England trail South Africa by just 34 runs at tea as they reach 84-2 on the third day of the Test

England trail South Africa by just 34 runs at tea as they reach 84-2 after the Proteas are bowled out for 118 on the third day of the deciding Test at The Oval… with Ollie Robinson’s five-wicket haul inspiring a remarkable bowling performance

  • Ollie Robinson led the attack as England tore South Africa apart from the off
  • Sarel Erwee and Kyle Verreynne were caught for ducks as the Proteas collapsed 
  • Robinson took five wickets and Stuart Broad took four as England excelled
  • The hosts needed just 36.2 overs to get their opponents all out at The Oval
  • Alex Lees started rapidly as England took the bat, advancing to 13 off five balls
  • Joe Root and Ollie Pope shared a 41-run partnership as they found their rhythm

England had South Africa’s runs tally in their sights as they headed in for tea at 84-2 on the third day of the deciding Test against South Africa at The Oval. 

A superb, Ollie Robinson-inspired bowling display from the hosts got South Africa all out for just 118 runs as the hosts made an extraordinary start to day three of the deciding Test following a moving tribute to the Queen.

A minute’s silence was followed by the national anthems of both countries, with the crowd joining in the rendition of God Save the King before bursting into spontaneous and prolonged applause as a sell-out Kia Oval poignantly commemorated the Queen, whose death was announced on Thursday evening.

The final Test has been reduced to a three-day affair following an opening-day washout and Friday being called off as a mark of respect, with the tourists ruling out the possibility of extending the decider and instead sticking to their original plan of flying back to South Africa on Tuesday.

Ollie Robinson led the attack as England made an incredible start against South Africa

England's cricketers observe a minute's silence in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth II

England’s cricketers observe a minute’s silence in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth II

But England’s seamers capitalised on just enough movement under leaden skies to send South Africa’s top order into a tailspin and raise hopes of the hosts ending a fruitful summer with a sixth win.

Robinson, in particular, was at his probing best, striking in his first over by sending Dean Elgar’s stump cartwheeling after breaching the gate of the South Africa captain as the England seamer bowled eight overs unchanged, claiming four for 21 and sending his Test bowling average into the teens.

Both Proteas openers were back in the pavilion after 14 balls as James Anderson, featuring in his 175th Test, drew the edge of Sarel Erwee and a diving Ben Foakes accepted the first of his four catches in the opening session.

Robinson celebrates with captain Ben Stokes after taking the wicket of Dean Elgar early on

Robinson celebrates with captain Ben Stokes after taking the wicket of Dean Elgar early on

It was the perfect start for England as Elgar was dismissed by Robinson in just the second over

It was the perfect start for England as Elgar was dismissed by Robinson in just the second over

Khaya Zondo and Marco Jansen shared a 33-run partnership before lunch in a mini-recovery

Khaya Zondo and Marco Jansen shared a 33-run partnership before lunch in a mini-recovery

Keegan Petersen unwisely shouldered arms to a nip-backer from Robinson, deceived by the length, while the returning Ryan Rickelton was drawn into driving in Stuart Broad’s first over but only succeeded in edging behind to Foakes.

Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder were snared by the rampaging Robinson either side of the drinks interval to leave South Africa reeling on 36 for six, with Khaya Zondo, in only his second Test, and seam bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen left to pick up the pieces with a 33-run partnership after a monumental top-order collapse.

Zondo clubbed Jack Leach for six as South Africa avoided any further dismissals before lunch but it was still England firmly in the driving seat.

Broad made further inroads into South Africa’s batting in the first over after lunch as a rising delivery took the shoulder of Khaya Zondo’s bat and looped gently to Alex Lees at backward point.

Robinson takes the applause from The Oval crowd after taking his fifth wicket of the day

Robinson takes the applause from The Oval crowd after taking his fifth wicket of the day

Stuart Broad was also on fine bowling form as he took four wickets in just over 12 overs

Stuart Broad was also on fine bowling form as he took four wickets in just over 12 overs

Keshav Maharaj reached the milestone of 1,000 Test runs but was soon bowled out by Broad

Keshav Maharaj reached the milestone of 1,000 Test runs but was soon bowled out by Broad

But Jansen was given a couple of reprieves off Broad on 21, with Foakes putting down an edge that wobbled late on him while Ollie Pope could not cling on to a difficult low chance at fourth slip.

Robinson had a deserved five-for – a third in his 11 Tests – after drawing the edge of Jansen, with Joe Root pouching a comfortable chest-high catch. The Oval rose to its feet to applaud the Sussex bowler. 

Keshav Maharaj – who reached the milestone of 1,000 Test runs – chopped a bumper on to his stumps off Broad, who finished with four for 41 when number 11 batter Anrich Nortje meekly chipped to Ben Stokes at short cover.

South Africa were all out for 118 in just 36.2 overs as England prepared to bat perhaps far earlier than they were expecting. 

Lees made a rapid start, advancing to 13 off five balls before being cleaned up by Jansen, who later had out-of-form opener Zak Crawley lbw for five.

But Lees’ brief innings set the tone for England, who went at more than five an over to reach 84 for two at tea, led by Ollie Pope’s boundary-heavy 38 not out from 41 balls. 

Joe Root was unbeaten on 23, sharing a 41-run partnership with Pope as the hosts motored towards South Africa’s tally. 

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