England have been 97-0 at stumps, needing simply 33 extra runs to attain a modest goal of 130 on Monday’s remaining day, when spectators shall be let in at no cost, and take the three-match contest 2-1.
England’s Zak Crawley (C) is congratulated by teammate Alex Lees as he celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) throughout play on the fourth day of the third Test cricket match between England and South Africa at The Oval, in London, on 11 September 2022. Picture: Ian Kington/AFP
LONDON – Zak Crawley’s dynamic unbeaten fifty took England to the brink of a series-clinching win over South Africa within the third Test at The Oval on Sunday.
England have been 97-0 at stumps, needing simply 33 extra runs to attain a modest goal of 130 on Monday’s remaining day, when spectators shall be let in at no cost, and take the three-match contest 2-1.
The usually struggling duo of Alex Lees and Crawley completed the day 32 not out and 57 not out respectively.
Even although the floodlights have been on, the umpires determined circumstances have been too harmful when play was halted at 1737 GMT.
Their choice, greeted by boos from a packed crowd, meant England have been denied an opportunity of a win inside two days after Thursday’s play was washed out with out a ball bowled earlier than Friday’s scheduled second day was deserted following the loss of life of Queen Elizabeth II.
England bowler James Anderson advised Sky Sports going off for dangerous gentle was “frustrating but we will come back tomorrow and hopefully finish off the job”.
Crawley deployed each his trademark cover-drive and the pull to good impact throughout a 36-ball fifty that includes 9 fours.
‘DIFFICULT SITUATION’
Left-hander Lees, nonetheless, was dropped off the primary ball of the chase when he edged Kagiso Rabada just for Marco Jansen to flooring a routine fourth-slip probability.
It was a uncommon error by Jansen, who had top-scored with 30 in South Africa’s meagre first-innings 118 earlier than taking a Test-best 5-35 in England’s reply of 158 after he was omitted from the Proteas facet that misplaced the second Test at Old Trafford.
“Obviously we’re in a difficult situation,” Jansen advised reporters. “I guess the plan was just to dry up the runs, create pressure and take wickets that way, but their guys came out with a positive intent and they played well as well.”
Crawley too was reprieved, on 51, when his highly effective whip shot off Anrich Nortje was dropped by Ryan Rickelton at midwicket.
But the injury had been executed earlier on Sunday when South Africa have been dismissed for 169 of their second innings, albeit it was the very best complete of a low-scoring sport dominated by each groups’ quick bowlers.
No Proteas batsman made greater than captain Dean Elgar’s 36.
England skipper Ben Stokes led the assault with 3-39, whereas Stuart Broad took 3-45.
Earlier, England misplaced their final three first-innings wickets for the addition of simply 4 runs after resuming Sunday on 154-7.
South Africa, who managed only one particular person fifty within the series, have been 70-1 at lunch, 30 runs forward. But the second session noticed the Proteas lose six wickets for 76 runs.
Left-hander Elgar had added only one run to his interval rating of 35 when Broad, from across the wicket, had him lbw.
Elgar walked off nearly as quickly as he was given out having, terribly, opted towards a evaluate.
Replays, nonetheless, indicated the ball would have missed leg stump comfortably, though by then South Africa have been 83-2.
Not that Broad cared. By dismissing Elgar, he surpassed retired Australia nice Glenn McGrath’s profession tally of 563 Test wickets, with solely longstanding team-mate Anderson (666) having taken extra amongst tempo bowlers.
“It means a lot to him (Broad) because of how high he held Glenn,” stated Anderson. “It’s a pleasure to bowl with him at the other end.”
Keegan Petersen batted nicely for his 23 earlier than being squared up by an Anderson supply he edged to fourth slip.
England at the moment are on the cusp of a sixth win in seven Tests because the management pairing of Stokes and red-ball coach Brendon McCullum took cost firstly of the season.
Both Anderson and Broad have been controversially unnoticed of the previous tour of the Caribbean that marked the top of Joe Root’s reign as captain, with England having received only one out of 17 Tests earlier than the beginning of the Stokes-McCullum alliance.
“It’s been amazing,” stated the 40-year-old Anderson, now in his a hundred and seventy fifth Test. “Baz (McCullum) has been a breath of fresh air; he’s come in and it just feels positive.
“It’s modified not simply the way in which the gamers assume of Test cricket however your complete world thinks of Test cricket.”