London: England have taken control of the third Test with South Africa, shortly before tea on the fourth day, on 140 for six in the second innings and in an overall lead of just 100.
South Africa got off to a fine start in their second innings putting on 58, their second best first wicket stand of the series after 85 in their only innings in the first Test at Lord’s. But three overs before lunch, England got the breakthrough. Ben Stokes put himself on and he struck with his third ball with the help of an excellent low catch at first slip by Joe Root. Sarel Erwee could not judge the late out swing and went for 26.
England claimed the next wicket in the third over after the break with Stuart Broad pinning Dean Elgar in front of the stumps for 36 and that was two down for 83. The next two batsmen went in rapid succession. Three overs later Ollie Pope at gully, took a low catch off the bowling of James Anderson to dismiss Keegan Petersen for 23.
Broad struck for the second time to reduce South Africa to 95 for four when an out swing straightened late to trap Ryan Rickelton lbw for 8. The batsman asked for a review but the dismissal was confirmed.
That was followed by a determined stand for the fifth wicket in which Khaya Zondo and Wiaan Mulder stayed together at the crease for 14 overs although adding just 25 runs, before England could break the partnership. That happened with Mulder playing-on with a bottom edge on to his stumps to a ball from Robinson for 14 from 52 balls faced.
Robinson didn’t wait long to strike again, he removed Zondo in his next over lbw for 16 from 51 balls and the tourists were 133 for six.
Earlier, England resumed their first innings on 154 for seven on the fourth morning but their hope of boosting the total did not materialise. The second ball of the morning accounted for Ollie Robinson when he hit to cover and was snapped up without adding to his overnight score of 3 off Kagiso Rabada.
In his next over Rabada had Jack Leach play-on to his stumps off the inside edge to complete his haul of four wickets for 81 and on the same total of 158 the innings was wound up as Marco Jansen claimed the wicket of the overnight not out batsman Ben Foakes who got a thick edge to third slip for 14.
The wicket added to Jansen’s four wickets of the previous day, giving him five for 35, his first 5-wicket haul in his seventh Test match. His superbly controlled bowling had greatly helped to restrict England to a modest lead of just 40 runs. England had lost the three remaining wickets for only 4 runs in 17 balls in the first 13 minutes of play.
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