Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature 6th over: South Africa 20-0 (Erwee 9, Elgar 10) Did I mention that everyone was still in black arm bands? Erwee patiently ignores as much of Robinson’s over as he can – including a huge lbw appeal off the fifth ball. Foakes goes up immediately, Robinson is keen and England review but it pitched outside leg by the width of a match. 5th over: South Africa 15-0 (Erwee 5, Elgar 10) Elgar takes his life into his hands by chunking at Anderson and picking up four over the top of the slips. His punishment is a ball which darts in, almost bisecting Elgar through the belly. 4th over: South Africa 11-0 (Erwee 5, Elgar 6) Anderson dived forward to snaffle that but it just kissed the turf before he got his fingers underneath. Erwee survives, with just a couple off Robinson’s over.
NOT OUT!
Yes it did, just in front of Anderson’s hands.
REVIEW!
No-one seems very sure this is out, and the soft-signal on the field is also not out. Erwee turns Robinson behind and Anderson picks up at fifth slip – did it bounce? Elgar looks back as the ball falls short of Anderson in the slips. Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images Updated at 11.51 BST 3rd over: South Africa 9-0 (Erwee 3, Elgar 6) Still having email problems – apologies. On the pitch four slips and a gully rub their fingers in expectation but Elgar manages to squirt one through their defences and down to the rope. 2nd over: South Africa 4-0 (Erwee 2, Elgar 2) Robinson continues with his excellent work in the first innings, sending down a snorter that exclamation marks off the pitch and has a groping Elgar pushing at air. Elgar is beaten by the last as well. 1st over: South Africa 2-0 (Erwee 2, Elgar 0) I didn’t see Anderson roll his eyes in the direction of the batting slip cordon, instead he directed all feeling into an immaculate first over. Both teams bowled out in 36.2 overs – England managed 40 more runs. — Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) September 11, 2022 “Given that the authorities made such an effort to get this match going, it would have been nice if the batsmen had tried just as hard. People have made good money to watch it. “ Jonathan Hodgson, I think the powers that be at The Oval would heartily agree – there is a risk that this game will not make the last day, despite being shorn of the first two. I prescribe a good dose of that school report favourite: application. So, what now? South Africa rolled over for 120, with England 57 for six at the close?
WICKET! Foakes c Petersen b Jansen 14 (England 158 all out, a lead of 40)
Foakes shifts away from off stump but just angles the bat nicely for third slip to poach. England lose four for seven, and three in 13 minutes this morning. A modest Jansen leads South Africa off, holding the ball high in his left hand. His first Test five-fer, five for 35 – each one a proper batter. Marco Jansen of South Africa celebrates his fifth wicket haul after dismissing Foakes . Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian Updated at 11.32 BST 36th over: England 158-9 (Foakes 14, Anderson 0) Yesterday Ben Stokes had bare feet on the balcony, it is towelling white socks today as England capitulate in autumn sunshine.
WICKET! Leach b Rabada 0 (England 158-9)
A round the wicket fizz-bang, which Leach dangles at, edging onto his stumps. Leach looks back towards his shattered wicket as he is bowled by Rabada. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian Updated at 11.33 BST 35th over: England 156-8 (Foakes 13, Leach 0) Foakes picks a single off his hip from the fourth ball, having turned down one off the first. I think he can put more trust in Leach than that. Jansen sprints in, sunlight illuminating his side, like a florescent piping. 34th over: England 155-8 (Foakes 12) Well, that took all of two deliveries.
WICKET! Robinson c Elgar b Rabada 3 (England 155-8)
Robinson pops Rabada straight to mid-off where a surprised Elgar says thanks very much. Rabada celebrates with Elgar after dismissing Robinson. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images Updated at 11.08 BST Over to The Oval , where South Africa pull away from their huddle as the last strains of Jerusalem fade away. They’re mulling over Zac Crawley now. This stat won’t make happy reading for anyone. Crawley is now into the 10 worst averaging opening batters of all-time in men’s Tests (min. 20 innings). England seam dead set on turning him into a pub quiz question. — Jack Fox (@cricket_pig) September 10, 2022 Poor kid, time for a period of hibernation I think. Come again next year. Ah – I have the wrong email address, while I change it pls send to: [email protected] Updated at 11.00 BST Michael Atherton, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain and the Telegraph’s Nick Hoult are in the Sky studio chewing over the events of the last few days with an untouched plate of croissants sitting temptingly in front of them. “J’accuse,” writes Brian Withington. “Although I tend to agree with the broad point he was making, there’s a certain delicious irony in Kevin Pietersen accusing Ben Stokes of a reckless dismissal yesterday.” Isn’t that in the job description of retired players? See, in particular, IT Botham. Updated at 10.36 BST Zapper located. Nasser and Andrew Strauss are on the mike now Strauss: “England have turned around a team that was lacking in confidence, it has been brilliant cricket to watch. At time they have over-played their hand, yesterday it almost looked like the approach was more important than the runs scored which means there is no incentive to do the hard yards.” Some truth there. Shaun Pollock and Kevin Pietersen are whispering in a knowing way -possibly because someone turned down the volume and our remote is missing. Excuse me for a minute while I turn the room upside down. Love this picture – feeling for groundsmen and women this time of year. Updated at 10.24 BST It looks all fine and dandy at The Oval this morning, sun on the outfield, players warming up.
Preamble
Good morning! Seventeen wickets, a debutant, a new monarch – events hit The Oval yesterday. This Test has, with alacrity, thrown itself into the challenge of completing within three days (day one being washed out, day two being cancelled). Ollie Robinson helped himself to another five-fer as South Africa crumbled away like dried up blackberries, only to for England to follow suit, blazing away into a 36 run lead with only three wickets in hand. Play starts at 11am BST (not sure why they don’t follow the County Championship lead and begin half an hour earlier in September), do hang around for the last Test of the summer.
