England vs South Africa, 3rd Test, Day 1 Highlights: Persistent Rain Plays Spoilsport On Opening Day
England vs South Africa, 3rd Test, Day 1 Highlights: The opening day of the third Test between England and South Africa was washed out after persistent rain at the Kia Oval in London
England vs South Africa, 3rd Test, Day 1 Highlights: The opening day of the third Test between England and South Africa was washed out after persistent rain at the Kia Oval in London. With the series level at 1-1, England and South Africa made a change each to their playing XIs from the previous game. Harry Brook has replaced injured Jonny Bairstow for the third Test, and it would be interesting to see how England approaches this contest. For South Africa, all-rounder Wiaan Mulder also returns to the side after a solid season in the County with Leicestershire. The first Test was won by South Africa inside three days, but England bounced back strongly in the second Test and they also won it inside three days with solid performances from Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes. (SCORECARD)Â
England: Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Ben Foakes (wk), Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, James Anderson
South Africa: Dean Elgar (capt), Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Ryan Rickelton Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje
England Cricket Team
South Africa Cricket Team
Ben Stokes
Kagiso Rabada
Joe Root
ENG vs SA, 3rd Test, Day 1 Live
We are back for the second innings. South Africa players stride out to the middle. Followed by Alex Lees and Zak Crawley who walk out to open for England. There is sun peeking now from the skies. Not the sight any South Africa player would like. keeping in mind the conditions they dealt with in the morning session. It will be Kagiso Rabada to start with the new ball.
... SECOND INNINGS ...
The English pacers were on song from the word go and once Ollie Robinson got that first breakthrough, they started to send back one batter after the another. With the opposition at 36/6, one would have thought that the hosts will bundle them out for a score of under 100 runs but that wasn't the case. Stuart Broad was excellent with the ball in the post-Lunch session which helped them to get rid of the tail quickly. In the end, though, they will take 118 runs and it is now up to their batters to try and get a big first innings lead. But will they be able to do so? Find out soon as the English first innings is coming up shortly.
The conditions did favor the pacers and South Africa did not have many batters in the lineup who had the experience of playing Test cricket in England and it showed. The skipper, Dean Elgar though will be disappointed as he was the first to fall and that set the tone for those who followed. Only the stand between Khaya Zondo and Marco Jansen for the 7th wicket was a positive with the bat for the Proteas and Keshav Maharaj too did well to muster up a few runs. They will now have to come out all guns blazing if they are to make a match out of it.
It has been a comprehensive performance by the English pacers on Day 3 of the third Test match and the inexperienced South African batters have had no answers. England will come out to bat much earlier than they would have expected but will be happy about it. Also, Ollie Robinson leads the English players off the field with his five-wicket haul.
OUT! CAUGHT! Stuart Broad ends his innings with a four-fer. It is a full-length ball, on off stump. Anrich Nortje ends up slicing it towards covers. Ben Stokes takes the simplest of catches to bundle out South Africa for just 118 here. A forgetful innings for South Africa.
FOUR! Edge over the fielder at third slip. That was short, outside off. Anrich Nortje goes hard at the ball but gets an outside edge and the ball travels over the slips for a boundary.
Anrich Nortje finally opens his account. It is fuller, outside off. Nortje drives it past short extra cover. The batters take three before the fielder cuts it out.
Touch fuller, around off. Anrich Nortje pushes it gently towards covers. Does not get any run off it.
Make that three! This one is a short ball, on leg. Anrich Nortje ducks under it wisely.
Two dots in a row now! It is angled into the pads, on a fuller length, Nortje flicks it to mid-wicket.
On a length, outside off, shaping in from outside off. Nortje blocks it out on his front foot.
Robinson goes full and on off. Rabada drives it towards mid off. They take one.
A dot to end the over! Broad serves it on a length, outside off, nipping into the batter. Anrich Nortje stays back, closes the face of his blade and blocks it out.
Anrich Nortje is the last man in for South Africa.
OUT! TIMBER! Stuart Broad gets his third wicket. Back of length, around fourth stump. Keshav Maharaj clears his front leg and goes for the pull but he gets a bottom edge. The ball goes onto shatter the stumps. Stuart Broad is in a hurry to end things here.
Full length, on middle and leg. Rabada flicks it to deep mid-wicket for three runs now.
Fuller length, outside off. Kagiso Rabada drives it off the front foot but he was not in complete control and the ball hits the outside half of the bat. The ball goes towards point for a couple.
On a good length, angling in. Kagiso Rabada tries to play it towards off but gets a leading edge and the ball just falling short of mid-on.
Stuart Broad start round the wicket. That was fuller, around off. Kagiso Rabada blocks back to the bowler.