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:
Anderson playing in 175th test
Also happening this morning, James Anderson was presented a new test cap for reaching his 175th match. 175! What an achievement for England’s greatest ever bowler.
The teams
Here’s a look at the two teams. South Africa have strengthened their batting line-up and they’ll face an early test against James Anderson and Ollie Robinson first up.
England XI: Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, James Anderson
South Africa XI: Dean Elgar, Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Ryan Rickelton, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje
Elgar on batting first
Dean Elgar lost the toss and will open the batting for South Africa. He says that the surface looks good for batting but the first session may be tricky.
“It looks like a good surface but there might be something in it in the first session so we will have to knuckle down with bat in hand and start well.” said the Proteas captain.
“Talent and skill is one thing but something I really look for and like in a cricket player is if they show character and that’s what we need.
“We didn’t have the greatest second Test but it is still 1-1 and we would have taken that coming into the series.
“Runs are key. We have the 20 wickets covered with our bowlers but we need to give them the chance to strike well and bowl to something.”
Stokes on why he chose to bowl first
“It is a bit of strategy and the pitch. We’ve done well bowling first this summer and with the weather we’ve had it has been under cover a bit and hopefully we can utilise covers.” said the England captain at the toss after deciding to bowl first in the third test against South Africa.
“I’m massively disappointed for Jonny [Bairstow]. He’s been phenomenal and the spearhead of what we’ve done and he should be very proud of that and what he’s achieved. Harry Brook thoroughly deserves this opportunity. I am really excited for him to go and show what he can do.
“I don’t think our approach changes because of the change. We’ll play what is ahead of us. We’ll concentrate on the bowling this morning and then as the game goes deeper we’ll play the game in front of us accordingly.”
England win the toss and will bowl first
Ben Stokes has won the toss and decided to bowl first. Stokes says that the team has had some success bowling first this summer and due to the pitch being covered for a while and the weather circling in he fancies a bowl.
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.
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.
Weather watch
It’s dry and sunny over The Oval at the minute but the weather radar says that heavy showers are due to arrive around 11:30am - just when play is due to start.
It seems to be a similar situation to the match at Lords which saw lots of rain come down in sporadic bursts which meant there was a lot of water to get rid of.
Today could be a stop-start day but looking forwards the weather looks brilliant for the weekend and Monday. This could play a factor in the toss.
Win the toss and bowl first?
Brook receives England test cap
Harry Brook received his test match cap from former England captain Joe Root this morning.
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
A world class duo
James Anderson has taken 24 wickets at an average of 17.66 in Test cricket this summer, while Stuart Broad has 22 wickets at 31.90.
If Anderson does play next summer - against Ireland or Australia - it would mark 20 years since his Test debut made against Zimbabwe at Lord’s in 2003.
He has taken 664 wickets in 174 matches. Broad meanwhile debuted in 2007 and has taken 559 wickets in 158 appearances.
“It’s great to see Jimmy at 40 and Broady at 36 having a new lease of life in the dressing room and honestly I can’t tell you when the end will be,” said Stokes.
“We’ve got the Ashes coming up next summer and I’m pretty sure they have got their eyes set on that.”
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