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:
WICKET! Kagiso Rabada c Brook b Stokes 0 (2). South Africa 146/8 (49.0).
And that is some start. A WICKET with the final ball of his spell. Kagiso Rabada on strike, the ball pitches in the footholes, takes an edge and is caught by Harry Brook at slip.
A question whether it’s a bumped ball at the point of contact but replays show it’s clean and that’s brilliant by England!
England vs South Africa
Ok, we’re ready to resume at The Oval. Can England finish off South Africa and take a crack at this score tonight? Two balls of Ben Stoke’s over left to start us off.
TEA! South Africa 146/7 (48.4), Maharaj 0, Verreyne 8 - SA lead by 106 runs
And that’s also TEA! Another good session for England who are in control of this match. A couple more quick wickets after the break and it’s conceivable they could even finish this today.
That might be getting ahead of ourselves but they’re certainly in good shape.
WICKET! Marco Jansen b Stokes 4 (16). South Africa 146/7 (48.4).
Last over before tea and Stokes, despite hobbling about a bit with his knee and looking absolutely knackered, grabs the ball for one final effort.
And it pays dividends as the skipper takes a WICKET! And it’s not a no-ball this time! He bowls a perfect inswinger that nips between bat and pad, smashing into leg stump. Clean bowled - brilliant stuff.
South Africa 146/6 (48.0), Jansen 4, Verreyne 8 - SA lead by 106 runs
This over is another lively one! First ball from Robinson and Verreyne top-edges a pull shot that flies for SIX! I say ‘flies’, it landed directly on the rope and fine leg couldn’t get round to it.
The following delivery goes to one of the close fielders who takes a shy at the stumps and Verreyne has to take evasive action, Matrix-style, to get out of the way of the ball! No damage done and smiles all round.
NOT OUT! South Africa 140/6 (47.0), Jansen 4, Verreyne 2 - SA lead by 100 runs
Oh dear, Ben Stokes... He gets one swinging away from Jansen and he edges to fourth slip where it’s well-taken by Ollie Pope and would be a wicket but Stokes has overstepped for a no-ball... NOT OUT!
Stokes has a well-documented history of taking wickets with no-balls and this is another. He’s starting to look shattered, has he got one more over in him?
South Africa 139/6 (46.0), Jansen 4, Verreyne 2 - SA lead by 99 runs
A maiden over for Robinson, who is absolutely nailing his line and length at the moment. Should be time for three more overs before tea.
South Africa 139/6 (45.0), Jansen 4, Verreyne 2 - SA lead by 99 runs
A fairly nondescript over from Stokes although Verreyne flicks a single to leg. South Africa edging closer towards a lead of 100 but you’d think they’ll need considerably more than that.
South Africa 138/6 (44.0), Jansen 4, Verreyne 1 - SA lead by 98 runs
Marco Jansen the next man in and England will have designs on winning this today. Robinson finishes his over, throwing in a no-ball and off the final delivery, a well-timed punch through the covers from Jansen runs away for FOUR.
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