England v South Africa third Test: Live over-by-over commentary

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Third Test day four scoreboard

South Africa victory target: 492

South Africa 2nd inns: 117-4 (38 overs. Elgar 72*; Stokes 2-29, Roland-Jones 1-20, Broad 1-27)

England 2nd inns: 313-8d (79.5 overs. Bairstow 63, Westley 59, Root 50, Jennings 48, Stokes 31; Maharaj 3-50, Morris 2-66, Morkel 1-44, Rabada 1-56)

South Africa 1st inns: 175 (58.4 overs. Bavuma 52, Rabada 30; Roland-Jones 5-57, Anderson 3-25) 

England 1st inns: 353 (103.2 overs. Stokes 112, Cook 88, Bairstow 36, Root 29; Morkel 3-70, Rabada 3-95, Philander 2-32) 

Get in touch: @tickerscricket | Dave.Tickner@sportinglife.com

Third Test headlines

Reviews remaining: England 2 South Africa 1
South Africa chasing 492 for victory
Elgar and Bavuma dig in
Stokes bags two in two balls
England have 138 overs to bowl Proteas out
Live Sky Bet odds

England v South Africa day four commentary

STUMPS: South Africa (117-4) need 375 more runs to win
Brilliant rearguard from Elgar and Bavuma, but it's been a fine day for England. First they put the game out of South Africa's reach with the bat, and then took full control with a three-wicket burst in two overs. That saw the back of both Amla and du Plessis, the two men who might have been able to engineer some kind of great escape here, and, despite the efforts of Elgar and Bavuma, England will fully expect to wrap things up at some point tomorrow afternoon.

Over 38: South Africa 117-4 (Elgar 72, Bavuma 16)
Elgar gets an early single in the over. Good thinking. Doesn't look like he has many plans to move from his spot leaning on his bat and nursing his damaged hand. Great effort from him, well supported by Bavuma, who deals with the remaining four deliveries of the day, ending it with a single off a thick inside edge. It's still been a very good day for England.

Over 37: South Africa 115-4 (Elgar 71, Bavuma 15)
Bavuma dead-bats a maiden from Broad, and there will be time for one more Anderson over. A birthday wicket before stumps?

Over 36: South Africa 115-4 (Elgar 71, Bavuma 15)
Let's not be critical of Jimmy. He's got 480 Test wickets, and it's his birthday. But he only makes Elgar play twice in this over. Given that it hurts him every time the ball hits the bat, that's probably not quite good enough.

Over 35: South Africa 113-4 (Elgar 69, Bavuma 15)
Root signals to Anderson to get loose for a last little dart tonight. He'll have two overs tops. Time for a risk-free over of Malan's leg-spin before stumps for mine.

Over 34: South Africa 111-4 (Elgar 69, Bavuma 13)
Moeen spoils a good over, dragging the last ball down and getting pumped through cover for four by Elgar. Grimaces in pain after playing the shot. What a gutsy effort this has been.

Over 33: South Africa 107-4 (Elgar 65, Bavuma 13)
This pair have more than doubled the score for South Africa. Still in a massive hole, but at least there's been a semblance of fourth-innings resistance for the first time in the series.

Over 32: South Africa 107-4 (Elgar 65, Bavuma 13)
Elgar tickles Moeen fine on the legside for two and then gets four with a big drive that flies off a thick outside edge down to third-man. Next ball from Moeen spins off the good part of the pitch and past the outside edge. Plenty for the left-hander to think about.

Over 31: South Africa 101-4 (Elgar 59, Bavuma 13)
Elgar fends at a snorter from Broad that whistles past the shoulder of the bat and thuds into Bairstow's gloves at head height. Gets a single on the legside to keep the strike.

Over 30: South Africa 100-4 (Elgar 58, Bavuma 13)
Maiden over from Moeen, although he owes a debt to Malan's right leg for saving four after a full-blooded Bavuma drive cannons off the fielder at silly point.

Over 29: South Africa 100-4 (Elgar 58, Bavuma 13)
The floodlights very prominent now, and just over half-an-hour left in the day's play. Good time to be bowling, as Broad returns to the attack. A thick edge splits the gap between the two gully fielders and runs away for four to bring up South Africa's hundred. Half an appeal for caught behind next ball, but Broad himself didn't go up which tells you all you need to know.

Over 28: South Africa 96-4 (Elgar 54, Bavuma 13)
Maiden over from Moeen, throwing the ball up into the rough stuff outside the right-hander's off stump. Not often as much to work with out there, but England's southpaw-dominated batting line-up has led to plenty of round-the-wicket action from Morkel, Philander, Rabada and co.

Over 27: South Africa 96-4 (Elgar 54, Bavuma 13)
Elgar gets a single to reach a gutsy 50. Wouldn't surprise me if he's got a good chunk of these while batting with a broken finger. Bavuma survives a huge caught-behind shout next ball, the noise generated by bat flicking pad. Good decision by Aleem Dar, and by Root to resist the review. Next ball keeps low, and Bavuma just about manages to get bat to ball before the ball thuds into the pads in front of absolutely everything. He gets a single for that, and Elgar gets four more for a controlled push past midwicket. More treatment on that right index finger between overs.

D Elgar 50: 77 balls 7x4

Over 26: South Africa 90-4 (Elgar 49, Bavuma 12)
Moeen into the attack. Natural variation takes one that doesn't spin past Bavuma's outside edge, and he finds it next ball. Runs safely to ground wide of slip, though, for a couple of runs. Last ball of the over is a full bunger, and with the field set for wickets there's nobody patrolling the boundary to cut off Bavuma's controlled drive.

Over 25: South Africa 84-4 (Elgar 49, Bavuma 6)
Slice of luck for Elgar, but you wouldn't begrudge him it as an attempted pull comes off the bottom edge and bounces past the stumps on its way to the fence.

Over 24: South Africa 78-4 (Elgar 44, Bavuma 5)
Shot from Bavuma, collecting three for a cut shot well in front of square, while Elgar adds three more with a drive through a vacan't mid-on. Bavuma gets an inside edge into his thigh - another painful blow. Roland-Jones then sends one past Bavuma's outside edge. It's the archetypal Roland-Jones delivery: angling in, holding its line and carrying through nicely to the keeper.

Over 23: South Africa 72-4 (Elgar 41, Bavuma 2)
Elgar's taken plenty of blows, but lands one of his own here as he takes on the short ball from Stokes and hammers a pull shot to the rope at square-leg.

Over 22: South Africa 68-4 (Elgar 37, Bavuma 2)
Looks like the latest blow has managed to cut Elgar's finger through the glove. Inevitably, the first ball from Roland-Jones is a short one. Elgar, nothing if not competitor, plays it safely to ground and grins at bowler and non-striker. The old-school rearguard may be gone from the game, but Elgar has an old-school opener's mentality. Gets a couple for a nudge off the hip past Malan at short-leg, and a single for a defensive push to cover.

Over 21: South Africa 65-4 (Elgar 34, Bavuma 2)
England bowlers chipping bits off the batsmen now. Elgar takes another blow, to the hand this time, and has the physio out between overs.

Over 20: South Africa 63-4 (Elgar 33, Bavuma 1)
Last ball of TRJ's over thuds into Elgar's hip. Judging by his reaction, that's missed the thigh pad. Has to send Bavuma back even though there's an easy leg-bye on offer purely because he is in absolutely no condition to run right now. Too busy hopping, gritting his teeth, and muttering swears.

Over 19: South Africa 63-4 (Elgar 33, Bavuma 1)
The hat-trick ball comes and goes, Temba Bavuma working it calmly away into the legside for a single. Stokes goes for the yorker again, but the line is wrong this time and Elgar flicks him away for a single. Another no-ball in the over - Stokes was millimetres away from overstepping with the ball that got de Kock. Last ball of the over thuds into Bavuma's gloves but goes straight down.

Over 18: South Africa 60-4 (Elgar 32, Bavuma 0)
Two boundaries in the over for Elgar. The first is nicely done, flicked away fine on the legside. The second is exactly what England want Elgar to do - drive at full balls away from his body. In the air, but well in front of square this time and perfectly safe.

Over 17: South Africa 52-4 (Elgar 24)
Du Plessis faced eight balls in the match, and was dismissed shouldering arms by two of them.

WICKET! Du Plessis lbw b Stokes 0

Oh, Faf, what have you done?! Shoulders arms first ball to a big in-ducker from Stokes. Aleem Dar gives it out, and Faf's captain's prerogative review can't save him; it's hitting off stump, the original call will stand.

WICKET! De Kock b Stokes 5

We saw a wonderful yorker from Rabada on day one of this Test. This from Stokes is right up there as well. Full, fast and swinging late to beat de Kock's desperate late jab and cannon into the base of off stump.

Over 16: South Africa 48-2 (Elgar 24, de Kock 1)
De Kock is the new batsman, and he's off the mark straight away with a single to cover. TRJ now averaging 48 with the bat and 10 with the ball in Test cricket.

WICKET! Amla c Root b Roland-Jones 5

He's done it again! Roland-Jones bags the big wicket for the second time in the game. Amla tries to leave the ball in the end, but can't get his bat out of the way. It flies low to Root who gets his fingers underneath it and pouches it safely. A quick check upstairs confirms it, and Amla has to go.

Over 15: South Africa 47-1 (Elgar 24, Amla 5)
Couple of singles from Stokes' second over. One of those strange passages of play here where batting generally seems quite straightforward, and then one misbehaves. Right on cue, Stokes gets one to pop at Elgar who does remarkably well to keep the ball down with the handle from throat height.

Over 14: South Africa 45-1 (Elgar 23, Amla 4)
Elgar calls Amla through for a good quick single. Amla slightly slow to respond, but it's a very safe run. South Africa survive to drinks for the loss of only Kuhn and, without being cruel, they'd probably have taken that given Kuhn's series contribution has been a bit Gerhardus Liebenberg. For England, meanwhile, this pair and Faf must be the key wickets.

Over 13: South Africa 44-1 (Elgar 22, Amla 4)
Stokes into the attack. Oversteps with successive deliveries, but those are the only runs from the over.

Over 12: South Africa 42-1 (Elgar 22, Amla 4)
First-innings hero Roland-Jones into the attack for England. Knocked over the top four first time around, which won't be the case here, but be handy if he could at least get Amla again. No pressure, Toby.

Over 11: South Africa 41-1 (Elgar 22, Amla 3)
Elgar punches a drive on the up down the ground off Anderson for four. Great shot, but don't get it wrong.

Over 10: South Africa 37-1 (Elgar 18, Amla 3)
Amla having to tough it out here. He's certainly capable of doing so. Another one that bounces a bit gets him on the fingers of his bottom hand. England do have a man in at short-leg now. Four runs in the over, down to fine-leg via the thigh-pad. It was only a small deflection, but Bairstow never moved. Wonder whether that injury he seemed to pick up late in England's innings is troubling him?

Over 9: South Africa 33-1 (Elgar 18, Amla 3)
Amla just getting stuck in the crease here. Uncharacteristically so. His feet are in concrete as he fences at one that snakes past the outside edge, while another one that keeps a touch low finds the inside edge and Natmegs down to long-leg for a single. Strangled leg-before shout against Elgar, but it's pitched outside leg and Aleem Dar has no interest in it.

Over 8: South Africa 32-1 (Elgar 18, Amla 2)
Elgar fighting his technique at the moment, but he's still there. Brings his bat down across one from Broad and edges wide of Stokes at gully and collects four. Does get the last ball of the over somewhere near the middle of the bat, and beats the diving mid-on to jog through for two more.

Over 7: South Africa 26-1 (Elgar 12, Amla 2)
Amla leans forward defensively and gets a whack on the gloves as the ball pops off a length. No short-leg, but it may have looped over them in any case. Elgar gets a single for a solid defensive push into a vacant cover area. Last ball of the over keeps low and Amla keeps it out with the cue-end of his bat. Signs of uneven bounce for Anderson in that over, hitting the glove at the start of it and the bottom of the bat at the end.

Over 6: South Africa 24-1 (Elgar 11, Amla 1)
Hashim Amla, who could fairly be described as the key wicket in this or pretty much any situation involving South Africa, is the new batsman. Off the mark with a shovel to leg from one that kept a touch low. Don't want to be missing that, but the great man did not miss. Elgar picks up two more with a neat tuck off his hip at the end of a successful Broad over.

WICKET! Kuhn b Broad 11

Don't worry about the fielders here. Nip-backer exposes a flawed defensive technique from Kuhn, beating his inside edge and then knocking back the off stump. Textbook new-ball bowling. Top of off.

Over 5: South Africa 21-0 (Kuhn 11, Elgar 9)
Lovely shot from Elgar, leaning on an Anderson inswinger and pinging it down the ground for four. Batting looking a very different business when the sun shines here. England want those clouds to roll back in. Drop! Elgar pushes hard at a full, wide ball and edges low to third slip's left. Jennings gets both hands to it, but can't hold on.

Over 4: South Africa 17-0 (Kuhn 11, Elgar 5)
Another good-looking drive brings Kuhn four as Broad strives for swing. Don't think either side should be too unhappy to see that. Important that South Africa don't go entirely into their shells, and that ball was right there for the shot. At the same time, driving on here has not been a risk-free business venture. Broad thuds one into Kuhn's pads and, as is customary, firmly believes it to be more out than any lbw has ever been before. Kuhn, though, has got a good stride in and is outside the line. Crucially, Bairstow and Root manage to talk Broad round and no review is wasted. The batsmen sneak a leg-bye during Broad's minor huff.

Over 3: South Africa 11-0 (Kuhn 7, Elgar 4)
Beautiful delivery from Anderson to end the over, drawing Elgar into playing as the ball swings away from him. Nothing shot, but luckily for Elgar he makes no contact with the ball on its way through.

Over 2: South Africa 9-0 (Kuhn 6, Elgar 3)
Streaky shot from Heino Kuhn, playing away from his body and getting an inside edge past the stumps for a single. Safer shot from Elgar, worked to leg, brings another run. First boundary of the innings comes in fine style as Broad overpitches and is driven handsomely through cover by Kuhn. Next ball is blocked back to the bowler, who petulantly wings it back at the stumps. Broad not bothered about looking after that new ball, then.

Over 1: South Africa 3-0 (Kuhn 1, Elgar 2)
Huge leg-before shout against Elgar in James Anderson's first over. It's desperately close but, after long deliberation, Aleem Dar shakes his head. England resist the temptation to review. Height seems to be the only factor here, and Hawk-Eye shows umpire's call with the ball clipping the bails. Fair enough on-field decision, I think, and a very, very good one from Root to resist the temptation to have a look upstairs.

 ☕️ TEA: England 313-8d: South Africa require 492 runs to win
Probably too many, isn't it? That's my analysis. There are 40 overs left today, to be bowled in one massive evening session. In every sense. And then another 98 overs tomorrow. It's a lot of time, and a lot of runs. England are 2/9 to win, South Africa 7/2 to ensure commentators refer back to this game every time a captain doesn't declare as soon as they want him to.

WICKET! Bairstow c Rabada b Maharaj 63

Bairstow's enterprising knock, and the innings itself, comes to an end as a sliced drive carries to long-off where Rabada juggles, then slips, but holds on.

Over 79: England 310-7 (Bairstow 62, Roland-Jones 21)
Easy game, Test cricket. Roland-Jones enjoying his debut enormously, and slots Elgar over the ropes twice in the over. The first is levered over square-leg, the second down the ground.

Over 78: England 295-7 (Bairstow 61, Roland-Jones 6)
Bairstow launches a slog-sweep over the ropes at square-leg, but seems to have done himself a mischief turning for a second. Huge blow for England if he can't keep wicket. Worse, it will make  people have more conversations about the declaration, and those conversations are always dull.

Over 77: England 284-7 (Bairstow 52, Roland-Jones 5)
Reverse-sweep for four brings Bairstow a run-a-ball 50. Not the most intense or high-pressure knock he'll ever produce, and you can argue all day whether England should still be out there batting for him to get there, but it's been a lovely innings. Adds another scampered two for a nurdle on the legside.

JM Bairstow 50: 50 balls 6x4

Over 76: England 274-7 (Bairstow 43, Roland-Jones 4)
All eyes on Root, but almost another wicket here as Roland-Jones gets an inside edge on to his boot that narrowly misses the stumps, and the keeper, and slip who had attempted to anticipate it.

Over 75: England 269-7 (Bairstow 41, Roland-Jones 1)
Elgar on for a bowl. Generally get a bit of a mixed bag from him. Elgar's variations if you will. No, you shut up. Three singles from the over. England bat on. Stuart Broad still padded up as well, by the way.

Over 74: England 266-7 (Bairstow 39, Roland-Jones 0)
Don't think South Africa should have taken Maharaj off here. He's back with a really good over. Yes, the wicket's a run out but he's still only allowed two runs even though Bairstow is on the full charge. Toby Roland-Jones the new batsman, by the way. Yet to face.

WICKET! Moeen Ali run out (Bavuma) 8

Brilliant from Bavuma, running Moeen out with a direct hit from deep midwicket as the batsmen tried to get back for a second.

Over 73: England 264-6 (Bairstow 37, Moeen Ali 8)
Bairstow gets another single to third-man before Moeen tickles Rabada away fine on the legside for four. Adds two for a big mow that somehow ends up at third-man, and then dabs another down there for a single. Bairstow thumps one down the ground for a single. There's no declaration, so England will not be bowling before tea.

Over 72: England 255-6 (Bairstow 35, Moeen Ali 1)
Moeen Ali the new batsman, off the mark straight away with a single down the ground. Bairstow gets two for a deliberate glide down to third-man. Six minutes if England want to declare without forcing an early tea.

WICKET! Stokes b Morris 31

Stokes launches Morris for a huge six over midwicket and then sacrifices his wicket looking for a repeat.

Over 71: England 245-5 (Stokes 25, Bairstow 32)
The ball slips out of Rabada's hands before he enters his delivery stride and rolls gently towards Bairstow, who plays an expansive, theatrival leave. He found it funny. South Africa did not. A steer to deep point brings two as Bairstow runs hard to get back. Couple of singles follow, then another scampered two for Bairstow, and England have about 10 minutes to declare if they want a short crack at South Africa before tea.

Over 70: England 239-5 (Stokes 24, Bairstow 27)
Rain just a touch heavier now as Stokes slices to third-man and Bairstow flicks to the fine-leg fence for four. Follows that up with a dab past the slip cordon for four more. He's played three genuinely ridiculous shots in the last two overs, and Root is starting to look a bit more animated on the balcony. Now deep in conversation with Trevor Bayliss.

Over 69: England 229-5 (Stokes 23, Bairstow 18)
The number of shots of Root sitting on the England balcony starting to increase significantly as the lead passes 400 with a couple of leg-byes off Bairstow's bum. Outrageous shot to end the over as Bairstow sways inside a Rabada bouncer and then at the very last moment flicks out the bat to ramp the ball over the keeper and away for a one-bounce four. It's got dark again, with those accursed umbrellas just starting to reappear.

Over 68: England 220-5 (Stokes 21, Bairstow 13)
Streaky boundary for Bairstow, throwing his hands at width from Morris and getting a thick edge past a diving Dean Elgar at gully. Nothing streaky about the next four, though, whipped wristily off the pads and across the vast square.

Over 67: England 211-5 (Stokes 20, Bairstow 5)
Top-edged hook from Stokes lands safely short of Morris at long-leg and adds one more run to the total. Good over from Rabada, just one run from the over and that via a false shot.

Over 66: England 210-5 (Stokes 19, Bairstow 5)
Four singles from Morris' over. The lead closing on 400, and it's just a case now of England doing their time and runs sums and deciding how many they want of each.

Over 65: England 206-5 (Stokes 17, Bairstow 3)
Double change for South Africa, Rabada back into the attack. Stokes gets a single to deep midwicket before Bairstow gets off the mark with a scampered two for a push past short cover. Keeps the strike with a nurdle.

Over 64: England 202-5 (Stokes 16, Bairstow 0)
Jonny Bairstow the new batsman, watches his first ball through to the keeper. This pair could have some fun here...

WICKET! Malan lbw b Morris 10

Malan edges through the slips for four, but won't add to his total as Morris' inswinger traps him in front. It's given not out on the field, but that's a poor decision really. Might have been fooled by two noises, but it was the ball hitting both pads that made the double sound. It's crashing into middle-and-leg below the bails. Disappointing debut for Malan. 

Over 63: England 195-4 (Malan 6, Stokes 13)
Thick outside edge and a fumble from gully combine to bring Malan a single before Stokes adds another in an entertaining passage of play that involves Rabada throwing the ball wildly from mid-off to long-leg and then getting it back when another shy at the stumps comes in as the batsmen have a mid-pitch conference before deciding not to attempt an overthrow. Rabada shapes to throw it again. The net result is one run to the total.

Over 62: England 193-4 (Malan 5, Stokes 12)
Glorious from Stokes, reverse-sweeping - and reverse-sweeping hard - for four through third-man. Stokes' plan fairly clear here, and he sends one high into the legside but finds safety at deep midwicket. The ball plugs as the batsmen get back for two. Maharaj, who's bowled beautifully here, is now concerned. Drags the next one down and gets clobbered through cover for four more. Amla back on the field after that over. No strapping or anything on that left hand, so we'll go ahead and assume he's fine.

Over 61: England 183-4 (Malan 5, Stokes 2)
Midway through Philander's over du Plessis decides to drop point back to the fence. Stokes happily accepts the easy single now on offer. Philander goes past Malan's off stump to end the over. Amla, meanwhile, is off the field. Suggestion that he's hurt a finger on his left hand in dealing with that Philander wide earlier.

Over 60: England 182-4 (Malan 5, Stokes 1)
Legside singles for Malan and Stokes, but there the similarities end. Malan gets his with a delicate nurdle, Stokes with a murderous slog-sweep that has Bavuma ducking for cover and saying his prayers at short-leg.

Over 59: England 180-4 (Malan 4, Stokes 0)
It's gone very gloomy at The Oval. England would quite like to be bowling now, you'd imagine. Not quite enough runs in the tank, though. Would certainly qualify as funky.

Over 58: England 180-4 (Malan 4, Stokes 0)
Plenty of spin now for Maharaj, even though both wickets have fallen to aggressive shots. Not going to be easy for these two left-handers to take him on out of the rough.

WICKET! Root c Morkel b Maharaj 50

Fifty but no more for Root, who top-edges a sweep shot as he looks to get on with things. Picks out Morkel, who makes no mistake at deep square-leg. South Africa carelessly bring Stokes to the middle.

Over 57: England 180-3 (Root 50, Malan 4)
Root reaches yet another Test half-century - he's reached 50 at least once in his last nine Tests. Malan, meanwhile, gets the gentlest of welcomes as the first ball he faces from Philander is a huge wide that causes Hashim Amla at first slip far more bother than it does the batsman. The second ball he faces is a leg-stump half-volley that disappears for four through midwicket. Lovely stuff.

JE Root 50: 91 balls 6x4

Over 56: England 170-3 (Root 46)
Debutant replaces debutant as Dawid Malan replaces Westley.

WICKET! Westley st de Kock b Maharaj 59

Maharaj holds one back and spins it past the outside edge as Westley advances. The batsman thrusts the bat at the ball more in hope than expectation, but can't get there. De Kock does the rest.

Over 55: England 165-2 (Westley 59, Root 41)
Root manages to get Morkel away for a single, before Westley dangles the bat outside off stump and is fortunate to see the ball run away to the third-man fence off his outside edge. Only two slips in, despite Morkel's brilliance, because of the match situation.

Over 54: England 160-2 (Westley 55, Root 40)
Astonishing shot from Westley. Du Plessis puts two short covers in and Westley promptly hammers the ball in the air straight between the pair of them off the back foot. Long-off is back, enabling both batsmen to pick up singles.

Over 53: England 154-2 (Westley 50, Root 39)
Morkel still bowling ridiculously well here. If nothing else, his efforts are going to reduce the number of overs South Africa's batsmen will have to survive in the fourth innings. Goes past Root's outside edge and twice finds the inside edge in another maiden over. Root, frustrated, clearly wants to get on with things. But there's not much to get after there.

Over 52: England 154-2 (Westley 50, Root 39)
England have not exactly raced out of the post-lunch blocks. Just a single from Maharaj's first over of the afternoon.

Over 51: England 153-2 (Westley 50, Root 38)
Morkel to kick things off after lunch. It's a maiden, ending with a very short bouncer that could possibly have been called a wide.

🍽 LUNCH: England (153-2) lead by 331 runs
So far, so good for England, who will want quick runs after lunch. Get that lead past 450 as quickly as possible and then set about the main business of taking 10 more South African wickets. England have actually drifted slightly to 1/4, one of the quirks of the game where a bad session would have seen their odds shorten but a good one sees them drift. The reason, of course, is that the prospect of a delayed declaration brings the draw back into the game at 7/2. The Proteas are right out at 20s. Given the lack of fourth-innings fight we've seen in difficult circumstances so far this series, that 1/4 looks more than fair to be honest. Westley and Root are 7/2 and 5/2 respectively to score centuries. An interesting RequestABet is 11/8 for South Africa to be three or more wickets down by stumps today. Every chance of that given what we've seen so far. England will have close to 40 overs if they declare at tea, which seems plausible.

Over 50: England 153-2 (Westley 50, Root 38)
Last over of the session from Maharaj. Root watchful. Decent session for England, who went over in a heap in a similar situation on the fourth morning at Lord's. Didn't cost them, but they will have been pleased to avoid a similar fate. They now control the destiny of this Test. Fun and games after lunch, one suspects.

Over 49: England 153-2 (Westley 50, Root 38)
Morkel bowls three feet outside off stump. Westley watches it go through to Quinton de Kock. Rinse and repeat.

Over 48: England 153-2 (Westley 50, Root 38)
Two for Root, dabbing Maharaj down to third-man. The lead passes 330.

Over 47: England 151-2 (Westley 50, Root 36)
Morkel back. Three drives in a row from Westley. Makes no contact with two, hits the middle one straight to cover. Even the normally placid Morkel is riled up by the second play and miss. But Morkel then makes the error you can't make against Westley, pushing one into the pads and getting picked off through midwicket for four. That's a debut 50 for Westley. Great situation for him if he gets through to lunch. Will have licence after the break to play some shots.

T Westley 50: 119 balls 9x4

Over 46: England 147-2 (Westley 46, Root 36)
Single apiece for Root and Westley off Maharaj. Think we'll see plenty of entertainment after lunch as England's position approaches impregnable with plenty of strokemakers still to come.

Over 45: England 145-2 (Westley 45, Root 35)
Nice shot from Westley, a stroked cover-drive for two, the cover sweeper mopping up. Key to that shot was a willingness just to stroke the ball rather than bash it. He's a bottom-hand player, and that drive looks far better when he doesn't try to overhit. "Sometimes," opines wise sage Nasser Hussain on commentary, "you just have to say 'I'll take two'."

Over 44: England 143-2 (Westley 43, Root 35)
And now it will be Maharaj. Westley runs at him and has a frightful hack. It goes along the ground to midwicket and there's no harm done. The intent is correct given the match situation, but the shot choice and execution some way short of optimal. Far better is the shot he plays to end the over, eased safely to a hovering three-quarter distance long-on for a single.

Over 43: England 142-2 (Westley 42, Root 35)
Keshav Maharaj all set to bowl his first ball of the morning, but either he or Faf du Plessis has had a late change of heart. It will be Rabada instead. Maybe we'll see Maharaj next over. Anyway, Root gets his 76th single to deep point before a misfield at gully gets Westley a single that brings up the 50 partnership. There's still a little bump at the back of Westley's sweater and, I'm saddened to report, a label sticking out. Lots for him to work on there. Philander has gone off, by the way, clearly feeling like I do most Sunday mornings although one hopes for different reasons.

Over 42: England 140-2 (Westley 41, Root 34)
Root gets what feels like his 75th single to deep point, even though he's only 34 not out. Don't ask me to explain the maths. Morris goes past Westley's outside edge, and finds it next ball. Goes straight to ground, though.

Over 41: England 139-2 (Westley 41, Root 33)
Offside runs for Westley! It's the length that helps him here, Philander dropping short which allows the Essex man to rock back and steer the ball nicely past gully. Good shot, and to be fair he's hardly played a false one this morning. Until he does, right as I type that, driving at an outswinger and making no contact.

Over 40: England 134-2 (Westley 37, Root 32)
A few umbrellas going up around The Oval as a passing shower hits. Those selfish umbrella-wielders mean some people in the crowd won't get to see Root whip Morris away for four through square-leg, but at least the selfish people didn't get three drops of water on their heads so I think we can agree that that's what's important. Good running gets Root a seemingly impossible second run after a thick inside edge travels barely 20 yards into the legside. Getting back on strike earns Root four more as a rank long-hop from Morris is cut hard behind square, and even the speedy Bavuma can't get around the boundary to cut it off. Eleven runs from the over, and I don't think the rain is going to inconvenience anyone too much. Unless you're sat behind an umbrella-wielding Tory.

Over 39: England 123-2 (Westley 37, Root 21)
Westley certainly doesn't look out of place as a Test batsman, but you do feel he's going to have to develop some sort of offside game if he is to flourish. Just one shot will be enough. Even if it only gets him the odd single. Something that means bowlers can't just keep dogging it outside off stump all day like Philander does here.

Over 38: England 123-2 (Westley 37, Root 21)
A cut shot off Morris brings Root two and takes England's lead past 300.

Over 37: England 121-2 (Westley 37, Root 19)
Maiden over from Philander, who looks like he would rather be anywhere else right now. I'm not a medical man, but he's still a bit poorly I reckon.

Over 36: England 121-2 (Westley 37, Root 19)
Chris Morris into the attack. Couple of singles before Root unfurls a picture-perfect cover-drive and collects four. That is lovely stuff. Shane Warne, meanwhile, reckons England should show more intent and declare with 150 overs remaining. Warne hasn't commentated on 40 Tests; he's commentated on one Test 40 times.

Over 35: England 115-2 (Westley 36, Root 14)
Root happy to spend his day just pinging the ball to deep point for singles right now. And why not.

Over 34: England 114-2 (Westley 36, Root 13)
Root goes after the short ball from Rabada. Gets in a bit of a tangle, but plays the hook shot safely enough in the end, all along the ground to long-leg for a single. Westley gets four with an astonishing shot. He's looked to drive it down the ground, but has somehow managed to absolutely middle it through midwicket for four.

Over 33: England 109-2 (Westley 32, Root 12)
Philander into the attack with a very gentle outswinger that Root steers between slips and gully for four. Whole thing seemed to happen in slow motion. Easy runs for him out there with South Africa focused only on denying him boundaries in that favourite area of his. Westley's sweater has gradually corrected itself as the morning goes on, and now looks okay. A relief to us all. Root collects another single to deep point. 

Over 32: England 104-2 (Westley 32, Root 7)
Shot from Root, pinging Rabada through midwicket. Gets four despite the slow outfield, assisted at least in part by a rather ginger pursuit from Philander. Rabada arcs one past Westley's outside edge as South Africa's tactic of keeping the ball well away from his pads finally tests his patience.

Over 31: England 99-2 (Westley 32, Root 2)
Morkel cuts Root in half with a snorting delivery. His figures in this innings are nothing short of a disgrace. He's literally bowled 5-20 stuff and got 1-35 to show for it. He will probably still end up with figures of 4-81, because Morkel always ends up with figures of 4-81 in every innings. (Don't look this up, just accept that this is correct.

Over 30: England 98-2 (Westley 32, Root 1)
Still "something there" for the bowlers this morning. Rabada, in the middle of a fine spell having looked a bit off the pace earlier in the game, goes past Root's outside edge and keeps the England skipper honest throughout. A drive out to the cover sweeper gets Root off the mark with a single. By my watch, one more over and then South Africa have the option of Philander.

Over 29: England 97-2 (Westley 32, Root 0)
Westley ducks a couple of Morkel bouncers. The first one is no problem, the second a little more uncomfortable as Westley gets himself square on and in a slightly awkward position. No harm done, though. Morkel tries another and gets a bit too excited, pitching the ball at his own toes and sending it sailing over the batsman's head for a wide.

Over 28: England 96-2 (Westley 32, Root 0)
Don't want this blog to get too fashion-heavy, but golf's Beef Johnston is in the crowd here, on the beers and looking less like a professional golfer than any man in history. He's wearing a Hans Moleman T-shirt. You have to say that's magnificent. It's almost enough to make me give golf another chance. Jokes. I will never give golf another chance. Dreadful business. More clothing news: Heino Kuhn has made a mess of his trousers, and not because he's just remembered he's got to face Toby Roland-Jones again in the second innings. No, he's had a slide to try and stop a squirted Westley cover-drive, and come off second best against the damp Oval outfield. Allows Westley to turn two into three.

Over 27: England 93-2 (Westley 29, Root 0)
Westley works one to leg for his first run of the morning. Root plays out the rest of Morkel's over with due care and attention.

Over 26: England 92-2 (Westley 28)
That wicket brings the captain Joe Root to the crease. He's not wearing his England sweater, which is unusual. Surely not another storage error?

WICKET! Jennings c Morris b Rabada 48

Good over from Rabada ends with the dismissal of Jennings two short of a half-century. Jennings desperate to get forward, but Rabada manages to pin him back and eventually gets the surprise short ball to ping off the glove to gully as the England opener tries in vain to drop his hands at the last moment. He's shown a bit of something in that innings, has Jennings, battling through that superb Morkel spell, but hasn't been able to fully capitalise on all that graft.

Over 25: England 92-1 (Jennings 48, Westley 28)
Couple of controlled outside edges bring boundaries for Jennings, who is scoring all the runs this morning. Related: He isn't wearing a sweater that has been inadequately stored overnight. First genuinely decent shot of the morning brings Jennings three on the drive through cover.

Over 24: England 81-1 (Jennings 37, Westley 28)
Right, I can't concentrate on the cricket. Westley has clearly hung his sweater up overnight by just chucking it on a hook. It's lazy, it's bad technique, and it'll get exposed at this level. He's now got a weird lumpy bit sticking out the back of his neck. Look, he's making his debut and you want to give the guy time to learn from their mistakes, but it's very poor. Rabada bowls a maiden, I think.

Over 23: England 80-1 (Jennings 36, Westley 28)
Jennings collects another single, identical to his first of the morning as a thick inside edge into the legside allows him to get through comfortably. Westley, who didn't have a net this morning but did spend about five minutes hitting throwdowns using only his bottom hand, sees out the over. Vernon Philander, by the way, cannot bowl this morning until 1137 due to the time he spent off the field yesterday.

Over 22: England 79-1 (Jennings 35, Westley 28)
Kagiso Rabada completes the over interrupted by the rain yesterday afternoon. Keaton Jennings scampers a quick single after a thick inside edge, while Tom Westley's thigh-pad adds four more to the England total. Now time for Morne Morkel...

 ☀️ 1058: The players are out in the middle. The faux-traditional playing of Jerusalem is out of the way. More importantly, the sun is shining. Overhead conditions have had a Headingley-esque effect on proceedings in this game so far. On that basis, this is a batting day right now. Could be very different very quickly.

1050: England are now 2/9 with Sky Bet to go 2-1 up with one to play in this topsy-turvy series. Joe Root is a 4/1 Price Boost to top-score for England in this second innings.

1040: Welcome. The weather has played its unwelcome part, but you would still settle every single time for the position England find themselves in, leading by over 250 runs with massive power to add. What do we reckon? Two sessions of batting, one session of bowling? Whether by getting bowled out or a declaration, that will surely be England's rough plan for the day ahead. As long as it stays dry.