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:
No updates from the middle
An inspection of the pitch was due to take place at 3.10pm but there has been no word of a start time or whether the inspection took place.
Sky Sports are still showing highlights of previous matches between England and South Africa so it doesn’t look likely that play will start anytime soon.
England and South Africa see rain wash out opening session of third Test
No play was possible on the opening morning of the decisive third LV= Insurance Test between England and South Africa at the Kia Oval.
With the series deadlocked at 1-1 after innings wins for both sides, there was plenty of anticipation for this match, but overnight rain meant a delayed start before a shower washed out the session.
In-between, Ben Stokes elected to bowl first after winning the toss for the first time in the series, with Harry Brook making his Test debut in place of the injured Jonny Bairstow in England’s only change.
South Africa brought in middle-order batters Ryan Rickelton and Khaya Zondo for the injured Rassie van der Dussen and out-of-form Aiden Markram.
All-rounder Wiaan Mulder and left-arm quick Marco Jansen – controversially omitted at Emirates Old Trafford – replaced spinner Simon Harmer and seamer Lungi Ngidi, who was ruled out with a niggle.
Rain washes out opening session of third England vs South Africa Test
No play was possible on the opening morning at The Oval
Inspection at 3.10pm
The rain has stopped and the covers have come off the pitch. The latest update is that there will be an inspection of the outfield at 3.10pm.
Brook makes his test debut
A frustrating start to his England test debut for Yorkshire’s Harry Brook. He was presented with his test cap earlier today by fellow Yorkshireman and former England captain Joe Root.
Brook becomes the 707th man to play test match cricket for England.
Alice Capsey hails The Hundred as perfect proving ground for international game
Alice Capsey hailed the Hundred for preparing her for the international scene and believes the second edition of the tournament eclipsed the first, as the Oval Invincibles retained their women’s title.
The 18-year-old struck 25 from 17 balls as South Africa international Marizanne Kapp steered the Invincibles to a five-wicket win against Southern Brave in a repeat of last year’s final.
Lord’s was filled with 20,840 fans and though the game itself was low-scoring, Capsey insisted the tournament has been a boost to the women’s game when compared to last year.
“I think it’s got similarities in the sense that I think it’s been amazing for the women’s game,” she told the PA news agency.
Alice Capsey hails The Hundred as perfect proving ground for international game
The teenager has starred for Oval Invincibles in the first two editions of the tournament.
England leave Jason Roy out of T20 World Cup squad
Jason Roy has been left out of England’s Twenty20 World Cup squad, paying the price for an extended run of poor form.
Roy has been an integral part of both white-ball sides since England overhauled their approach to limited-overs cricket in 2015 but runs and fluency have been in short supply this year and the 32-year-old has paid with his place.
Having struggled with England throughout the summer Roy endured a miserable time in The Hundred, averaging 8.5 over six innings for Oval Invincibles and making three ducks.
Managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key led the selection process, with head coach Matthew Mott and performance director Mo Bobat also included on the panel.
Harry Brook can expect words of advice from Ollie Pope before England Test debut
Ollie Pope is only just shy of being 14 months older than Harry Brook but he is prepared to take on a mentoring role ahead of the latter’s likely England Test debut.
Yorkshire batter Brook, 23, is all but certain to be tasked with replacing the injured Jonny Bairstow on Thursday, when England begin their deciding third Test against South Africa at the Oval.
Pope has made 28 Test appearances since facing India in his 2018 debut, and admitted the pressures of international red-ball cricket can surprise even the most prepared player.
He said: “For someone like Brooky, I know the challenges international cricket can bring.”
Harry Brook can expect words of advice from Ollie Pope before England Test debut
Yorkshire’s Brook is all but certain to be tasked with replacing the injured Jonny Bairstow against South Africa on Thursday.
Ollie Pope hopeful he has earned England No 3 spot on permanent basis
Ollie Pope is relishing his new role as England’s number three and believes he has done enough to make it his permanent job.
England’s new-look Test leadership team of captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum promoted the 24-year-old to the third spot ahead of the series with New Zealand in June, and Pope announced his arrival with a second Test ton at Trent Bridge.
The Surrey right-hander hopes to replicate his success when the squad begin their deciding contest with South Africa on Thursday, but reckons his probationary period might already be over.
“I’d like to think so,” said Pope. “We don’t talk about those things too much, but the feedback I’ve got has been great and I think the confidence that is given from the top from McCullum and Stokes has been great as well, so hopefully that can keep helping me build into that spot and I’m going into this with a bit of a better mindset.”
Ollie Pope hopeful he has earned England No 3 spot on permanent basis
The Surrey batter is enjoying his new role under new captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum
Happy Birthday Jos Buttler
In brighter news today is Jos Buttler’s birthday and the England one-day captain turns 32. He’ll be back in action later this month as England head to Pakistan for a T2 series ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia starting in October.
The future of the game
During this rain break, former England captains Andrew Strauss, Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton have all been discussing the future of the game in England.
They’ve discussed the domestic schedule, how to adapt County Cricket to better reflect Test Cricket, the financial aspect of growing the game and of course The Hundred.
It’s been a fascinating converstion that outlines the problems the ECB are facing and how devisive some of their decisions have been.
At the very least it will give cricket fans a different viewpoint on The Hundred and why it was created in the first place.
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