England vs South Africa LIVE: Cricket score and third Test result as England seal series victory
England notched the 33 runs they needed to win the game at The Oval and secure a 2-1 series victory over the Proteas
England polished off the remaining runs they needed to beat South Africa by nine wickets in the third Test at the Oval on Monday morning to secure a 2-1 series victory.
Openers Zak Crawley and Alex Lees were still at the crease as the hosts began the day requiring just 33 runs for victory after bad light stopped play on Sunday evening.
Lees was dropped by Proteas wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne from the third ball of the morning and then survived another scare when a thick edge flew over Keegan Petersen at third slip to go for four but the Proteas made a breakthrough on the penultimate delivery of the third over of the day, with Lees’ fortune finally running out as a review showed he had been trapped lbw by Kagiso Rabada.
The Durham batter was out for 39 with England 22 runs from clinching the series but Ollie Pope joined Crawley at the crease to quickly knock them off, as the under-fire opener eased the pressure on himself somewhat by ending unbeaten on 69 and cap a remarkable summer for England’s Test team.
Follow reaction to the third Test below:
South Africa 76-7 (26), Maharaj 1, Jansen 21, Robinson 4-25 (9)
Ollie Robinson is given the nod from the pavilion end and Marco Jansen drives him away for three runs to continue his impressive innings.
Keshav Maharaj is the new batter and gets solidly in behind his first ball before nicking a single to Stuart Broad at mid-on.
Three runs off the over.
Wicket! Zondo 23 (57) c. Lees b. Broad, South Africa 72-7 (25)
Broad gets him this time! The experienced paceman bangs the last ball of the over into the wicket and forces Khaya Zondo is pinned on the back foot.
He doesn’t get on top of the bounces and the ball catches a thick edge before looping up the simplest of catches for Alex Lees at backward point.
South Africa 72-6 (24.5), Zondo 23, Jansen 18, Broad 1-23 (6.5)
After his succesful review, Zondo works Broad into the offside for a couple then blocks out the next couple of balls solidly.
Review! Broad thinks he’s got Zondo
The second delivery after lunch is pushed full and straight but Stuart Broad and Khaya Zondo misses it. The ball thuds into the pads and England erupt in an appeal for LBW.
Zondo is given out on the field but reviews and ball-tracking shows that it’s sneaking down the leg-side.
Not out! Zondo survives as the decision is overturned.
South Africa 70-6 (24.1), Zondo 21, Jansen 18, Broad 1-21 (6.1)
It isn’t Ollie Robinson but Stuart Broad who sends down the first ball after lunch. He angles it in towards middle and leg stump and Marco Jansen flicks him away to fine-leg for one.
Afternoon sesssion: South Africa 69-6
The players make their way out for the afternoon session. Who will be given the first over? Jack Leach was bowling before lunch but you’d think one of the seamers will take this first over.
Your money would be on Ollie Robinson too.
Lunch: South Africa 69-6
How will South Africa come out after lunch? This is only a three day test match so the longer they can stay out there in this first innings the better their chances of winning or drawing the match.
But, runs are also important. Dean Elgar will want to get up to 120, 150 and hope his bowlers can target England’s shaky batting line-up.
Which leaves the question, do the hang around and bat time or have a go and counter-attack?
Lunch: South Africa 69-6
A very good morning for England.
Lunch: South Africa 69-6 (24)
The start of day 3 was preceded by a minute’s silence to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II before a historic rendition of the update national anthem ‘God Save the King’.
Lunch: Historic rendition of God Save The King fills Oval as cricket commemorates Queen
An historic rendition of God Save The King took place ahead of the resumption of the third Test between England and South Africa as well as a minute’s silence in a touching tribute to the Queen.
The death of the long-serving monarch, announced by Buckingham Palace officials on Thursday evening, led to Friday’s play being called off as a mark of respect but the green light was given for all international, domestic and recreational cricket fixtures in this country to go ahead from Saturday.
Ahead of the third day’s play in the LV= Insurance series decider, there was a poignant commemoration at the Kia Oval to the Queen, with an impeccably observed minute’s silence followed by a one-bell chime from Senior NCO Robert Brockelsby Miller of the Irish Guards.
Historic rendition of God Save The King fills Oval as cricket commemorates Queen
An impeccably observed minute’s silence was followed by a one-bell chime from an Irish Guardsman and England and South Africa’s national anthems.
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