Proteas set for return to winning ways
South Africa had a sniff of blood as they took three quick wickets before stumps of the fourth day of the final Test in Centurion.
|||Pretoria - South Africa had a sniff of blood and their first Test victory in just over a year as they took three quick wickets before stumps of the fourth day of the final match in Centurion on Monday after setting England a target of 382 to win.
At the close of play England, who have already won the series 2-0 - were on 52 for three needing 330 to runs to win.
Riding the wave of the momentum from his maiden ‘seven-fer’ from the first innings Kagiso Rabada finished the day with figures of 2/15.
Rabada drew first blood taking the wicket of the embattled Alex Hales (1) leg before wicket with a ball that would have removed middle stump.
Morné Morkel then took the catch of the match with a superb piece of fielding off his own bowling to take the wicket of English captain Alastair Cook (5).
On his follow through Morkel plucked the ball driven by Cook out of the air to take the catch in his right hand.
Two overs later Rabada added his second wicket of the innings as Nick Compton (6) nicked the ball to the wicketkeeper before asking for a review but UltraEdge confirmed the edge to leave England on 18/3.
South Africa declared on 248/5 during the rain delay during the final session after tea.
The Proteas further asserted their control after Hashim Amla (96) and Temba Bavuma (78 not out) shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 117 runs.
Amla edged a wide delivery by Stuart Broad to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow with England finding the breakthrough after they battled to take any during the second session.
Quinton de Kock (9*) joined Bavuma in the middle before the rain delay with South Africa adding 206 runs to their overnight total of 42/1.
Amla and Bavuma patiently forged a combined fifth-wicket stand of 117 runs while denying the English any kind of breakthrough during the second session.
Amla held the innings together after England forced their way back into the game with three wickets before lunch.
Frontline quick bowler James Anderson (3/47) was in a destructive mood during the morning session as he took two wickets in quick succession to move into seventh place on the all-time list for Test wickets on 433.
IOL