leg stump. Joe Root tucks it towards the short leg. |
| 11.3 : Marco Jansen to Joe Root, Short of length, around the middle stump. Joe Root nearly chopped that on but that ball hits his shoes and rolls towards slips. |
| 11.4 : Marco Jansen to Joe Root, FOUR! That was short, outside off. Joe Root punches it through extra cover for a boundary. |
| 11.5 : Marco Jansen to Joe Root, Fuller length, outside off. Joe Root drives it to the fielder at covers but they scramble through for a single. |
| 11.6 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, On a good length, around off. Ollie Pope knocks it back to the bowler. |
| 12.1 : Wiaan Mulder to Joe Root, Mulder starts off with a shortish delivery outside off. The ball nips away off the deck as Root looks to come down the track and play at it. |
| 0.0 : Change. Wiaan Mulder comes into the attack now. |
| 12.2 : Wiaan Mulder to Joe Root, Banged in short and outside off, this is pulled away off the toe end of the bat towards deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. |
| 12.3 : Wiaan Mulder to Joe Root, Keeps it on the shorter side and bowls it over middle now. Root hops onto the back foot and keeps it out on the off side. |
| 12.4 : Wiaan Mulder to Joe Root, Good length, on middle and leg, nudged away towards short mid-wicket. |
| 12.5 : Wiaan Mulder to Joe Root, Goes a bit fuller now and serves it in that channel around off, Joe Root lets it through to the keeper. |
| 12.6 : Wiaan Mulder to Joe Root, FOUR! A poor way to end the over by Wiaan Mulder. This is a half-volley on the pads, Root clips it away through mid-wicket and picks up a boundary. |
| 13.1 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Short of length, outside off. Ollie Pope lets that ball go through to the keeper. |
| 13.2 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Poor delivery by Anrich Nortje. That was short, wide outside off. Ollie Pope slaps it through extra cover for a boundary. |
| 13.3 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Short of length, outside off. Ollie Pope plays it towards deep point for no run. |
| 13.4 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Short, outside off. Ollie Pope opens that bat face and works it towards the slips. |
| 13.5 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, On a good length, angling in. Ollie Pope comes down the track but the ball hits his pads and an appeal from the bowler but the umpire doesn't seem interested. |
| 13.6 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Fuller length, outside off. Ollie Pope lets that ball go through to the keeper. |
| 14.1 : Wiaan Mulder to Joe Root, Good hustle by the English batters. Back of a length, around off, Joe Root drops it down towards point and hurries through for the run. |
| 14.2 : Wiaan Mulder to Ollie Pope, This is fuller and outside off, Ollie Pope shoulders arms at it. |
| 14.3 : Wiaan Mulder to Ollie Pope, Fuller in length once again and a fair bit outside off, Pope leaves it alone. |
| 14.4 : Wiaan Mulder to Ollie Pope, Length ball, sliding onto middle and leg, Ollie Pope looks to shuffle across and whip it away. The ball goes off the inside edge and into the pads before rolling away onto the leg side. |
| 14.5 : Wiaan Mulder to Ollie Pope, Good length, around the top of off, Pope punches it out towards extra cover. |
| 14.6 : Wiaan Mulder to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Length again, around middle and leg, this time Ollie Pope does manage to get inside the line and gets a fine tickle on it as well. The ball races away into the fine leg fence. England trail by just 35 now. |
| 15.1 : Anrich Nortje to Joe Root, On a good length, around off. Joe Root plays it towards point for a single. |
| 15.2 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Fuller length, outside off. Ollie Pope drives it towards covers. |
| 15.3 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Short, outside off. Ollie Pope works it towards slips. |
| 15.4 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, On a good length, outside off. Ollie Pope nearly chops it on. |
| 15.5 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, On a good length, outside off. Ollie Pope tries to go hard at the ball but misses it. |
| 15.6 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Fuller length, outside off. Ollie Pope let that ball go through to the keeper. Tea on day 3 |
| Yet another session that is dominated by England. First with the ball and then with the blade as well. The England batters walk into the Tea break with a deficit of 34 runs. The South African tail could not wag as much as they would've liked and were bundled out for just 118 runs, courtesy of some top bowling by Stuart Broad in the post-Lunch session.  |
| South Africa could not apply the same pressure with the new ball as the opposition did. The sun was beating down the ground which made the batting conditions much favourable. England stuck to their plan and came all guns blazing. They lost their openers quite early than they would've envisioned but Ollie Pope and Joe Root were able to score runs at a brisk rate which has put them in the driving seat in this Test match. England would be aiming to put on some healthy lead before the end of Day' |
| ... Day 3, Session 3 ... |
| The final session is set to begin. A very crucial session for England as they head out with an aim to post a lead on the board. South Africa would need something special here to restrict England. South Africa players are seen to be in a huddle before they take the field. Followed by Joe Root and Ollie Pope who walk out to continue with the bat. Marco Jansen to start with the ball here. |
| 16.1 : Marco Jansen to Joe Root, Jansen starts off with a length ball, angling across the right-hander. Joe Root gets a stride out and pushes it out towards cover. |
| 16.2 : Marco Jansen to Joe Root, Shorter in length and well outside off, left alone by Root. |
| 16.3 : Marco Jansen to Joe Root, Goes fuller and brings the ball a bit closer to the off pole, Joe Root makes yet another easy leave. |
| 16.4 : Marco Jansen to Joe Root, Full and around off, Root comes down the pitch and drives it towards silly mid on. |
| 16.5 : Harry Brook is the new man in for England. He walks out on his Test debut. He will surely have some butterflies in his stomach as he strides towards the crease. |
| Marco Jansen to Joe Root, OUT! TAKEN! Keegan Petersen takes a blinder of a catch and Marco Jansen strikes right after the interval. Just a tad bit shorter and well outside off, Joe Root has a slash at it but doesn't quite control it. The ball flies off the toe-end and goes to the right of Petersen at third slip who pouches it out of thin air. Big wicket this for Jansen and South Africa as Root was looking positive out there. |
| 16.6 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, Jansen starts off with a wicket-maiden! Pitched up on off stump, Harry Brook makes a solid block off the front foot. |
| 17.1 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Nortje starts off with a length ball, outside off and this is left alone by Ollie Pope. |
| 0.0 : It will be Anrich Nortje to steam in from the other end. |
| 17.2 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Edged but doesn't carry! Good length, close to the off pole and Ollie Pope plays at it with soft hands. The ball takes the outside edge but lands well in front of the man at first slip. |
| 17.3 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Good-length ball, at 146 clicks and angling into middle, Pope hops and keeps it out on the leg side. |
| 17.4 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Length again, around middlde and worked away towards wide mid on. |
| 17.5 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Clipped nicely! Length again, on the pads, Ollie Pope whips it away through square leg for a boundary. |
| 17.6 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Full and straight, at 145 clicks and Ollie Pope flicks it straight to the man at square leg. |
| 18.1 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, Serves it full and around off, Brook drives it towards extra cover. |
| 18.2 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, On a fuller length and on off stump as well, Brook defends it under his eye line. |
| 18.3 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, Jansen pulls back the length and offers width, Harry Brook looks to thrash it away but mistimes it badly towards mid off. |
| 18.4 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, FOUR! Harry Brook is off the mark in Test cricket with a boundary. Full and wide, Brook goes back and across to cream it through covers for a boundary. Brook will be a relieved man now. |
| 18.5 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, Fullish length, angled across the right-hander. Harry Brook shoulders arms. |
| 18.6 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, FOUR! Jansen serves a half-volley outside off and Harry Brook latches onto it. This is driven squarer and on the up, through cover-point for yet another boundary. |
| 19.1 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Hits the length hard and bowls it outside off, Pope waits for it and guides it on the bounce towards the slip cordon. |
| 19.2 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Pitched up this time, around off and at 147 clicks. This is driven on the up and through extra cover for a couple of runs. |
| 19.3 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Length ball, around off, Pope looks to play at it but gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 19.4 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Full and angling down leg, Ollie Pope looks to flick it away but misses and gets hit on the pads. |
| 19.5 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Oh, is that a missed opportunity? It looks like it. Short and wide, Ollie Pope looks for the upper cut but mistimes it. Ryan Rickelton at deep point doesn't pick it up and stays put. The ball goes on the bounce towards him and maybe, if he did pick it up, it would have been a chance. Just the single then. |
| 19.6 : Anrich Nortje to Harry Brook, Full and straight, pushed towards mid on. |
| 20.1 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Fuller length, onto the pads. Ollie Pope works it towards fine leg. 100 up for England. |
| 20.2 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, Fuller length, outside off. Harry Brook lets that ball go through to the keeper. |
| 20.3 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, Short of length, around middle. Harry Brook pulls it towards short mid-wicket. |
| 20.4 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, On a good length, outside off. Harry Brook lets that one go through to the keeper. |
| 20.5 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, On a good length, around middle and leg. Harry Brook blocks it off the front foot towards the bowler. |
| 20.6 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, On a good length, outside off. Harry Brook leaves that one alone. |
| 21.1 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Good length, at 148 clicks and around off. Ollie Pope solidly keeps it out. |
| 21.2 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Good length again and outside off, Pope looks to steer it past the slip cordon but Marco Jansen at fourth slip makes a sharp stop. |
| 21.4 : Anrich Nortje to Harry Brook, Full and around off, nicely driven through the mid off region. Dean Elgar chases it down as the batters get back for the third with ease. |
| 21.3 : Looks like it has started to drizzle, as we see raincoats coming out in the crowd with a few umbrellas opening up as well. The radar says that it is just a passing shower. The umpires allow the play to continue for now. |
| Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Back of a length and outside off, Pope taps it off the back foot and towards deep point for a single. Also, a no ball is called for overstepping. |
| Anrich Nortje to Harry Brook, Full and around off, this is driven through the mid off region. Dean Elgar chases it down as the batters come back for the third with ease. |
| 21.4 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Hard length, outside off, tapped away past the slip cordon for a single. |
| 21.5 : Anrich Nortje to Harry Brook, Back of a length and at the body, Harry Brook hops and keeps it down towards square leg for one more. |
| 21.6 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Around the top of off, defended out by Pope. |
| UPDATE 9.35 pm IST (4.05 pm GMT) - The rain has gotten a bit heavier now and the umpires have decided to stop the play. The groundstaff sprints on to the field to spread the covers over the pitch. Hopefully, it is just a passing shower and we do not lose any more crucial time in this Test match. Stay tuned for further updates. |
| UPDATE 9.46 pm IST (4.16 pm GMT) - Just as expected, the rain has passed by. The umpires are out on the field to have a look at the playing conditions as the covers are being taken off now. The match will resume at 10 pm IST (4.30 pm GMT) if the rain stays away. |
| 22.1 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, Jansen starts off proceedings after the interval with a fuller delivery around off. Harry Brook flicks it away towards mid-wicket. |
| 0.0 : We are back. South Africa players take the field. Followed by Harry Brook and Ollie Pope who walk out with their swords. Marco Jansen to start with the ball. |
| 22.2 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, Good length, from around the wicket and outside off. Brook leaves it alone. |
| 22.3 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, Length again, around off, Brook defends it out. |
| 22.4 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, On a fullish length and outside off, Brook lets it through to the keeper. |
| 22.5 : Marco Jansen to Harry Brook, OUT! CAUGHT! Harry Brook gets suckered into Marco Jansen's plan and he will be disappointed with that shot. Jansen sticks to around the wicket and delivers a shorter one around the hips. Brook shuffles a bit as he tries to pull it up and over the fence behind square on the leg side. Brook mistimes it and Kagiso Rabada from fine leg runs towards long leg and pouches it safely. Brook departs for a low score on debut and England still trail by 11 runs. |
| Ben Stokes comes in at number 6. |
| 22.6 : Marco Jansen to Ben Stokes, Back to over the wicket now, full and on off. Ben Stokes defends it off the front foot. |
| Rabada to bowl from the other end. |
| 23.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, Fuller length, onto off. Ollie Pope blocks it towards silly mid on. |
| 23.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, Fuller length, angling in. Ollie Pope gets an inside edge onto the pads and the ball rolls past the man at first slip for a single. |
| 23.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Stokes, On a good length, around off. Ben Stokes blocks solidly off the front foot. |
| 23.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Stokes, Fuller length, on off. Ben Stokes blocks it towards the bowler. |
| 23.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Stokes, Short of length, around off. Ben Stokes goes on the back foot and punches it through covers for a boundary and Ben Stokes gets off the mark in style. |
| 23.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Stokes, Short of length, angling in. Ben Stokes makes room for himself but Kagiso Rabada follows him and Ben Stokes gets beaten by the pace through to the keeper. |
| 24.1 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Short of a length and over middle, Ollie Pope looks to pull but gets it off the gloves towards square leg. That must be a sore one for Pope. |
| 24.2 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Top edge but Ollie Pope gets away with it and brings up a very well-made FIFTY. Shorter again from Jansen, at the body, Pope looks to pull but gets a top edge that goes down into the vacant fine leg fence for a boundary. |
| 24.3 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Back of a length, close to the off pole. Pope looks to step out but misses the ball. |
| 24.4 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Around the top of off, Ollie Pope makes a watchful leave. |
| 24.5 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Fullish delivery, angled well across the right-hander, left alone by Pope. |
| 24.6 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Full and wide, Ollie Pope goes after it and drives it off the outer half of the bat past backward point. The fielder at deep point runs to his left and slides in to make a stop. Two taken and the scores are now level. |
| 25.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Stokes, Fuller length, on the off pole. Ben Stokes tries to block this one but gets an inside edge and the ball goes towards the square leg. |
| 25.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Luck running England's way. That was short, around off. Ollie Pope tries to defend it but the ball takes the outside edge goes over the slip cordon for a boundary. |
| 25.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, Fuller length, around off. Ollie Pope pushes it off the front foot towards the bowler. |
| 25.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, Back of a length, angling in. Ollie Pope plays it towards a vacant short leg. |
| 25.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, On a good length, outside off. Ollie Pope on the backfoot plays it late and ends up chopping it near his feet. |
| 25.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Fuller length, angling in. Ollie Pope flicks from his front foot nicely into the gap through wide mid-on Keshav Maharaj chases and tries to stop the ball but the third umpire signals it a boundary. |
| Change. Anrich Nortje comes into the attack now. |
| 26.1 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Stokes, Anrich Nortje starts from around the wicket and serves a very full delivery around the off stump. Ben Stokes manages to get some bat on it. |
| 26.2 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Stokes, In the air...dropped! Length ball, around off, Ben Stokes gets a bit low and looks to launch it over long off. The bat turns in his hands and the ball comes off the toe end as well. The ball goes a long way up and over mid off. Dean Elgar runs back over his left shoulder and puts in the dive but he can't reach it. Stokes survives and he picks up a single as well. |
| 26.3 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Back of a length, around off and this is tapped towards point. |
| 26.4 : Anrich Nortje to Ollie Pope, Leg bye! On the pads, Ollie Pope looks to tickle it fine but it comes off the pads and down to fine leg. They pick up a leg bye. |
| 26.5 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Stokes, OUT! CAUGHT! Ben Stokes is a goner this time around and Anrich Nortje has his man. This is served on a fuller length and angled in from around off. The ball holds its line as Stokes looks to just hit through the line. The outside edge is found and the ball goes straight into the pouches of Sarel Erwee at first slip. Erwee makes no mistake and the English skipper departs after an edgy inning. England lead by 11, can South Africa seize the opportunity? |
| 26.6 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, Pitched up, around off, Ben Foakes defends it out. |
| 26.5 : Ben Foakes is the new man in now. |
| 27.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, On a good length, around off. Ollie Pope blocks it off the front foot. |
| 27.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Fuller length, onto the pads. Ollie Pope flicks it towards the fine leg for a boundary. |
| 27.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, On a good length, around off. Ollie Pope blocks it off the front foot. |
| 27.4 : Stuart Broad comes in at number 8. |
| Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! First wicket for Kagiso Rabada and that to of the big fish, Ollie Pope. Back of the length, angling away from Ollie Pope, outside off. Pope tries to punch it away but gets an outside edge. It carries to Kyle Verreynne behind the sticks who makes no mistake. There is surely a comeback on the cards now for the Proteas. |
| 27.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Stuart Broad, Back of a length, around off. Stuart Broad defends it off the front foot. |
| 27.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Stuart Broad, Fuller length, around off. Stuart Broad plays it back to the bowler. |
| 28.1 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, A length ball, well outside off, Foakes doesn't play at it. |
| 28.2 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, Fuller in length and outside off, Ben Foakes edges it down with soft hands towards fourth slip where the fielder makes a good stop. |
| 28.3 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, Good length, around off and just shaping in a touch. Foakes gets beaten on the inside edge as he looks to defend it out. |
| 28.4 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, Length again, attacking the stumps, Foakes keeps it out. |
| 28.5 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, On the pads, Foakes flicks it away past backward square leg and picks up a couple of runs. |
| 28.6 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, Pitches it up now, at 147 clicks and in that channel around off. Ben Foakes makes a watchful leave. |
| 29.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Stuart Broad, On a good length, outside off. Stuart Broad tries to go big but misses it completely. |
| 29.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Stuart Broad, Fuller length, around off. Stuart Broad drives off the front foot for an easy single. |
| 29.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Foakes, Short of length, outside off. Ben Foakes tries to block that one but misses it. |
| 29.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Foakes, On a good length, around off. Ben Foakes defends solidly off the front foot. |
| 29.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Foakes, On a good length, outside off. Ben Foakes lets that one go through to the keeper. |
| 29.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Foakes, Fuller length, outside off. Ben Foakes pushes it towards cover for a quick single a shy at the nonstriker end but he was home easily. |
| 30.2 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, Back of a length, outside off, nips in off the deck. Foakes stays back, gets on top of the bounce and punches it to covers. Not in the gap though. |
| 30.1 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, A length ball, on off stump. Foakes tucks it to the leg side. |
| 30.3 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, FOUR! Nortje errs in his line this time. It is a length ball, sliding down leg. Foakes hangs back and tickles it down to fine leg for four. |
| 30.4 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, This is full, angled into the pads. Foakes flicks it to deep square leg and crosses. |
| 30.5 : Anrich Nortje to Stuart Broad, Play and a miss! Good length, on top of off. Broad looks to heave it away but misses. |
| 30.6 : Anrich Nortje to Stuart Broad, A length ball, around off. Broad stays back and smacks it to the man at mid off. Two dots in a row to end the over. |
| 31.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Stuart Broad, Fuller length, around off. Stuart Broad tries to go big but didn't time it and the ball goes towards mid-on fielder. |
| 31.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Foakes, On a good length, around off. Ben Foakes works it towards the third man for a single. |
| 31.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Stuart Broad, On a good length, on off. Stuart Broad looks to loft this over the infield on off but misses it and a miss by the keeper as well and a bye is being taken. |
| 31.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Foakes, JAFFA! On a good length, close to the off pole, the ball pitches and just shapes away beautifully. Ben Foakes looks to play at it but is beaten all ends up. |
| 31.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Foakes, Short pitched, around middle. Ben Foakes pulls it towards fine leg for a single |
| 31.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Stuart Broad, FOUR! Stuart Broad smashes it over mid-off. That was full into the arc, Broad goes hard at the ball and clears the fielder of mid-off for a boundary. |
| 32.1 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, It is a length ball, outside off. This one nips in off the deck. Ben Foakes tries to block it out but does so off the bottom half into the deck. He sees the ball landing besides the leg pole, to be more safe, he ends up kicking it towards fine leg. |
| 32.2 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, This is flicked to square leg for one. |
| 32.3 : Anrich Nortje to Stuart Broad, Anrich Nortje comes 'round the wicket and serves it full, around off. Broad makes a bit room and slashes it through covers. They take one. |
| 32.4 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, A length ball, angled into the right-hander. Foakes gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 32.5 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, Much fuller, outside off. Foakes leans in and drives it to mid off. |
| 32.6 : Anrich Nortje to Ben Foakes, Length ball, outside off, Foakes looks to chase it but gets beaten for pace this time. England now lead by 33 runs after 33 overs. |
| 33.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Stuart Broad, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Soft dismissal for Stuart Broad. That was short, and onto the body by Kagiso Rabada. Stuart Broad tries to make room and pull that one but he gets a bottom edge and the ball goes straight to Kyle Verreynne. South Africa are back in the game now. |
| 33.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Robinson, Outside off, Robinson looks to chase it but misses. |
| 0.0 : Drinks break! Well, England seemed to be cruising to a big first innings lead when they came back on after the Tea interval. This hasn't been the case though as the South African pacers have made a roaring comeback. Marco Jansen has been excellent and Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada have been amongst the wickets as well. England's lead currently stands at 33 runs with 3 wickets left in the bag. It could get really interesting. With that said, Ollie Robinson walks out to bat. |
| 33.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Robinson, Fuller in length, on off. Ollie Robinson drives it down the ground to long on. The batters take three before the fielder cuts it out. |
| 33.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Foakes, It is a length ball, around off. Ben Foakes waits for it and dabs it towards fourth slip. It falls short of the man there. |
| Well, whats happened here? The umpires have a little chat and they are signaling the players to come off. They take a reading that will serve as the benchmark and that is likely the end of play on Day 3. The day isn't over yet and the players can be called back on if the light improves but that seems a bit far-fetched. Stay tuned for further updates. |
| England started the day with the ball in hand and Ollie Robinson led from the front with a five-wicket haul to help his side restrict the Proteas to a modest total of 118. Having lost both their openers early, the hosts still had a positive start and then Joe Root and Ollie Pope put on a decent stand. Pope just kept on playing his shots but slowly, he kept running out of partners. Pope finally got out for 67 himself, exposing the tail and now the hosts are in danger of getting bundled out fo |
| South Africa might not have had much joy throughout the course of the day but the final session did belong to them. Marco Jansen kept on his impressive work as he added to his wickets tally and then Anrich Nortje got into the act as well. Kagiso Rabada kept on getting a bit of a stick but did pick up a couple of wickets towards the later half of the final session and those strikes have made a big difference. The visitors will now believe that if they get rid of the English tail and keep the |
| It is now official, Stumps have been called on Day 3! No play on the first two days of the deciding Test and finally, we get things started directly on Day 3. And, what a day it has been! In total, 17 wickets have fallen in the day with the Proteas getting bundled out and then England managing to avoid the same fate thanks to bad light. England do lead by 36 runs and have a slight edge in the game but a lot will depend on how things pan out early on day 4. |
| Right then, the Test match is nicely poised after an enthralling Day 3. England do have their noses in front but South Africa have a real shot at redeeming themselves here. The morning session on Day 4 could prove to be really vital. The first session on Day 4 will begin at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT) but you can join us in advance for the build-up. Cheers! |
| ... DAY 4, SESSION 1 ... |
| Hello and a warm welcome to Day 4 of the third and final Test between England and South Africa at the Oval in London. Day 3 was the first day on which we had play and with a bit of rain around and bad light stopping play early, about 70 overs were bowled throughout the day which is far less than the allotted 98 overs. There are still a couple of days left in the game and hopefully, we get to witness cricketing action without much interference. |
| Day 3 is known as the moving day of a Test match but given it was the first day of this Test match, it still moved at a brisk pace. A lot of wickets fell, as many as 17 in fact and England ended the day with a small first innings lead. With 7 wickets down, they will look to add as many runs as possible to their 36-run lead and hope that their pacers do the job once again for them. |
| All is not lost for South Africa yet but they will need to be on top of their game early on Day 4 and look to keep the English lead to a minimum. Even after that, everything will depend on how their inexperienced batting line-up performs under pressure. A lot to play for and we might just come to know which way this game will eventually go on Day 4 itself. Stick around as we are not far away from the start of the morning session. |
| We are ready for play on Day 4! The umpires and players are out in the middle and the English pair of Ben Foakes and Ollie Robinson are set to resume their stay at the crease. Kagiso Rabada has the ball in hand and he will finish off his incomplete over here. Let's play... |
| 33.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Foakes, It is full, wide of off. Ben Foakes reaches out and drives it through point for a single. First run for England straightaway. |
| 33.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Robinson, OUT! CAUGHT! Ollie Robinson faces his first delivery in the morning and has to trudge back. Just the start South Africa were after. Kagiso Rabada picks up his third wicket of the innings. It is a full-length ball, on off. Ollie Robinson just chips it to short extra cover. Dean Elgar stationed there takes a dolly. |
| Jack Leach is the next man in. Also, Marco Jansen is set to bowl from the opposite end. |
| 34.1 : Marco Jansen to Ben Foakes, Jansen serves it full, wide outside off. Foakes strokes it to deep point but decides against the single on the very first delivery of the over. |
| 34.2 : Marco Jansen to Ben Foakes, A loud appeal for caught behind but the umpire shows no interest. It is a length ball, around off, nipping in off the deck. It brushes him on his thigh pads before going to the keeper. |
| 34.3 : Marco Jansen to Ben Foakes, Fuller, outside off, defended out. |
| 34.4 : Marco Jansen to Ben Foakes, A length ball, on middle and leg, Foakes flicks it to mid-wicket and crosses for one. Jack Leach the new man on strike now. |
| 34.5 : Marco Jansen to Jack Leach, Leach survives the first delivery! One more to go. It is a length ball, outside off. Leach shuffles across and leaves it alone for the keeper. |
| 34.6 : Marco Jansen to Jack Leach, And the second one as well! Just a single off the over then. It is on a good length, outside off. Leach looks to defend it away from his body but misses it completely. |
| 35.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Foakes, Rabada goes full now, outside off. Foakes has no shot to offer. |
| 35.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Foakes, Two dots in a row! Another one outside off, with some extra bounce off the deck. Ben Foakes lets it be. |
| 35.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Foakes, This is outside off and left alone yet again by Foakes. |
| 35.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Ben Foakes, This is angled into the pads, on a length, Foakes flicks it to deep square leg for one. The umpire signals a no ball as the bowler oversteps. |
| James Anderson is the last man in for England. |
| Kagiso Rabada to Jack Leach, OUT! DRAGGED ON! Kagiso Rabada comes 'round the wicket now and it does the trick. Jack Leach walks back on a 3-ball duck. It is a good-length ball, outside off. Jack Leach hangs back and looks to cut it away. The ball takes the inside edge and shatters the stumps. South Africa are right back in the game. Kagiso Rabada gets his fourth wicket now. He has been sensational this morning. |
| 35.5 : Kagiso Rabada to James Anderson, This one drifts down the leg side, with some extra bounce. Anderson looks to clip it away but misses. |
| 35.6 : Kagiso Rabada to James Anderson, A low full toss, on off, Anderson pushes it gently back to the bowler. |
| 36.1 : Marco Jansen to Ben Foakes, Full length, outside off. Foakes leans in and drives it to mid off. |
| 36.2 : Marco Jansen to Ben Foakes, OUT! CAUGHT AT SLIPS! Marco Jansen records his maiden fi-fer in Test cricket. An excellent start for South Africa this morning. It is a length ball, on off, shaping away a touch. Ben Foakes looks to defend it out but gets a thick outside edge. The ball flies to the left of third slip. Keegan Petersen gets low to his left and pouches it safely with both hands. England have been bundled out for 158 runs. |
| A superb start to the morning for the South African pacers and Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen have made short work of the English tail. The Proteas came back into the game late on Day 3 and have continued that momentum to keep the English lead down to just 40 runs. Jansen deservedly so picked up a five-wicket haul as Rabada took his wickets tally to four and this effort has now given the visitors renewed hope in this game. |
| England were a bit under the pump coming into this morning but they could add just 4 runs. Ben Foakes looked to rotate strike early on and Ollie Robinson was sent back on the second ball of the day. Leach soon followed and even Foakes couldn't hold on. England lost 3 wickets in just 16 deliveries bowled this morning and will now have to come out all guns blazing with the ball. Ollie Pope was the star for them with the bat as he scored a half-century but apart from that, there wasn't much to t |
| Right then, as we expected, the bowlers continue to dominate proceedings in this game and another innings has flown by. England lead South Africa by 40 runs and the visitors will come out to bat whilst the conditions are still bowling friendly. It will be interesting to see the approach of their openers against the English pacers. Join us in a bit for South Africa's second innings. |
| ... THIRD INNINGS ... |
| We are back! The umpires and the players are back out in the middle. |
| 0.6 : Ollie Robinson to operate from the opposite end. |
| 3.4 : Is that a clean catch? James Anderson seems to have taken a good low catch here but he isn't sure. The two umpires come together for a chat and go upstairs. The soft signal is NOT OUT. The third umpire checks it a couple of times and concludes that the ball clearly bounced before going into the palms of Anderson. |
| 5.1 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Short of the fielder! It is full, around off, angling away. Erwee gets it to the left of gully off the outside edge. It meets Anderson on a bounce. |
| James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, James Anderson starts with a length ball, outside off, shaping away. Erwee leaves it alone. |
| 0.2 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, A length ball, on off this time. Erwee gets an inside edge and the ball runs down to fine leg. They take two. Sarel Erwee and South Africa are off the mark here. |
| 0.3 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, Good length, on middle and leg. Erwee blocks it to the leg side. |
| 0.4 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, Second dot on the trot! On a length, angled across the left-hander, wide of off. Sarel Erwee shoulders his arms at it. |
| 0.5 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, Make that three! Good length, in the channel, shaping away with the angle. Erwee has no shot to offer. |
| 5.2 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Good length, around off. Erwee gets across and gets an inside edge on his pads. It rolls out to point. |
| 0.6 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, Just two runs off the over then! Full length, outside off. Erwee leans in and drives it crisply towards covers. Cannot find the gap though. |
| 5.3 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, A length ball, on off. Erwee works it to covers off the outer half. |
| 5.4 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Outside off, left alone. |
| 5.5 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, It is full, on off. Erwee bunts it down the ground. The batters take two before the fielder cuts it out. It is also called as a no ball as the bowler oversteps. |
| Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, A huge appeal for lbw but turned down! Ollie Robinson is quite certain that he got his man this time. Ben Stokes takes a review now. It is a length ball, pitching around leg. Erwee looks to defend it out but misses and gets rapped on his pads. The UltraEdge later confirms that no bat is involved. The Ball Tracking shows that the ball is pitching fractionally outside leg and on-field decision stands. England lose a review now. |
| 1.1 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, Dean Elgar opens his account with a brace here. Robinson comes 'round the wicket and angles it in full and on off. Elgar stays back and flicks it to deep square leg for two runs. |
| 1.2 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, Full length, at the stumps. Elgar presses forward and defends it back to the bowler. |
| 1.3 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, BEAUTY! It is a length ball, around off, it shapes away after hitting the deck. Elgar looks to block it out but puts his blade down in the end. |
| 1.4 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, On off, defended out. |
| 1.5 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, Fuller, on off. Elgar blocks it to the leg side watchfully. |
| 1.6 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, This one is on a length, in the channel. Elgar looks to chase it but gets beaten past the outside edge. |
| Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Good length, outside off. Erwee gets it past backward point. They batters take two. |
| 6.1 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, It is a length ball, outside off. this one straightens a bit after hitting the deck. Elgar looks to chase it but gets beaten. |
| James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, On middle and leg, flicked to the man at square leg. |
| 2.2 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, Touch fuller, around off, angling away. Erwee looks to block it but does so inside the line. |
| 2.3 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, Length, on off. Erwee taps it to covers and scampers for a quick single. |
| 2.4 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, FOUR! Fortunate boundary for Elgar. It is a short ball, outside off, seaming away. Dean Elgar gets it past gully off the outer half. It races away. First boundary for South Africa. |
| 2.5 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Length ball, on off, defended out solidly. |
| 2.6 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Touch fuller, outside off. Elgar lets it be. 5 runs off the over then. |
| 6.2 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, FOUR! NIcely played! Back of a length, outside off. Dean Elgar stands tall and cuts it through point. The ball races away. |
| 6.3 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Elgar blocks this length ball watchfully. |
| 6.4 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Anderson angles it in full and on off. Elgar dabs it towards point. A bit of miscommunication but Sarel Erwee makes it safely to the other end. Ben Stokes shows great intent in the field. He charges towards the ball and has a shy at the striker's end with a forward dive. Misses by a mile. |
| 3.1 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, A stifled appeal for lbw and the umpire shows no interest! It is a length ball, that lands around leg and hits Erwee on his thigh pads. It looks to be high. |
| 3.2 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, It is a length ball, on off. Erwee gets it through covers and takes two. |
| 3.3 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, On off, defended out watchfully. |
| 3.4 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Length ball, on middle and leg. Erwee shuffles and flicks it to mid-wicket. |
| 3.5 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, NOT OUT! A great decision by the umpire. England players did not even look excited it was more of a muted celebration by the hosts. It is a full-length ball, on off. Erwee looks to flick it away but is a bit early into his shot. It goes towards gully off the leading edge. The ball stays low and James Anderson there has to bend forward and eventually gathers it on a bounce. It is later confirmed by the third umpire as well, as the umpires took it upstairs. |
| 3.6 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Good length, on off, defended back to the bowler. |
| 4.1 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, FOUR! Poor delivery and Elgar punishes. It is short, wide of off. Elgar frees his arms and flays it over backward point for a boundary. |
| 4.2 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, A length ball, on off, Elgar blocks it out solidly. |
| 4.3 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, It is much fuller, wide outside off, this one spits off the deck. Elgar shuffles across and leaves it alone. |
| 4.4 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, James Anderson serves it full, angled in on off. Elgar blocks it into the deck on his front foot. |
| 4.5 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, What a beauty! James Anderson cuts the batter in half this time. It is a length ball, around off, nips back in off the deck. Elgar looks to defend and gets beaten on the inside edge. The ball passes over the middle stump here. |
| 4.6 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Now beats the outside edge. On a length, on fifth stump. Elgar looks to chase it but misses. |
| 6.5 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, Good length, angling across the left-hander. Sarel Erwee has no shot to offer. |
| 6.6 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, So, 5 runs off the over then. It is full and on off. Erwee blocks it back to the bowler. |
| 7.1 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, Fuller and on off. Elgar gets it to covers off the outer half. They take a single. |
| 7.2 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Robinson hurls in full and on off. Erwee gets an inside edge on his pads. |
| 7.3 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, A length ball, around middle and leg. Erwee looks to whip it across the line but misses. It brushes off his thigh pads and rolls to the slip cordon. |
| 7.4 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Sarel Erwee flicks this good-length delivery off his hips towards deep square leg. The batters take two. |
| 7.5 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, FOUR! Good looking shot by Erwee! It is full, straight, on the pads. Erwee flicks it through the gap at mid-wicket and finds the boundary. |
| 7.6 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Outside off, left alone. South Africa trail by 8 runs now. |
| Stuart Broad is brought into the attack now. He replaces James Anderson. |
| 8.1 : Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, A short ball, outside off. Elgar pulls it over mid on. He does not time it well and only gets a couple. |
| 8.2 : Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, Much fuller, outside off, left alone by Elgar. |
| 8.3 : Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, Full length, angled into the pads, Elgar tucks it to mid-wicket. |
| 8.4 : Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, Elgar punches this length delivery through point. They take two runs. |
| 8.5 : Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, FOUR! Nicely played! It is a good-length ball, outside off. Dean Elgar opens the face of the blade and guides it past backward point. It has enough legs to reach the ropes. Scores level now. |
| 8.6 : Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, Length ball, outside off, shaping away. Elgar lets it be. |
| 9.1 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, It is a length ball, outside off, angled across. Erwee has no shot to offer. |
| 9.2 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, An appeal for caught behind by the fielders from behind the wicket. The bowler shows no interest though. This one brushes his pads on the way to the keeper. |
| 9.3 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Length ball, on off, defended to covers. |
| 9.4 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Robinson steams in from 'round the wicket and serves it full, outside off. this one moves away a bit. Sarel Erwee looks to defend it out but misses it. |
| 9.5 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Strays on the pads now. Erwee flicks it to square leg. James Anderson moves to his left and makes a sharp stop. The scores are still level. |
| 9.6 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, On a length, outside off, shapes in a bit later. Erwee shoulders his arms at it. |
| 10.1 : Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, On a good length and outside off, shaping away. Dean Elgar leaves it alone. |
| 10.2 : Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, Just a touch fuller and on the fifth stump line, Elgar shoulders arms to it. |
| With that unsuccessul review, England have now lost two reviews which might come back to haunt them later on. |
| 10.3 : Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, Stuart Broad bowls it shorter and angles it into the body. Dean Elgar hops and looks to work it leg side. The ball seems to have popped up off the thigh pad and pouched comfortably by the man at fifth slip. There is a huge appeal for a catch but the umpire turns it down. The English players have a long discussion and at the very last second, Ben Stokes opts to review it. The Third umpire checks UltraEdge and finds that there are a couple of noises, first the |
| 10.4 : Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, Fuller and outside off, stroked away through cover-point for a single. |
| 10.5 : Stuart Broad to Sarel Erwee, Good length, around off, Sarel Erwee plays inside the line of the ball. |
| 10.6 : Stuart Broad to Sarel Erwee, FOUR! Shorter and wider from Broad, Erwee hangs back and just steers it behind point for a boundary. |
| 11.1 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Oh, my! James Anderson comes back into the attack and serves it full and around the pads. The ball nips away sharply and Dean Elgar gets taken aback. The ball takes the outside edge and falls short of the slip cordon. |
| 11.2 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Anderson keeps it full and around the pads, Elgar awkwardly nudges it away towards square leg. |
| 11.3 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Pitched up, around off and this is pushed away towards the cover region. The throw comes in at the striker's end and it is a wide one, allowing the batters to get across for a single. |
| 11.4 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, On a nagging length, angling in sharply from around off. Sarel Erwee does well to keep this one out. |
| 11.5 : James Anderson to Sarel Erwee, Fuller and around middle, just straightening off the deck. Erwee defends it towards the cover region and picks up a single. |
| 11.6 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Beaten! Half an appeal for a caught-behind but the umpire remains unmoved. Anderson serves it on a perfect length, close to the off pole and just shaping away. Dean Elgar looks to defend but gets beaten past the outside edge. There is a noise but that of the bat hitting the pad. |
| 12.1 : Stuart Broad to Sarel Erwee, Short of a length and well outside off, Erwee leaves it alone. |
| 0.0 : Drinks break! The morning session on Day 4 has completely belonged to the Proteas. They were brilliant with the ball and now with the bat, the openers, Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee have looked solid and have even managed to surpass the English lead. They will look to carry on in the same way. England are currently suffering from a setback and it will be interesting to see how they respond to it, otherwise, they could slip further in this game. |
| 12.2 : Stuart Broad to Sarel Erwee, FOUR! Full and straight from Broad, Sarel Erwee gets inside the line of the ball and flicks it fine. The ball races away into the fine leg fence. The 50 is up for South Africa and they will be delighted with this start. |
| 12.3 : Stuart Broad to Sarel Erwee, Keeps it fuller and around middle, clipped away towards mid-wicket. |
| 12.4 : Stuart Broad to Sarel Erwee, A touch fuller and angling into middle and leg. Sarel Erwee stands tall and just punches it past mid on for a couple of runs. |
| 12.5 : Stuart Broad to Sarel Erwee, Good length, slanted in from around off, Erwee makes a watchful leave. |
| 12.6 : Stuart Broad to Sarel Erwee, Pitches it up now, close to the off pole and Erwee lets it through to the keeper. |
| 13.1 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, On a fullish length but well wide of the off stump, Elgar has nothing to do with it. |
| 13.2 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Goes fuller now and attacks the stumps, Elgar stays watchful and keeps it out. |
| 13.3 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, This one is angled into leg stump, Dean Elgar defends it out with a straight bat. |
| 13.4 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, FOUR! James Anderson angles this one down the leg side, Dean Elgar just about gets some bat on it and the ball runs away fine, into the fence. |
| 13.5 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Very full, around middle and leg and pushed towards silly mid on. |
| 13.6 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Anderson pulls back the length a bit and angles it in from around off. Dean Elgar makes an assured leave. |
| 13.3 : England aren't happy with the ball here. This is the second time they have asked the umpire to get 8-ball gauge out and yet again it passes through with ease. England are desperate to break this opening stand of South Africa. |
| 14.1 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Robinson starts off the new spell from over the wicket and bowls it on a good length, close to the off pole. Sarel Erwee leaves it alone. |
| 0.0 : Change. Ollie Robinson (5-1-16-0) is back on now. |
| 14.2 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Pitches it up now, on off and Erwee solidly defends it off the front foot. |
| 14.3 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Fuller and angling it across the left-hander, left alone for the keeper to collect. |
| 14.4 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Length ball, around leg stump and this is punched to the man at mid on. |
| 14.5 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, Good length, on leg stump, Erwee looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 14.6 : Ollie Robinson to Sarel Erwee, End of a maiden over by Ollie Robinson. On a hard length, around middle, Sarel Erwee looks to play it off the back foot but once again the inside edge is found. |
| Change. Ben Stokes gets himself into the attack now. |
| 15.1 : Ben Stokes to Dean Elgar, Stokes starts off with a shortish ball from around the wicket. The ball jags back in sharply off the deck. Dean Elgar awkwardly gets it away behind point and collects a single. |
| 15.2 : Ben Stokes to Sarel Erwee, Switches to over the wicket now and serves a length ball on off. Sarel Erwee gets on the front foot and defends it out onto the off side. |
| 15.3 : Ben Stokes to Sarel Erwee, OUT! CAUGHT! A masterstroke by the skipper Ben Stokes and he breaks the opening stand. Stokes continues from over the wicket and just angles across a very full ball. This is around off and Sarel Erwee gets suckered into driving at it. The outside edge is found and Joe Root at first slip takes a really good catch diving forward. The catch is a clean one and South Africa have lost their first wicket. |
| Keegan Petersen walks in at number 3. |
| 15.4 : Ben Stokes to Keegan Petersen, Shorter and around off, Keegan Petersen waits for it and just eases it towards cover-point for a single. |
| 15.5 : Ben Stokes to Dean Elgar, Back to around the wicket now for Elgar and this is a full ball on middle. Elgar manages to jam it out. |
| 15.6 : Ben Stokes to Dean Elgar, Pitched up in that channel around off and Dean Elgar makes a comfortable leave. |
| 16.1 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, Nicely bowled! Ollie Robinson serves it on a length and in that channel around off, the ball nips away a touch as well. Keegan Petersen just feels for the ball but gets beaten past the outside edge. |
| 16.2 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, Good length, around off and left alone by Petersen. |
| 16.3 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, This is full and wide, Keegan Petersen reaches out and times it nicely through point. A couple of fielders chase after it and the batters get back for the third with ease. |
| 16.4 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, Robinson hurls across a length ball from around the wickets and bowls it close to the off pole. Dean Elgar shoulders arms at it. |
| 16.5 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, Fuller and attacking the pads, Elgar looks to work it away but misses. |
| 16.6 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, Leg bye! Fuller in length and angling down leg, Elgar looks to flick but the ball hits the back leg and rolls towards square leg. They do get across for a leg bye. |
| 17.1 : Ben Stokes to Dean Elgar, Very full and at the t0oes, clipped away towards square leg. |
| 17.2 : Ben Stokes to Dean Elgar, Full and straight, Elgar pushes it firmly towards mid on. |
| 17.3 : Ben Stokes to Dean Elgar, Stokes keeps bowling it full and at the stumps, Elgar wrists it towards the man at mid-wicket. |
| 17.4 : Ben Stokes to Dean Elgar, Here comes the change up! This is a well-directed bumper by Stokes, over middle and Dean Elgar does well to sway his head away from it. |
| 17.5 : Ben Stokes to Dean Elgar, Full and angling well down the leg side, Ben Foakes does well to dive to his right and make the stop. |
| 17.6 : Ben Stokes to Dean Elgar, FOUR! Poor delivery from Ben Stokes and Dean Elgar puts it away with ease. This is a half-volley, around the pads and Elgar clips it away in front of square on the leg side for a boundary. |
| 18.1 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, The bowler goes up in appeal for lbw but no one else is interested. Good length, around off and nipping back in. Keegan Petersen gets a big inside edge onto the pads as he looks to defend it out. |
| 18.2 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, On a good length and on off, Robinson gets a bit of extra bounce due to his height and Petersen does well to keep it down on the off side. |
| 18.3 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, Nicely bowled! Pitched up, around off and angling in. The ball just holds its line and beats the outside edge. |
| 18.4 : Ollie Robinson to Keegan Petersen, Length ball, around off, Keegan Petersen takes a couple of steps towards the ball and pushes it down the ground. Stuart Broad chases it down from mid-wicket and saves a run for his side. |
| 18.5 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, This is angled into the pads from around the wicket. Elgar misses the flick and the ball goes off the pads towards short leg. |
| 18.6 : Ollie Robinson to Dean Elgar, A dot to end! fullish length, in that channel around off and Dean Elgar plays inside the line this time. That will be Lunch on Day 4! |
| It was 'do or die' time for the Proteas as they came out to bat early on Day 4 and had to put on a sizeable score on the board for a side that certainly loves to chase in the final innings of a Test match in the new era. Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee came out and took their time to settle-in. The opening pair built a solid foundation up top which was missing in this Test match for South Africa. Sarel Erwee slipped out just before the Lunch break. Keegan Petersen though came in and handled the s |
| A session that was dominated by the visitors throughout. On the morning of Day 4 it was South Africa that came out guns blazing. The pair of Rabada and Jansen took just 16 deliveries to bundle out England for 158. Although, later England could not apply the same pressure with the ball as they did in the first innings and see themselves chasing the game at the moment. |
| Just like we expected, there is not much venom on the pitch for the seamers. It was clear as England struggled to find an early breakthrough this morning. They hardly got the batters into trouble. There were some close chances but the lady luck wasn't on their side. The skipper then got himself into the attack and broke a crucial stand that was taking the game away from them. England still have a stiff challenge ahead of them. They will be hoping to make an instant impression in the post-Lu |
| ... Day 4, Session 2 ... |
| We are back for the afternoon session at the Oval. England players stride out to the middle. Followed by Keegan Petersen and Dean Elgar who walk out with their blades. It will be Stuart Broad to start with the ball now. Here we go... |
| 19.1 : Stuart Broad to Keegan Petersen, Broad starts off with a length ball, around the top of off and staying a touch low. Keegan Petersen keeps it out on the off side. |
| 19.2 : Stuart Broad to Keegan Petersen, Edged but safe! Fullish length, outside off, Petersen looks to play it out with soft hands but gets an outside edge down towards the man at fourth slip. |
| 19.3 : Stuart Broad to Keegan Petersen, FOUR! Back of a length from Broad and there's width on offer as well. Keegan Petersen stays back and slaps it away through the point region for a boundary. |
| 19.4 : Stuart Broad to Keegan Petersen, Shortish ball, on the body, Petersen hops and defends it back onto the deck. |
| 19.5 : Stuart Broad to Keegan Petersen, Length ball, pushed wide of the off stump. Keegan Petersen just watches the ball go past him and into the keeper's mitts. |
| 19.6 : Stuart Broad to Keegan Petersen, FOUR! Up and over! Short and wide, Keegan Petersen throws his hands at it and gets it over the leaping fielder at point for yet another boundary. |
| It will be James Anderson to bowl from the other end. |
| 20.1 : James Anderson to Dean Elgar, Anderson starts from around the wicket and angles it in around the hips. Dean Elgar neatly flicks it down to fine leg and collects a run. |
| 20.2 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, On a length and outside off, there's a bit of movement in the air this time. Petersen has a dab at it but the ball zips past the outside edge. |
| 20.3 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, FOUR! Keegan Petersen is on fire at the moment. Good length, around off, Petersen rocks onto the back foot and punches it through extra cover for a glorious boundary. |
| 20.4 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, Pitches it up now, in that channel around off, Petersen makes a watchful leave. |
| 20.5 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, Length ball, around off and this one leaves the batter off the deck. Keegan Petersen shoulders arms at it. |
| 20.6 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, A couple of dots to end the over, 5 runs come off it. On a fuller length and around off, Petersen leaves it alone. |
| 21.1 : Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, A big appeal for lbw but it looks to be too high. This is angled in from around the wicket and on the pads. Dean Elgar looks to defend but misses and gets hit high on the pads. |
| 21.2 : Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, Length again, around middle, worked away onto the leg side. |
| 21.3 : Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, Length again and angling onto the pads as well. Elgar misses the flick and gets hit on the knee roll. |
| 21.4 : Ryan Rickelton comes in at number 4. |
| Stuart Broad to Dean Elgar, OUT! LBW! This time Stuart Broad does get his man! Broad goes fuller and angling into the pads. Dean Elgar looks to flick it away but falls over and ends up playing all around it. The ball crashes into the pads and Elgar starts walking even before the finger is raised. England do have the prozed wicket of the South African skipper and they will look to build on it. The replays show that the ball was going down leg and Elgar will be very disappointed as he did |
| 21.5 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, Length ball, around leg stump, Ryan Rickelton works it away onto the leg side. |
| 21.6 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR! This is banged in short and wide, Ryan Rickelton slaps it up and over the cover region and opens his account with a boundary. |
| 22.1 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, Anderson pitches it outside off and gets it to nip back in sharply. Keegan Petersen gets pinged on his thigh pads. |
| 22.2 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, Touch fuller, on middle and leg. Keegan Petersen tucks it to the leg side. |
| 22.3 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, Pace up this time. Good length, wide of off, nips in a long way. Keegan Petersen trusts the bounce and shoulders his arms at it. |
| 22.4 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, A length ball, outside off. Keegan Petersen leaves it alone. |
| 22.5 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, It is full, swinging into the pads. Keegan Petersen flicks it through mid-wicket. The batters take three with ease. |
| 22.6 : James Anderson to Ryan Rickelton, On a length, outside off, angled across. Ryan Rickelton leaves it alone for the keeper. |
| 23.1 : Stuart Broad to Keegan Petersen, A dot now! Full length, shaping in around off. Keegan Petersen presses forward and blocks it back to the bowler. |
| 23.2 : Stuart Broad to Keegan Petersen, Fuller, on the pads. Keegan Petersen looks to flick it away but gets it to covers off the leading edge. |
| 23.3 : Stuart Broad to Keegan Petersen, Good length, outside off, left alone by Keegan Petersen. |
| 23.4 : Stuart Broad to Keegan Petersen, An inswinger this time, full and on the pads. Keegan Petersen flicks it to mid on for a single. |
| 23.5 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, Length, angled across the left-hander, it is in the channel. Ryan Rickelton keeps his bat to himself. |
| 23.6 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, It is full, drifting down leg. Ryan Rickelton misses his flick. Just a single off the over then. |
| 24.1 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, Back of a length, around off. Keegan Petersen comes forward and taps it to cover. |
| 24.2 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, Touch fuller, outside off, shaping away. Petersen stays back and works it to point. |
| 24.3 : James Anderson to Keegan Petersen, OUT! CAUGHT! James Anderson finds a breakthorugh now. It is a length ball, outside off, moving away off the deck. Keegan Petersen looks to push it away but only gets a thick outside edge. Ollie Pope at fourth slip dives forward and takes a brilliant catch. South Africa lose their second wicket in the afternoon session. Khaya Zondo is the new man in. |
| 24.4 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Good length, comes in from outside off. Zondo leaves it alone bravely. |
| 24.5 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Outside off, left alone. |
| 24.6 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Full length, outside off, shaping away. Khaya Zondo gets an outside edge to third slip along the ground. |
| 25.1 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR! Excellent shot! It is an outswinging delivery, wide outside off. Ryan Rickelton picks up pretty early and drills it through covers for a boundary. |
| 25.2 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, Good length, wide of off. Ryan Rickelton lets it be. |
| 25.3 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, This is full, on off. Ryan Rickelton gets on his front foot and blocks it back to the bowler. |
| 25.4 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, Swinging away, wide of off. Ryan Rickelton has no shot to offer. |
| 25.5 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, Touch fuller, outside off, it shapes away off the deck. Ryan Rickelton watches it sail past him. |
| 25.6 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, Length ball, outside off, gets it to shape away yet again. Ryan Rickelton isn't tempted at all. |
| 26.1 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, On a length, outside off. Zondo stays back and blocks it out. |
| 26.2 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Another dot now! Full length, outside off, shaping away sharply. Zondo leaves it alone. |
| 26.3 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, On off, blocked out. |
| 26.4 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Inswinger full and on off. Zondo defends it to covers. |
| 26.5 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Fuller, on off. Zondo drives it to cover-point where Alex Lees makes a sharp stop. |
| 26.6 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, On a length, in the channel, moving away a touch. Zondo lets it be. |
| 27.1 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, Much fuller, outside off. Ryan Rickelton leaves it alone for the keeper. |
| 27.2 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, Broad angles it in outside off from 'round the wicket and gets it to shape away off the deck. Ryan Rickelton watches it sail past him. |
| 27.3 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, Stuart Broad steams in and hurls a full delivery, fired into off. Ryan Rickelton gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 27.4 : Stuart Broad to Ryan Rickelton, OUT! LBW! This time he raps him on the pads without the inside edge. Stuart Broad appeals and the umpire raises his finger in a flash. Ryan Rickelton has a chat with his partner and takes the review. Coming to the delivery. It is full, around middle, straightens a touch off the deck and hits him on his pads. The UltraEdge confirms no bat is involved. The Ball Tracking shows three reds and Ryan Rickelton trudges back to the pavilion. |
| Wiaan Mulder comes in at number 6. |
| 27.6 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Full, just outside off. Mulder stays back and defends it to the off side watchfully. |
| 27.5 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, An inswinger full and on off. Mulder blocks it into the deck. |
| 28.1 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Nicely bowled! It is a length ball, around off. It moves away off the deck. Khaya Zondo looks to defend it out but gets beaten past the outside edge. |
| 28.2 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, And again! Khaya Zondo leaves his bat hanging inside the line just to be beaten on the outside edge. |
| 28.3 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Length ball, at the stumps now. Zondo opens the face and eases it to point. |
| 28.4 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, Fuller, wide of off, shaping away. Zondo reaches out and gets it to the slip cordon off the outer half. |
| 28.5 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, A length ball, around off, it nips in off the deck. Zondo fails to flick it away. He gets pinged on his pads. Going down leg. |
| 28.6 : James Anderson to Khaya Zondo, On a length, outside off. Zondo is a bit late to make his leave. It goes to the slip cordon off the bottom half. Luckily, it meets the fielder on a bounce. |
| 29.1 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Much straighter, wide of off, on a length. Mulder leaves it alone for the keeper. |
| 29.2 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Full length, outside off. Mulder comes down the track and defends it to the left of the bowler. |
| 29.3 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Fuller, on the stumps. Mulder gets it to square leg off the inner half. They take one. Mulder is off the mark. |
| 29.4 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, A length ball, sliding down leg. It brushes his thigh pads and goes to the left of the keeper. |
| 29.5 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Outside off, shaping in a touch late. Zondo shoulders his arms at it. |
| 29.6 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Fuller, on fourth stump. Zondo gets behind and bunts it out to safety. |
| 30.1 : James Anderson to Wiaan Mulder, Touch fuller, outside off, left alone. |
| 30.2 : James Anderson to Wiaan Mulder, In the channel of uncertainty. Mulder looks to block it away but does so inside the line. |
| 30.3 : James Anderson to Wiaan Mulder, A lot of movement! It lands full around off, and nips away sharply off the deck. Wiaan Mulder does not offer any stroke. |
| 30.4 : James Anderson to Wiaan Mulder, Fuller, outside off. Mulder leans in and pushes it to covers. |
| 30.5 : James Anderson to Wiaan Mulder, An inswinger full and on off. Mulder gets it to slip cordon off the outer half. |
| 30.6 : James Anderson to Wiaan Mulder, LEG BYE! On a length, swinging down leg. Mulder misses his flick. It goes to the leg side off his pads. They collect a leg bye. The runs are coming in at a very slow rate here for the Proteas. |
| 31.1 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, This one lands outside off and nips in. Mulder hangs back and defends it out solidly. |
| 31.2 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Full length, on middle. Mulder pushes it to mid on. |
| 31.3 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Much fuller, moving down leg. Mulder looks to flick it but misses. Ben Foakes dives to his left and makes a sharp stop. |
| 31.4 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Fuller, on off, defended to covers. |
| 31.5 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, It is full, nipping in from outside off. Mulder gets beaten on the inside edge to get pinged high on his pads. |
| 31.6 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Much straighter, outside off. Mulder lets it be. A maiden now for Broad. |
| Change. Ben Stokes comes into the attack now. |
| 32.1 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, Full length, on off. Zondo opens the face and guides it to point. |
| 32.2 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, Good length, outside off, shaping away a touch. Zondo leaves it alone for the keeper. |
| 32.3 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, A length ball, around off, shaping away. Zondo gets it to the left of fourth slip. Ollie Pope dives to that side and makes a great stop. |
| 32.4 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, Shorter, outside off. Zondo gets on top of the bounce and works it to backward point. Not in the gap. |
| 32.5 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, Khaya Zondo is finally off the mark here. It is fuller, on off. Zondo defends it gently towards covers and scampers across for a quick single. This should get him going. |
| 32.6 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, In the channel, moving away. Mulder blocks it out to safety. |
| 33.1 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Zondo defends this length delivery to covers off the outer half. |
| 33.2 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, A length ball, outside off, shaping into the batter. Zondo gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 33.3 : Stuart Broad to Khaya Zondo, Touch fuller, on middle and leg. Zondo flicks it to square leg for a single. |
| 33.4 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Back of a length, outside off. Mulder gets on top of it and cuts it through point. They take two runs. 100 is up for South Africa now. |
| 33.5 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, Good length, outside off. Mulder looks to chase it but misses. The ball sneaks past the inside edge. |
| 33.6 : Stuart Broad to Wiaan Mulder, It is fuller, sliding down leg. Mulder misses his flick. It brushes his pads and goes towards the keeper. They appeal for caught behind but the umpire shows no interest. |
| Drinks break! England seamers have done the trick in the post-Lunch session so far. They have dried up the run flow and have taken timely wickets as well. They will be hoping to take a couple more wicket to put the opposition under pressure here. South Africa need their batters to focus on building stands and keep the runs ticking if they are to make anything from the match. An intriguing session of play awaits. |
| 34.1 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, Zondo taps this full delivery to point for a single. |
| 34.2 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, A yorker length delivery, on off. Mulder gets his blade down in time and dabs it out to backward point. |
| 34.3 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, On a length, outside off, shaping away a touch. Mulder does not bother at all. |
| 34.4 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, Length ball, down leg. Mulder fails to tickle it away. Goes straight into the keeper's mitts. |
| 34.5 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, Four dots in a row! A short one this time, on middle. Mulder swivels and pulls it to the man at square leg. Mulder could not time it well here. |
| 34.6 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, Make it 5! Full length, attacking the stumps. Mulder blocks it out watchfully. Just a single off the over then. It like South Africa have walked into a brick wall here. |
| Change. Ollie Robinson comes back into the attack now. |
| 35.1 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, A length ball, outside off, this one stays a touch low. Zondo swings wildly and gets beaten on the inside edge. |
| 35.2 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, Back of a length, wide of off, shaping away. Zondo does not go after it this time. |
| 35.3 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, A length ball, in the channel. It takes an inside edge and goes to the slip cordon. |
| 35.4 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, Fuller in length, outside off. This time it shapes in off the deck. Zondo shoulders his arms at it. |
| 35.5 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, Play and a miss! It is outside off, on a length, no movement off the seam this time. Zondo looks to have a poke at it with any foot movement, only to get beaten on the outside edge. |
| 35.6 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, Much fuller, on middle and leg. Zondo flicks it to mid-wicket. A maiden to start with for Robinson. |
| 36.1 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, The pressure keeps on growing with these dots balls. Stokes dishes a length ball, outside off, nipping away off the deck. Mulder watches it sail past him. |
| 36.2 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, Full length, outside off. Mulder shoulders his arms at it. |
| 36.3 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, Fraction short, going down leg. Mulder looks to pull it away. It hits him on his gloves and meets the keeper on a bounce. |
| 36.4 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, Angles it in full, around middle and leg. Mulder nudges it to mid-wicket. |
| 36.5 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, Five dots on the trot for Stokes! An inswinger this time, fuller and on the pads. Mulder gets pinged on his pads. Going down leg. |
| 36.6 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, Gets this one to shape away from a length, outside off. Mulder stays back and leaves it alone. |
| 37.1 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, Outside off, left alone by Zondo. |
| 37.2 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, FOUR! A much-needed boundary for South Africa. It is a short ball, outside off. Zondo hangs back and crunches it through point for a boundary. |
| 37.3 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, Fuller, sliding down leg. Zondo looks to flick it away but misses. It hits his pads and rolls towards square leg. Ollie Robinson makes a stifled appeal but no interest from the umpire. |
| 37.4 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, This one is angled into the batter. Zondo hangs back and blocks it out watchfully. |
| 37.5 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, Fuller, on middle and leg. Zondo defends it back to the bowler with full face. |
| 37.6 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, A beauty to end the over! It lands outside off, on a length and nips in off the deck. Zondo shoulders his arms at it. Fortunately, it passes over the off pole. |
| 38.1 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, This one holds its line, outside off. Mulder leaves it alone. |
| 38.2 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, Good length, on fourth stump, shaping away. Mulder shoulders his arms at it. |
| 38.3 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, Length ball, on the pads, Mulder flicks it to mid-wicket. |
| 38.4 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, FOUR! Nicely played! A short ball, on middle and leg. Mulder swivels on his back foot and pulls it behind square on the leg side to find a boundary. |
| 38.5 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, Length, on off, blocked out. |
| 38.6 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, Mulder looks to flick it away but misses. It goes to square leg off his pads. They collect a leg bye. |
| 39.1 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, Full length, on off. It gets some extra bounce off the deck. The ball gets big on Mulder. It goes off the outer half towards gully. Falls short though. |
| 39.2 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, On off, blocked out. |
| 39.3 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, It is outside off, Mulder leaves it alone for the keeper. |
| 39.4 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, Full length, outside off. Mulder steps out and works it back to the bowler. Ollie Robinson gets low, gathers the ball and has a shy at the striker's end. It goes past the stumps though. |
| 39.5 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, On a fuller length, outside off. moving away a touch. Mulder lets it go. |
| 39.6 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, On the pads, nudged to the leg side. |
| 40.1 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, This one comes back into the pads. Zondo gets pinged high on his pads. |
| 40.2 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, NO BALL! Length ball, around off. Zondo steers it to third man for a single. The umpire signals a no ball due to overstepping. |
| Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, FOUR! Easy pickings for Mulder! Full length, sliding down leg. Mulder hangs back and glances it down to fine leg for a boundary. |
| 40.3 : Ben Stokes to Wiaan Mulder, Length, on the pads, Mulder flicks it to deep square leg and crosses for one. The lead moves to 78. |
| 40.4 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, Back of a length, on off. Zondo gets on his toes and blocks it to the off side. |
| 40.5 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, Good length, outside off, it extracts some extra bounce off the deck. Zondo looks to chase it initially but thinks against it in the end. It looks like he might've nicked it when he tried to make a late leave. The slip cordon is happy especially Joe Root. He convinced Stokes to take the review for caught behind. The UltraEdge later confirms that Khaya Zondo gets no bat on it. England lose all their reviews now. How costly will it prove to be? |
| 40.6 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, A length ball, angled into the pads, Zondo flicks it to mid-wicket. |
| 41.1 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, Length ball, on off. Mulder defends it to the off side. |
| 41.2 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, Another length delivery, it lands outside off and nips in a touch. Mulder gets behind and defends it to covers. |
| 41.3 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, A length ball, on off, Mulder defends it to the off side. |
| 41.4 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, Back of a length, outside off, shaping away. Mulder leaves it alone. |
| 41.5 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, Good length, outside off. Mulder hangs back and punches it through covers. The batters come back for the second run with ease. |
| 41.6 : Ollie Robinson to Wiaan Mulder, OUT! CHOPPED ON! Ollie Robinson picks up his 50th Test wicket. He has bowled brilliant thoughout and finally gets into the wicket's column here. It is a length ball, wide outside off. It hits the deck and nips in sharply off. Wiaan Mulder hangs back and looks to cut it away. It takes the inside edge and rattles the stumps. South Africa lose their fifth wicket now. |
| 42.1 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, Full length, outside off, shaping away. Zondo leaves it alone for the keeper. |
| 0.0 : Kyle Verreynne is the new man in. South Africa lead by 80 runs at the moment. |
| 42.2 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, A length ball, on the pads, at 130 clicks. Zondo blocks it out solidly. Ben Stokes is barely going though his follow through. He is limping here |
| 42.3 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, FOUR! Up and over! Back of a length, outside off. Zondo stands tall and upper cuts it over backward point. It clears the fielder and races away. |
| 42.4 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, This one is on a length, around off, it nips in off the deck. Zondo gets squared up this time. |
| 42.5 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, Outside off, left alone. |
| 42.6 : Ben Stokes to Khaya Zondo, FOUR! Boundaries in quick succession for Zondo here. This is a very good-looking shot. It is fuller, on off. Zondo caresses it past mid off. The ball has enough legs to reach the boundary. The lead moves to 88. Still 50 overs left in the day. |
| 43.1 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, FOUR BYES! Runs are coming in thick and fast for the Proteas now. It is spilled down the leg side by Ollie Robinson. Kyle Verreynne misses his flick, it goes past the keeper and runs down to fine leg fence. |
| 43.2 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, Length ball, on off, Kyle Verreynne pushes it to point for one. He gets off the mark. |
| 43.3 : Ollie Robinson to Khaya Zondo, OUT! LBW! Ollie Robinson gets another wicket here. Brilliant bowling by him. Zondo though takes the review for lbw. It is a length ball, that lands outside off and zips in off the deck. Zondo offers no shot this time and gets pinged on his thigh pads. Ollie Robinson appeals and the finger goes up. The Ball Tracking shows that it is umpire's call on hitting the wickets and Zondo has to head back to the pavilion. |
| Marco Jansen is the new man in. |
| 43.4 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, Good length, outside off, shapes in off the deck a bit late. Jansen shoulders his arms at it. |
| 43.5 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, A short ball, this time, on leg. Jansen ducks under it. The umpire signals a no ball. |
| Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, It is pitched up, outside off. Jansen drives it back to the bowler. Ollie Robinson gets low and makes a half-stop. |
| 43.6 : Ollie Robinson to Marco Jansen, FOUR! Top shot! It is fuller, outside off. Marco Jansen creams it through covers for a boundary. No chance for Ben Stokes to chase it down as the outfield has gotten a bit quicker with the sun beating down. |
| 44.1 : Ben Stokes to Kyle Verreynne, It is a good-length ball, on middle and leg. Kyle Verreynne looks to heave it across the line but misses. It goes on to hit him in the box. Kyle Verreynne seems to be in some pain. The crowd groans as the replay is shown on the big screen here. |
| 44.2 : Ben Stokes to Kyle Verreynne, Outside off, left alone. |
| 44.3 : Ben Stokes to Kyle Verreynne, A length ball, shaping away yet again. Kyle Verreynne leaves it alone. |
| 44.4 : Ben Stokes to Kyle Verreynne, Touch fuller, outside off, shapes away again. Kyle Verreynne has no shot to offer. |
| 44.5 : Ben Stokes to Kyle Verreynne, Fuller, on the pads, Kyle Verreynne flicks it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 44.6 : Ben Stokes to Marco Jansen, Length, in the channel, Jansen thinks to play at it first but does not go through with his shot here. |
| 45.1 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, This one angles down leg. Kyle Verreynne misses his flick. |
| 45.2 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, This is pitched up, around off shaping in late, Kyle Verreynne makes an easy leave. |
| 45.3 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, Full and outside off, Kyle Verreynne lets it through to the keeper. |
| 45.4 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, Top delivery! Length ball, close to the off pole and just holding its line. Kyle Verreynne looks to get behind the line but the ball zips past the outside edge. |
| 45.5 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, Perfect line and length, around the top of off, Kyle Verreynne stays back and keeps it out on the off side. |
| 45.6 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, Fullish length, outside off, Kyle Verreynne makes yet another leave. Maiden! |
| 46.1 : Ben Stokes to Marco Jansen, No ball and OUT! The English players rejoice but the catch won't count. Full and wide, shaping away. Marco Jansen looks to drive but gets a thick outside edge. Ollie Pope takes a good catch to his right at fourth slip but a no ball is called for overstepping. A huge let off this. |
| Ben Stokes to Marco Jansen, Fuller length, outside off, left alone for the keeper to collect. |
| 46.2 : Ben Stokes to Marco Jansen, Good length, around the top of off, Marco Jansen plays inside the line of the ball. |
| 46.3 : Ben Stokes to Marco Jansen, Stokes goes even fuller and bowls it around off, Jansen looks to push at it but gets beaten on the inside edge this time. |
| 46.4 : Ben Stokes to Marco Jansen, This is short and on leg stump, doesn't rise up much, Marco Jansen ducks under it well. |
| 46.5 : Ben Stokes to Marco Jansen, Length ball, in that channel around off, left alone by Jansen. |
| 46.6 : Ben Stokes to Marco Jansen, BEATEN! Ben Stokes angles it in on a fullish length and into off stump. Marco Jansen looks to block but the ball straightens and beats the outside edge. |
| 47.1 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, SIX! In the air and in the gap. A good short ball over middle and leg, Kyle Verreynne looks to take it on but gets a top edge. The ball flies down towards fine leg and hits the ropes on the full. A maximum is signalled. |
| 47.2 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, Good length, on off and jagging back in sharply. Kyle Verreynne looks to block but misses and gets pinged high on the pads. Verreynne is outside his crease and Ollie Pope shows some sharp work at fourth slip as he has a shy. The throw takes Verreynne by surprise and he falls over. |
| 47.3 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, Length, around off, blocked out. |
| 47.4 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, Around the top of off, tentatively pushed away towards mid off. |
| 47.5 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, This is angled into middle and leg, Verreynne pushes it away towards mid on. |
| 47.6 : Ollie Robinson to Kyle Verreynne, Fullish length, on the fifth stump line and it is left alone for the keeper to collect. |
| 48.1 : Ben Stokes to Marco Jansen, Shorter and way down the leg side, Ben Foakes collects it well. |
| 48.2 : Ben Stokes to Marco Jansen, Shorter and around the hips, nudged away towards short mid-wicket. |
| 48.3 : Ben Stokes to Marco Jansen, Stokes pitches it up, full and outside off, Jansen offers no shot to it. |
| 48.4 : Ben Stokes to Marco Jansen, OUT! TIMBER! A gem of a delivery from Ben Stokes and Marco Jansen is beaten all ends up. This is full and around off, nipping in a long way off the deck. Jansen just looks to defend it off the front foot but leaves a huge gap between bat and pad. The ball goes between that gap and knocks over the leg stump. England have the breakthrough they needed and that will be Tea on Day 4. |
| ... Day 4, Session 3 ... |
| A session that truly belonged to England. They have managed to get the ball moving in the post-Lunch session and that derailed the South African innings. It was Stuart Broad and James Anderson who worked in tandem in the first half of the Lunch session. They picked up three wickets in total to get rid of the top order, who seemed settled at the crease. Then Ollie Robinson came into the attack and took two wickets in quick succession to put his side back on top. Later, it was a limping Ben St |
| We are back for the final session. England players take the field. Followed by Kyle Verreynne and Kagiso Rabada, the new batter who walk in for South Africa. It will be Ben Stokes to complete his over. |
| 48.5 : Ben Stokes to Kagiso Rabada, This is floated up on a length, well outside off, Kagiso Rabada has a little dab at it but misses. |
| Is it out? The umpire takes it upstairs to confirm. The soft signal is OUT! The replays later confirm that it is not a bump ball and the big screen shows out. |
| 48.6 : Keshav Maharaj is the new batter in. Also, it will be James Anderson to steam in from the other end. |
| 49.1 : James Anderson to Kyle Verreynne, On a length and angling into middle, Kyle Verreynne blocks it out off the front foot. |
| 49.2 : James Anderson to Kyle Verreynne, Fuller and around off, Kyle Verreynne opens the face of the bat and drives it behind point for a single. |
| 49.3 : James Anderson to Keshav Maharaj, This is full and angling into the pads by James Anderson. Keshav Maharaj falls over as he looks to flick it away leg side but misses and gets hit on the pads. |
| 49.4 : James Anderson to Keshav Maharaj, Around off, stroked away towards cover for a single. |
| 49.5 : James Anderson to Kyle Verreynne, Around the top of off, Kyle Verreynne solidly keeps it out. |
| 49.6 : James Anderson to Kyle Verreynne, Length, close to the off stump, kept out by Verreynne. |
| 50.1 : Ben Stokes to Keshav Maharaj, Good length, around the top of off, Keshav Maharaj gets behind the line of the ball to block. |
| 50.2 : Ben Stokes to Keshav Maharaj, FOUR! Driven and into the gap. Full and wide, Keshav Maharaj drives it through the vacant wide mid off region for a much-needed boundary. |
| 50.3 : Ben Stokes to Keshav Maharaj, Nagging length, around off and nipping away, Maharaj plays inside the line of the ball. |
| 50.4 : Ben Stokes to Keshav Maharaj, Leg bye! Fuller and sliding onto the pads, Keshav Maharaj looks to flick but misses. The ball goes off the pads towards short fine leg and they get a leg bye. |
| 50.5 : Ben Stokes to Kyle Verreynne, Around the top of off, nipping away, Verreynne plays it with soft hands and towards backward point. |
| 50.6 : Ben Stokes to Kyle Verreynne, Good length, over off, Verreynne defends it back onto the deck. |
| 51.1 : James Anderson to Keshav Maharaj, Length ball, in that channel around off and nipping away. Keshav Maharaj gets beaten past the outside edge. |
| 51.2 : James Anderson to Keshav Maharaj, Fuller and on off stump, Maharaj manages to keep it out on the off side. |
| 51.3 : James Anderson to Keshav Maharaj, This is pitched up around off, Keshav Maharaj eases it towards cover. |
| 51.4 : James Anderson to Keshav Maharaj, Shorter and over leg stump, Keshav Maharaj pulls it behind square on the leg side for a run. |
| 51.5 : James Anderson to Kyle Verreynne, Anderson angles this one into middle stump and the ball straightens after pitching, Verreynne does well to block it. |
| 51.6 : James Anderson to Kyle Verreynne, Good length, on the stumps and solidly defended out by Verreynne. |
| 52.1 : Ben Stokes to Keshav Maharaj, Stokes starts with an inswinger, full and into off. Maharaj hangs back and gets an inside edge on his pads. |
| 52.2 : Ben Stokes to Keshav Maharaj, FOUR! Bonus runs for South Africa. It is a short ball, sliding down leg. Maharaj glances it down to fine leg for four. The lead moves to 118 runs now. |
| 52.3 : Ben Stokes to Keshav Maharaj, Stokes spills it down leg yet again, Far enough for Maharaj though. Ben Foakes dives low to his left to make a sharp stop. |
| 52.4 : Ben Stokes to Keshav Maharaj, Very full, a low full toss and outside off, this is played off the inner half of the bat through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. |
| 52.5 : Ben Stokes to Keshav Maharaj, Length ball, angling down the leg side, Maharaj leaves it alone. |
| 52.6 : Ben Stokes to Keshav Maharaj, Fuller and angling into middle, Maharaj blocks it out. |
| 53.1 : Stuart Broad to Kyle Verreynne, Broad starts the new spell with a good-length ball outside off. Verreynne taps it in front of cover and picks up a single. |
| 53.2 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, Fullish delivery, outside off, Keshav Maharaj looks to have a poke at it but pulls out at the last moment. |
| 53.3 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, Around the hips, Keshav Maharaj tucks it away fine and the batters race back for the third with ease. |
| 53.4 : Stuart Broad to Kyle Verreynne, Beaten! Nagging length, close to the off pole and Verreynne looks to drive at it. The ball whizzes past the outside edge. |
| 53.5 : Stuart Broad to Kyle Verreynne, Length ball, on middle, Verreynne looks to work it leg side but gets a leading edge towards cover-point. |
| 53.6 : Stuart Broad to Kyle Verreynne, Length again, on the pads, worked away towards mid-wicket. |
| 54.1 : James Anderson to Keshav Maharaj, Around the top of off, this is pulled away down to fine leg for a single. |
| 54.2 : James Anderson to Kyle Verreynne, Shorter and around the hips, tucked away towards short fine leg for one more. |
| 54.3 : James Anderson to Keshav Maharaj, Fuller and well outside off, left alone. |
| 54.4 : James Anderson to Keshav Maharaj, Fullish delivery, angling in from outside off and leaving the batter. Keshav Maharaj plays inside the line of the ball. |
| 54.5 : James Anderson to Keshav Maharaj, Around off, pushed away towards the cover region. |
| 54.6 : James Anderson to Keshav Maharaj, Around the top of off, edged away down to third man for a couple of runs. |
| Ben Stokes to Kagiso Rabada, OUT! CAUGHT! Ben Stokes with the double strike and South Africa lose their eighth wicket now. This is full, from around the wicket and angling in from around off. Kagiso Rabada sticks out his bat as he looks to defend but the outside edge is found. Harry Brook at second slip moves to his right and pouches it safely. The umpires go upstairs to check for a bump catch but it is clearly off the edge and the English skipper has done the trick for his team yeat a |
| 55.1 : Stuart Broad to Kyle Verreynne, Broad goes short, outside off. Kyle Verreynne looks to cut it away but gets beaten by pace here. |
| 55.2 : Stuart Broad to Kyle Verreynne, Much fuller, on off. Kyle Verreynne dabs it to covers and crosses for a quick single. |
| 55.3 : Stuart Broad to Keshav Maharaj, OUT! TIMBER! Stuart Broad breaks this doughty stand. It is a length ball, it lands outside off and nips in off the deck. Keshav Maharaj stays behind and looks to defend it out but misses. The ball goes through and hits the top of middle. South Africa lose their ninth wicket. |
| Anrich Nortje is the last man in. |
| 55.4 : Stuart Broad to Anrich Nortje, The crowd gets into the act now! It is fuller, outside off, shaping away. Anrich Nortje lets it be. |
| 55.5 : Stuart Broad to Anrich Nortje, Two dots in a row! Full length, outside off. Nortje plays it late and guides it towards gully. |
| 55.6 : Stuart Broad to Anrich Nortje, Three dots to end the over! A successful over from Broad comes to an end. It is a length ball, outside off. Anrich Nortje looks to block it away but gets beaten past the outside edge. |
| 56.1 : James Anderson to Kyle Verreynne, Length ball, attacking the stumps. Kyle Verreynne blocks it out watchfully. |
| 56.2 : James Anderson to Kyle Verreynne, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! James Anderson takes his second wicket. It is a short ball, on off. Kyle Verreynne stands tall and throws his blade at it. The ball takes the outside edge and lobs towards short mid on. James Anderson goes to his right and takes a dolly. South Africa have been bundled out for 169 runs here. |
| That's it then, South Africa after a very good opening stand have been bundled out for 169 runs! The target for England is simple, 130 runs to win and seal the series 2-1! It has been yet another engrossing day of Test cricket so far. Captivating from start to finish but England are in the driver's seat now and they will fancy their chances of winning the game. |
| South Africa were brilliant with the ball early on Day 4 and then Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee did well to see off the new ball and put on a 58-run opening stand. Erwee fell and then Elgar misses out on a review where he was Not Out and that cost them dearly. The middle order provided little to no resistance and the inexperience has shown here. South Africa will now look to come out all guns blazing with the ball and try to get early wickets in order to make a match of it. |
| England were in trouble in the opening session on Day 4 as their tailenders were bundled out cheaply and their pacers couldn't take early wickets either. But they have made a roaring comeback here and have done brilliantly to keep the Proteas lead down to just 129 runs. The skipper, Ben Stokes led from the front and picked up 3 wickets, so did Stuart Broad. James Anderson and Ollie Robinson too chipped in with a couple of wickets and now England is in pole position to seal this series. Join |
| ... FOURTH INNINGS ... |
| We are back1 |
| 0.6 : Marco Jansen to bowl from the other end. |
| 1.1 : Is that a run out? The umpire takes it upstairs. The replays confirm that Alex Lees had his bat grounded when the bails were off. The big screen shows NOT OUT. |
| 5.2 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, This is angled into the pads. Lees nurdles it to mid-wicket. |
| 5.3 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Fuller, on off, blocked back to the bowler. |
| 5.4 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Good length, around off. Lees pushes it to covers with soft hands. |
| 5.5 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, A quick bouncer, on middle. Lees sways away from the line. Kyle Verreynne leaps behind the sticks and grabs it one hand over his head. |
| 5.6 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Much fuller, in the channel. Lees presses forward and deals with it. |
| 6.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Crawley looks to flick it to the leg side but gets it through covers off the leading edge for one. |
| 6.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, This one nips back in from outside off. Lees gets pinged on his thigh pads. |
| 6.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Angled in on a length, into the off stump. Lees hangs back and blocks it to the off side. |
| 6.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Rabada serves it into the pads, Lees misses his defence and takes a hit on his pads. |
| 6.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Outside off, left alone. |
| 6.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Length and at the stumps. Lees blocks it out. |
| 0.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, EDGED AND DROPPED! Kagiso Rabada starts off with a length ball, in that channel around off. Alex Lees pushes at it and gets a thick outside edge. Marco Jansen at fourth slip puts it down and the ball runs away towards third man. They come back for the third. |
| 0.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Length, around off, Zak Crawley lets it through to the keeper. |
| 0.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, On the pads, flicked away onto the leg side. |
| 0.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Good length, close to the off pole, Zak Crawley has a dab at it but gets beaten past the outside edge. |
| 0.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Length again from Rabada, Crawley stands tall and drives it past the man at point for three runs. |
| 0.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Around the pads, clipped away towards mid-wicket. |
| 1.1 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Nicely driven! This is pitched up on off stump, Zak Crawley drives it straight back past the bowler and picks up a boundary. |
| 1.2 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, NOT OUT! A tight single but Alex Lees survives. Length ball, on the pads, Zak Crawley drops it down towards short leg and sets off for the quick single. The fielder at square leg runs in and throws it back onto the stumps at the striker's end. The decision is sent upstairs and we can see that the stretch has saved Lees. |
| 1.3 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Fuller and on off stump, defended back towards the bowler. |
| 1.4 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, There is an appeal for a catch but the umpire remains unmoved. Dean Elgar does go upstairs for the review. This is on a good length from Marco Jansen and angling into middle stump. Alex Lees looks to work it away but misses. The ball goes off the thigh pads and it is caught in the slip cordon. The replays show that there is no bat on it and Lees survives yet again. |
| 1.5 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, FOUR! Firmly driven! Overpitched on middle, Alex Lees leans in and drives it straight back past the bowler for a boundary. |
| 1.6 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Around the hips, tucked away towards mid-wicket for a single. |
| 7.1 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, This one lands on a length, around off. It nips back in off the deck. Zak Crawley gets pinged high on his thigh pads. |
| 7.2 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, NO BALL! A short ball, on off. Zak Crawley comes down the track a touch and pushes it to mid off. They take one. The umpire signals a no ball for overstepping. |
| Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Fuller, on off, blocked back to the bowler. |
| 2.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Beaten! Rabada comes from around the wicket and angles it in from around off. The ball straightens off the deck and beats then outside edge. |
| 2.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Angling into the pads, flicked away through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 2.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Easily done! Shorter and there's width on offer, Zak Crawley stands tall and strokes it away through cover-point for a boundary. |
| 2.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Pitched up around middle and leg, gloriously driven by Crawley and straight down the ground for another boundary. |
| 2.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Good length, around off, this is tapped away towards cover-point for a run. |
| 2.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Around off, played away onto the off side for a single. |
| 3.1 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Fuller and around off, defended out towards cover. |
| 3.2 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Length, around off, defended out. |
| 3.3 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Full length, on off. Lees gets under it and lofts it over mid off. The batters take two. |
| Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, A short ball, on off. It flies off the deck. Alex Lees hangs back and looks to defend it with full face of the blade. The ball though chips in front of him off the shoulder of the blade. No trouble here. |
| 3.4 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Just over the fielder! Alex Lees is living dangerously. It is a short ball, wide outside off. Lees looks to pull it away. It takes the outside edge and lobs over mid on. Keshav Maharaj back-pedals, stretches his left arm out but the ball lands wider. They take one. |
| 3.5 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, This one is flicked to mid-wicket for a single. |
| 3.6 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Play and a miss! good length, around the top of off, Alex Lees looks to play at it but is well beaten. |
| 4.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Good length, well outside off, driven on the up and through covers for a single. |
| 4.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Length ball, around off, Lees hangs back and pushes it out onto the off side for a single. |
| 4.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Good length, angling in from around off, Zak Crawley gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 4.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Good length again, over middle, Crawley defends it back onto the deck. |
| 4.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Fullish delivery, outside off, driven through covers for a single. |
| 7.4 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, On off, pushed out to safety. |
| 7.5 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, It is fuller and on middle and leg, Lees misses his flick and it rolls out off his pads. |
| 4.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Rabada goes shorter and bowls it outside off, Alex Lees lets it through to the keeper. |
| Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Back of a length, on the bodyline. Lees flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 8.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, It is full, angled into middle. Lees blocks it past the bowler with a straight bat. |
| 8.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, LEG BYE! This one comes into the batter from outside off. Lees gets hit high on his pads. They collect a leg bye. |
| 5.1 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, Length ball, on the pads. Zak Crawley flicks it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 8.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, A length ball, at the stumps. Crawley blocks it to the leg side off the inner half. |
| 8.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Back of a length, around off. Crawley comes down the track and pulls it hard to square leg only to find the fielder. |
| 8.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, It is full, on middle and leg. Zak Crawley comes down the track and looks to flick it away. It rolls to the off side off his pads. |
| 8.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, A great over by Kagiso Rabada comes to an end. It is a short ball, outside off. Zak Crawley stands tall and looks to pull it away but only connects with thin air. |
| 9.1 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, Good length, on fifth stump. Lees hangs back and punches it through point. They take two runs. |
| 9.2 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, Length, around off. Lees gets it back to the bowler. |
| 9.3 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, FOUR! Nicely played! It is fuller, outside off. Lees gets it past the man at gully off the outer half. It races away to the boundary ropes. |
| 9.4 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, Length ball, on off. Lees blocks it to mid off with full face. |
| 9.5 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, Fuller in length, on off. Lees blocks it to point on the front foot. |
| 9.6 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, A single to end the over! Alex Lees pushes this length ball to mid off for a quick single. |
| 10.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, DROPPED! Marco Jansen drops Alex Lees for the second time off Rabada's bowling. Good length, angling into the body, Lees gets an inside edge off the pads and towards gully. Jansen dives to his left and sticks out a left hand but can't grab on. |
| 10.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, On a hard length and around middle, Lees gets another inside edge onto the body. |
| 10.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, A touch fuller and on off stump, kept out by Lees. |
| 10.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Rabada steams in and serves it on a hard length on middle, Alex Lees gets hurried on and gets hit on the body. |
| 10.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Rabada is really probing away but without much success. Shorter and angled into the body, Lees gets hurried on and gets hit on the gloves this time. |
| 10.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Good length, over off, blocked onto the off side for a quick single. |
| 11.1 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, FOUR LEG BYES! Anrich Nortje errs in line and bolws it down the leg side. Alex Lees looks to tickle it fine but the ball goes off his pads and past the diving keeper for a boundary. 50 is up for England. |
| 11.2 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, Good length, around off, Lees hangs back and eases it past point for a couple of runs. |
| 11.3 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, Shorter and around the body, edged down towards gully for a single. 75 more needed now for England to win. |
| 11.4 : Anrich Nortje to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Slapped away! Length ball, outside off, Zak Crawley thumps it past short extra cover for a boundary. |
| 11.5 : Anrich Nortje to Zak Crawley, Good length, angling into the off pole, Zak Crawley solidly keeps it out. |
| 11.6 : Anrich Nortje to Zak Crawley, Fullish delivery around off, Zak Crawley looks for the expansive drive but gets an inside edge past the stumps. The ball goes towards fine leg and they get a single. |
| Drinks break! This has been a solid start by the English openers. They started scoring briskly but got more defensive as the game progressed. Both the batters are doing well to keep the runs ticking. South Africa need a miracle to get them back in the game. A wicket or two would certainly get some shift in the momentum. An enticing passage awaits. Is there any twist in the tale? |
| 12.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Shorter and down leg, Zak Crawley looks to pull but mistimes it to the left of the keeper. |
| 12.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Short again and around the hips, easily pulled away by Zak Crawley into the backward square leg fence for a boundary. |
| 12.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Rabada keeps it short and Crawley gets it down to fine leg for one. |
| 12.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Good length, close to the off pole and left alone by Lees. |
| 12.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Back of a length and on off stump, punched away towards the cover region. |
| 12.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Good length, angling in from around off. Alex Lees gets beaten on the inside edge as he looks to keep it out. |
| 13.1 : Anrich Nortje to Zak Crawley, NO BALL AND FOUR! Good length, outside off, Zak Crawley gets on the back foot and strokes it away through the point region for a boundary. England are inching closer to victory here. |
| Anrich Nortje to Zak Crawley, Length ball, angling in from around off, Crawley looks to drive but misses. |
| 13.2 : Anrich Nortje to Zak Crawley, Pitched up, around off, driven past wide mid off for a single. |
| 13.3 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, Fuller length, in that channel around off and at 145 clicks, left alone. |
| 13.4 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, Length ball, pushed outside off by Nortje, the keeper does well to dive to his left and collect the ball. |
| 13.5 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, Good length, around off, left alone by the batter. |
| 13.6 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, Pitches it up now, around off, Alex Lees swings at it but does not connect. |
| 14.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Good length, around off and angling in, Crawley gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 14.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, NO BALL AND FOUR! Edged away! Length ball, around off, Rabada oversteps yet again. Zak Crawley plays at it with soft hands and edges it down past the slip cordon for a boundary. |
| Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Good length, around off, played away towards backward point. |
| 14.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, FOUR! England seem to be in a hurry now. Rabada pitches it up, around off, Zak Crawley drives through the line and past mid off for a boundary. |
| 14.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, FOUR! And again! Rabada strays onto the pads and this is easily clipped away by Zak Crawley into the square leg fence for a boundary. Crawley brings up a well-compiled 50! |
| 14.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Back of a length and around off, eased off the back foot towards cover. |
| 14.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Around middle, flicked away down to fine leg for a single. |
| 15.1 : Anrich Nortje to Zak Crawley, A length ball,on off, blocked out. |
| 15.2 : Anrich Nortje to Zak Crawley, DROPPED! A tough chance nonetheless. It is full, on middle and leg. Zak Crawley whips it to mid-wicket. It goes to Ryan Rickelton in a flash, who tries to gather it but it spills out. They take one. |
| 15.3 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, Length ball, on off, defended to covers. |
| 15.4 : Anrich Nortje to Alex Lees, A single now as this is flicked through mid-wicket. |
| 15.5 : Anrich Nortje to Zak Crawley, FOUR! EDGY! A fortunate boundary this time. A length ball, around off. Zak Crawley gets a thick outside edge. It goes through the gap between the wicket-keeper and the man at first slip. It races away to the third man fence. |
| 15.6 : Anrich Nortje to Zak Crawley, Fuller in length, on off. Zak Crawley eases it to the mid off. |
| 16.1 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Fuller, on off. Lees tucks it to mid on. |
| 16.2 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, A single now as this length delivery is pushed into covers. |
| 16.3 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, Fuller, at the stumps. Crawley blocks it to point. |
| 16.4 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, Back of a length, on middle and leg. Zak Crawley pulls it to deep square leg for one. |
| 16.5 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Good length, outside off. Lees pushes it to covers. |
| 16.6 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, FOUR! England are fighting with time here to end the game before any evidence of bad light. Alex Lees is on a mission to end things in a hurry. It is full, wide outside off. Lees reaches out and drives it through covers for a boundary. Well, just as I wirte it. The umpires have stopped play due to BAD LIGHT! |
| That's it then! The umpires have decided that the light is not good enough for the play to continue and Stumps have been called. With just 33 runs required for England to seal the series, we will go into the fifth day. This has been an utterly dominating display by the English openers and they have made sure that their team does not suffer any sort of mishaps late in the day. Zak Crawley and Alex Lees have looked brilliant from ball one and barring a couple of chances early in the innings, ha |
| South Africa will be really disappointed with how Day 4 started and how it has eventually ended. They looked good in the first session but that was it. The next two sessions were difficult for them and they have let the game slip with both bat and ball. Their inexperienced middle order never looked up for the task and were undone by simple yet effective bowling by the English pacers. Onto the bowling then and Kagiso Rabada's poor form continued as he was all over the place. Rabada did create a |
| Right then, the match is getting to its final stage and so is the long Test series. We have had just a couple of days of cricketing action but it has been thoroughly entertaining. The match did swing both ways before England grabbed the bull by its horns and have more or less sealed the game. They require 33 more runs to win and they will look to finish off proceedings early on Day 5. Day 5 action will begin at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT) but you can join us sooner for the build-up. Cheers! |
| ... Day 5, Session 1 ... |
| South Africa dominated the morning session on Day 4 both with bat and ball and the game was well poised at that moment. The English seamers remained patient and cashed-in in the post-Lunch session when there was some movement on offer. The Proteas ended up setting up a target of just 130 runs and the England openers rose to the occasion. Zak Crawley smacked his first Test fifty of this summer for England, a much-needed knock for him after facing a lot of criticism . They are coming into Day |
| Hello and a warm welcome to all! It now time for Day 5 of the third and the final Test match between England and South Africa. We only got 3 days of play as Day 1 got washed out due to rain and Day 2 was called off to pay respect to the sad demise of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. So, out of the 9 sessions in hand, it looks like we will only require 7 sessions to get a result on our hands. Throughout this Test series we have never played for whole 5 days.  |
| We are ready for the start of play on Day 5! The umpires are already out in the middle and so are the players of South Africa. Zak Crawley and Alex Lees are the overnight batters for England. It will be Kagiso Rabada to start off proceedings with the ball this morning. Let's play... |
| 17.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Run straightaway for England and Zak Crawley. It is full, straying on the pads. Zak Crawley flicks it to fine leg and crosses for one. |
| 17.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Kagiso Rabada comes 'round the wicket. Fuller and outside off. Lees leans in and drives it through covers. The batters pick two comfortably. |
| 17.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Length ball, around off. Zak Crawley drives it into covers for two runs now. |
| 17.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Good length, outside off. Crawley looks to chase it but misses. |
| 17.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Fuller, on off. Zak Crawley defends it out solidly. |
| 18.1 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, This one is angled into the pads. Lees misses his flick and gets rapped high on his pads. |
| 17.6 : Marco Jansen (5-0-24-0) to operate from the other end. |
| 18.2 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, FOUR! Alex Lees is riding on his luck this morning. It is a length ball, outside off, shaping away. Lees gets a thick outside edge on it. It flies over Keegan Petersen at the third slip, although he is a bit late in picking up the ball. It flies over him and races away to the third man fence. |
| 17.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, EDGED BUT DROPPED! It is a length ball, outside off, shaping away a touch. Lees looks to hit it through the line but only finds a thick outside edge. Kyle Verreynne dives to his left behind the sticks but the ball sneaks through his gloves and the batters cross for a single. This is the second time Alex Lees has been dropped in this innings. |
| Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Fuller, down leg. Lees looks to chase it but misses. |
| 18.4 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, Outside off, left alone. |
| 18.5 : Marco Jansen to Alex Lees, LEG BYE! It is full, drifting down leg. Lees looks to flick it away but misses. It goes down to third man off his pads. They cross for a leg bye. |
| 18.6 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, Length and outside off. Crawley lets it go. |
| 19.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, This is angled into off. Lees gets an inside edge on his pads. |
| 19.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Good length, on off. Lees stays back and bunts it out to safety. |
| 19.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, Lees drives this full delivery to backward point as it goes off the outer half. |
| 19.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, A short ball this time, outside off, coming in with the angle. Kyle Verreynne gathers it near his chest. |
| 19.5 : Ollie Pope is the new man in. |
| Kagiso Rabada to Alex Lees, OUT! An appeal for lbw but turned down! It is a length ball, pitching around off and coming in with the angle. Lees looks to defend it out but gets rapped on his pads. Rabada appeals but the umpire is unmoved. It looks like it would be missing the wickets due to the bounce. Dean Elgar though takes the review as there is not much left in the game here. It is concluded that there is no bat involved. The Ball Tracking though shows three reds and Kagiso Rabada fin |
| 19.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, This is on a length, tailing into Pope. He comes down the track and flicks it to square leg to get off the mark here. |
| 20.1 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Fuller length, outside off. Ollie Pope lets that one go through to the keeper. |
| 20.2 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Fuller length, outside off. Ollie Pope looks to play it towards cover but gets an inside edge and the ball goes towards square leg for a couple. |
| 20.3 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, On a good length, on off. Ollie Pope blocks off the front foot. |
| 20.4 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Fuller length, outside off. Ollie Pope pushes it towards cover. |
| 20.5 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Short of length, around middle stump. Ollie Pope pulls it towards the square leg for a boundary. |
| 20.6 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Fuller length, around middle and leg. Ollie Pope pushes it towards short square leg. |
| 21.1 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, A length ball, outside off, gets some bounce off the deck. Zak Crawley looks to chase it but decides against it later. |
| 21.2 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, NO BALL! Zak Crawley tries something new! That was full, on off. Zak Crawley tries to switch hits it over the slips but gets an upper edge and the ball hits his chin. Hopefully, he is ok. |
| 21.3 : Kagiso Rabada to Ollie Pope, Back of a length, on off. Pope hangs back and pulls it to deep square leg. The fielder in the deep sprints to his left and makes an exceptional stop. The batters take three. |
| 21.4 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, A length ball, on off, stump. Zak Crawley blocks it with full face. |
| 21.5 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Rabada attacking the stumps yet again. Crawley is solid in his defence. |
| 21.6 : Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, NO BALL AND FOUR! Zak Crawley is on fire. Incredible shot. It is a length ball, outside off. Zak Crawley crunches it through cover-point. It races away to the boundary. The umpire later signals a no ball as the bowler oversteps this time. |
| Kagiso Rabada to Zak Crawley, Good length, in the channel. Zak Crawley leaves it alone. |
| 22.1 : Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, NO BALL! Zak Crawley tries something unorthodox! That was full, around off. Zak Crawley looks to switch hit it over slips but misses it and the ball hits his chin. |
| Marco Jansen to Ollie Pope, Fuller, on middle and leg. Ollie Pope pushes it towards the square leg for a run. |
| Ollie Pope gets struck on the helmet and out comes the physio for a mandatory concussion check. Pope seems fine though which is a good thing. All is good now and the game can continue. |
| 22.2 : Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, Fuller length, down the leg. Zak Crawley lets that one go through to the keeper. |
| 22.3 : It was a bit of a topsy-turvy game with pacers from both teams dominating but it has been the batting from England that has made a bigger difference. It wasn't particularly impressive apart from Ollie Pope in the first innings but during the chase, both openers were able to just play their shots and get their team ahead in the game. Zak Crawley was mighty impressive as he scored a brilliant half-century and even though Alex Lees edged a few, he rode his luck and gave ample support to Crawley |
| South Africa were impressive in the white-ball phase of this tour and they continued that momentum as they won the first Test of this series with a big margin as well. It all went downhill in the second Test and the changes made for the final Test haven't proved to be effective at all. Their batting was a mess in the first innings and their bowlers didn't start off well either. Marco Jansen though looked good with the ball and gave them renewed hope in the first innings. The visitors did manag |
| What a grandstand finish we have had to a grandstand Test series! This wasn't what one would call a classic Test series but within less than 9 complete days of play, we have had results in all three games of the series. As expected it hasn't taken much time for the English batters to notch up the remaining 33 runs and they have sealed a memorable Test series win as they clinch the series 2-1. It has been a brilliant English summer from the point of view of Test cricket and they have finished o |
| Earlier in the game, Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bowl first but we did not have any cricketing action on the first couple of days of the Test match. Once play did resume on the morning of Day 3, Ollie Robinson ripped through the South African batting order as he picked up a five-wicket haul and Stuart Broad picked up four wickets as well. The South African batting order was in disarray as one of their frontline bowlers, Marco Jansen top-scored with 30 runs. The pitch had enough in i |
| The presentation ceremony... |
| As the English cricketing summer comes to an end, Jonny Bairstow has been declared as the 'PLAYER OF THE TEST SUMMER.' |
| Ollie Robinson (7 for 89) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his exceptional spell with the ball. He says that it has been a really enjoyable comeback for him and the team over the summer. Adds that he doesn't feel like he is an finished article by any means, he still has a long way to go and will keep improving. Says they are thriving under the leadership of Stokes and it feels really nice. Ends by saying he is really happy for his contribution. |
| Marco Jansen to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Zak Crawley gets the winning runs here. It is a length ball, outside off. Zak Crawley hangs back and punches it through covers. It races away to the fence and England win by 9 wickets. |
| Kagiso Rabada is the SOUTH AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE SERIES for picking up 14 wickets in the series, including a match-winning spell at Lord's. He says that they won the toss at Lord's and the toss proved to be crucial in all three games. Further, says that they are a young side including himself and will learn a lot of things and take this as a lesson. Adds that was he injured during a T20 match earlier in the series but recovered well and played the Test series. Further, says that leading the bo |
| Dean Elgar, the skipper of South Africa is down for a chat. He says that it hasn't been great for him in an international game in Oval. Informs that first innings runs are very important in England and they failed to get those. Mentions they just tried to utilize the bench strength. Adds they were put in very tough conditions in a tough match but they will surely take a lot of learnings from it. Mentions if you apply yourself as a batter, it would get easy for sure but it also relies on the ex |
| English skipper, Ben Stokes is the ENGLISH PLAYER OF THE SERIES for his brilliant all-round show. He says that it has been a great series where they didn't have any particular single individual performing but it was a team performance. Further says that the conditions they found out on Day 1 after the toss and they were better on the 3rd day and toss plays a major role. Adds that when you have got bowlers like James Anderson and Stuart Broad it's great that they can have small spells and |
| That's it then from the series as Ben Stokes is presented with the series trophy and the entire England squad joins him for a team photograph. It is also the end of the English summer as well as far as international cricket is concerned. Both teams now move on to new ventures before heading into the T20 World Cup a month or so later. England travel to Pakistan to play a 7-match T20I series starting the 20th of September. As for the Proteas, they will head home and then to India for a white-bal |
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