ENG Vs SA Day 3 Match Updates:
The third Test at The Oval saw a majority of Day 3 controlled by England, but South Africa responded with wickets in the last session to cut down on the home team’s lead. Ollie Robinson’s third Test wicket and Stuart Broad’s four wickets helped England dismiss South Africa for 118 in what was a three-day Test after the first day was postponed due to weather and the second day was halted by the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. With a rapid fifty, Ollie Pope led England’s recovery, but on Saturday at Stump’s, the hosts were reduced to 154/7 by a string of quick wickets.
The South African bowlers lacked a bite early on, notably Kagiso Rabada, who let up 49 runs in a six-over opening performance and bowled too many no-balls. As England scored at a remarkable pace of 5.25 in the 16 overs they faced before tea time.
Jansen got Root to edge to third slip on the first over of the fourth session, ending Root’s innings. Ben Stokes was edged to first slip by Nortje, and Pope stole a Rabada delivery to the keeper as South Africa attempted to recover. Before poor lighting prompted early Stumps, Broad also lost to Rabada.
Robinson and the rest of England’s pacers made the best of the cloudy circumstances earlier in the day. Dean Elgar was bowled by Robinson in the second over of the day. Ben Foakes, who took a total of four catches in the opening period, received a delivery from Anderson after Sarel Erwee outside edged it to him. South Africa collapsed to 36 for 6 as Kyle Verreynne and Mulder both fell to Robinson edging behind, Keegan Petersen was bowled shouldering arms to Robinson, Ryan Rickelton was caught behind from Broad, and Robinson also got Kyle Verreynne.
At the end of day-3 England led by 36 runs with 3 wickets in hand. In the post-match press conference after the end of day-3 Robinson stated that “The message was pretty clear from Ben: just go out there, be positive and try and force a result, play brave cricket, and I think we did that here.”
