ENG v SA, 3rd Test Day 4 Review: South Africa stutter, England on the verge after Stokes twin strikes

England made a conservative declaration after getting 313 for 8, setting South Africa a target of 492. Root has given his bowlers four sessions, weather permitting, to go 2-1 ahead in the series. They started the task in hand wonderfully well, claiming as many as four wickets in the final session on Day 4.

Fifties for debutant Westley, Root

England were steady in the morning session, collecting just 79 runs in 28.5 overs of play. Overnight batsmen, Jennings and Westley – both short on experience and desperate to impress, had their work cut out: bat cautiously against the likes of Morkel and Rabada in overcast conditions. Jennings added 14 more before he failed to drop his hands on an attempted bouncer by Rabada which was taken comfortably by Morris at gully. Jennings’ position in the side has come under jeopardy since he hasn’t posted a single score of fifty plus this summer in six innings.

Westley was sedate in approach but Root’s brisk innings gave him some breathing space. He raised his half-century at the brink of lunch as England finished the session off with a sizeable lead of 331. The scoring rate improved in the second session as the hosts went on to gather 160 runs in almost 30 overs of play. Westley and Root fell soon after completing their fifties. Malan frittered another opportunity at the Test level as he was trapped in front for 10 by Morris. Due to his stomach problem, Philander could deliver just 15 overs which were spread across his toilet breaks. He went wicketless and gave away 54 runs.

Stokes-Bairstow up the anti

It was then left to Stokes and Bairstow to make quick runs for their side before Root could seek a declaration for the first time in his captaincy stint. The duo added 49 runs in 46 balls. While Stokes perished for 31, Bairstow recorded a frill-free half century as South Africa meandered through towards the end of Day 4 as if they were just waiting for the declaration to come. 3 overs from Dean Elgar were less fruitful as he was taken to the cleaners by the English batsmen as 26 runs came from his slow left-arm spinners.

Bairstow’s wicket just a solitary delivery prior to the tea break prompted Root to declare. The wicket-keeper batsman made a breezy 58-ball 63 while adding a spry 48 off 40 alongside debutant Roland-Jones, who did no harm to his reputation of being a useful batsman by ending on 23 not out off 19 balls.

Twin failures for Kuhn and Amla

The Proteas were positive in their reply post tea, adding 21 after just 5 overs before Heino Kuhn was cleaned up by Broad for 11, four less than his tally in the first innings. In 6 innings so far, Kuhn has a best score of just 34 and will be lucky to start the Manchester Test.

In walked Hashim Amla, a modern-day colossus, who lit The Oval up with a glittering 311* five years ago. The veteran was probed by the new ball bowlers Anderson and Broad. But after 11 overs in succession with the new cherry, Root called upon the wrecker-in-chief of the first innings: Roland-James. He snapped Amla for the second time in the game when he got his mind wandering upon weather to play it or leave. Eventually, the ball hit the toe of the bat which was taken sharply by skipper Root.

Stokes consecutive strikes slides visitors

After Rolan-Jones’ strike, it was Stokes’ turn to run havoc. His twin strikes in the very next over meant that the visitors slid from 47 for 1 to 52 for 4 in a space of just 8 balls. He first rattled the stumps of de Kock and then trapped du Plessis in front to put South Africa into the doldrums. Elgar, batting solidly at the other end, was unflustered with the fall of wickets. He picked two boundaries in the next over and later recorded his second fifty of the tour off 77 balls. He was lucky to get a reprieve early in his innings when Jennings spilled a tough chance in the 5th over when the opener was on 9.

Bavuma, who scored a gritty half-century in the first innings, gave good company to Elgar. A 64-run stand between the pair headed the visitors to safety before the stumps were drawn after an extended final session which lasted for 38 overs. Elgar remained unbeaten on 72 with the help of 11 boundaries while Bavuma was chary in his approach as he ended being not out for 16. Both have added 65 runs for the 5th wicket but their job will be to bat at least till lunch tomorrow morning.

England are firm favorites to force a win on Day 5. South Africa have already lost their best batters: Amla and du Plessis hence, a draw will be tough to snatch.

Brief Scores

England – 353 & 313 for 8 dec (Jonny Bairstow 63, Tom Westley 59, Keshav Maharaj 3/50)

South Africa – 175 & 117 for 4 (Dean Elgar 72*, Ben Stokes 2/29, Roland-Jones 1/20)