London: The third Test finally got underway after the first day was lost for rain and the second was cancelled as a mark of respect for the death of HM Queen Elizabeth. After the first two Tests had ended within three days with South Africa winning the first and England the second – both victories were by an innings – there seems a distinct possibility that this final deciding Test could take a similar duration for a result.
South Africa, in their first innings, were dismissed for 118 in just 36.2 overs which was their third shortest innings. It was also their lowest score when batting first since 1932. Ollie Robinson finished with five for 49, his third five-wicket haul in 10 Tests.
In reply, shortly before tea. England were 74 for two. Alex Lees went for 13 when he was bowled by Marco Jansen in the fourth over and Jansen struck again in the tenth over trapping Zak Crawley for 5.
Earlier, having been asked to bat first in cloudy conditions, South Africa could hardly have made a worse start. Dean Elgar got a huge in-swinger from Robinson in the second over of the day which sent the stump cartwheeling with just one run on the board. Six runs later, in the next over, James Anderson found the outside edge of Sarel Erwee’s bat for Ben Foakes to complete a diving catch.
Keegan Petersen played a beautiful cover drive for 4 off Robinson to get into double figures but two balls later he decided to leave a ball from Robinson which was slightly outside off stump and was surprised to see the ball come in enough to hit the off stump.
Ten runs later, the tourists were 31 for four with Ryan Rickelton attempting a drive but could only edge Stuart Broad behind the stumps. He too had only just reached double figures square cutting the previous ball for four.
South Africa lost half their side for 32 within the first hour’s play when Kyle Verreynne, with no score, went forward to a ball from Robinson as it moved away taking the outside edge for a catch behind. Robinson hadn’t finished yet, four runs later he produced a late out swing from a well-pitched-up ball and Wiaan Mulder, on 3, edged for Foakes to take his fourth catch to reduce South Africa to 36 for six.
A seventh wicket stand between Khaya Zondo and Marco Jansen doubled the score before Zondo lobbed a catch to deepish gully for 23 off Broad and on 99 the eighth wicket fell when top-scorer Jansen was held for 30 off Robinson for his sixth wicket.
A useful 18 from Keshav Maharaj took the tourist to 110 when Maharaj attempted to pull Broad but bottom-edged on to his stumps. Broad then, eight runs later ended the innings with four for 41, having Anrish Nortje drive a catch to Ben Stokes at cover for 7.
Source: Oman Observer
