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Match report
Ali Martin
After the first day was lost to rain and the second respectfully canceled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the pre-match prediction by both captains that this series decider would produce an outright winner appeared on unstable ground.
But the fall of around 17 wickets in the first three sessions of the available nine keeps things very much on track. Ollie Robinson had shredded South Africa like crepe paper with figures of five for 49 in his 118 despite things looking rosy in the England garden, only for Dean Elgar’s tourists to react in character.
As a day that began with a fitting tribute to the late monarch ended on a low note at 18.28, England were 154 for seven and led by just 36 runs. Ollie Pope had stroked an ultimately unfulfilled 67, but thanks to a collective drive to score quickly and a fine four-wicket performance from Marco Jansen, the hosts had let their position slip away.
Fast Forward Cricket >>
So England lead South Africa by 36 runs with three first innings wickets in hand. ‘Five days? Pah, who needs them. We’ll do it in two…’
That’s it for the day too, Ali Martin’s match minutes coming shortly. I’ll be back at The Oval tomorrow to take you through the afternoon and evening session, if it gets that far you never know with this lot. Tanya Aldred will be your OBO guide for the first half of the day two/four procedure. Thanks for your company and comments as always, good night!
We’re in the ridiculous situation where the sun is bathing the corner of The Oval, but we’ve probably seen the end of the action. Of course, that’s your pile. The game is abandoned, abandoned I tell you. Cricket is so weird sometimes.
It was a memorable and frenetic day, the spectacle and not a little poignancy of the morning giving way to a kind of dizzying version of the Test cricket we have become accustomed to seeing this summer. 17 wickets have fallen in 70 overs as two flawed batting line-ups crumble in the face of Test-quality bowling.
The bad light stops playing
Ollie Robinson comes to the crease and manages to pick up three runs off Rabada with a clean punch at mid-on, but the umpires seem to think it’s too gloomy here in South London and take the players off! Gah! I can see plenty of blue sky around the Oval and it hasn’t gotten any darker in my eyes in the last 20 minutes or so. It could be that, you know.
South Africa players leave the field as bad light stops play. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 18.37 BST
WICKET! Broad c Verreynne b Rabada 6 (England 151-7)
It was only a matter of time! All this effort for just six runs. Still, it was fun while it lasted Stuart. Broad tries a wild hack and gets a tingle to the keeper, the big man is dismissed.
England’s Stuart Broad walks after losing his wicket. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters
Updated at 18.38 BST
33rd over: England 151-6 (Foakes 11, Broad 6) Just a couple of Nortje as things settle down a bit…
32nd over: England 149-6 (Foakes 10, Broad 5) Broad again lines up with a big drive and again just connects with fresh air. Undeterred, he halts proceedings to move someone behind the bowler’s arm, frustrating Rabada in the process. After a delay, Broad is happy to continue and duly dismisses the bowler over mid-on for four. People love it. Most of them anyway.
Stuart Broad plays and misses a shot. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 19.03 BST
31st over: England 142-6 (Foakes 8, Broad 1) Foakes brings a sense of calm to proceedings when he’s on strike, especially compared to the carnival of limbs on display when Broad is looking up. The Surrey gloveman tickles Nortje outside off to pick up four runs.
30th over: England 137-6 (Foakes 3, Broad 1) Broad tries to hit Rabada at the fragment, his long levers swinging with intent but he only manages to connect with fresh air. It is quite clear what his orders are. Does Stuart Broad take orders?
John Starbuck steps in to save me a job:
“Jim, sometime today you’ll probably be able to write ‘Enter the Nighthawk’ – the pleasure is all yours John!
Updated at 6.15pm BST
29th over: England 135-6 (Foakes 2, Broad 0) Foakes takes a couple off Nortje to take England’s lead to 17.
Very good question…anyone?
WICKET! Pope c Verreynne b Rabada 67 (England 133-6)
The Pope has already left! The Surrey man bites a probing delivery outside Rabada’s off stump and gives Kyle the keeper an easy catch. South Africa is a cock-a-hoop.
South Africa’s Kyle Verreynne (right) celebrates after dismissing England’s Ollie Pope. Photograph: Ashley Western/Colorsport/ShutterstockEngland’s Ollie Pope walks after losing his wicket. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
28th over: England 133-6 (Foakes 0, Broad 0) Stuart Broad comes out to bat. Yes. I know.
Updated at 18.39 BST
27 overs: England 129-5 (Pope 63, Foakes 0) Nortje has his dander up, Ben Foakes does well to see his first ball with a defensive punch. This game is alive. I refer you to my bet at 17:37… will we see England with the ball before the close? Sunshine now at The Oval, thirty overs scheduled to be played before the close – Gulp.
WICKET! Stokes c Erwee b Nortje 6 (England 129-5)
Throw! A tough chance but South Africa have bowled Ben Stokes. It’s his opposite number, Dean Elgar, who is recovering at mid-on, the ball spins over his shoulder and he can’t hold on to the dive. It’s an ugly shot from Stokes who tries to hit Nortje down the ground for a six but completely loses his form on the shot, his lower hand slipping off the bat in the process.. it’s going to be costly.. no no! Nortje hooks Stokes and has the last laugh. Dean Elgar looks very relieved.
South Africa’s Dean Elgar drops a catch from England’s Ben Stokes. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianEngland Ben Stokes reacts as he leaves the pitch after losing his wicket. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 18.14 BST
26th over: England 127-4 (Pope 63, Stokes 5) England take the lead with a strong Ben Stokes edge to fine leg. Pope then cuts the sheets for another boundary. He wasn’t in control, Jenny. Rabada sends over three points but can’t quite stem the runs, his last ball slogs through mid off for four more. Pope and England in office.
25th over: England 118-4 (Pope 55, Stokes 4) Ollie Pope goes for his ninth Test fifty with a top edge over the keeper, something is happening almost every ball here. Pope has given him the arm but he has been cheerful, hitting ten fours in 66 balls. A strike for a third for a couple has England empathizing with South Africa.
England’s Ollie Pope celebrates after reaching his half-century. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 18.09 BST
24th over: England 112-4 (Pope 49, Stokes 4) Rabada comes in from the Vauxhall End and Stokes lines up an almighty shot, trotting down the pitch to clip the bowler through cover, but finishes the cut in two by a dent , fast delivery. Stokes will never play any other way. Next ball Stokes cuts with a flourish of his meaty wrists to take four. good contest Do not adjust your set.
23rd over: England 107-4 (Pope 48, Stokes 0) Loud applause greets Ben Stokes as he arrives to replace the departing Brook. The England captain blocks his first ball to see the end of the first over after the break.
What odds will you give me to bat South Africa again before the end of the day?
WICKET! Brook c Rabada b Jansen 12 (England 107-4)
Marco Jansen starts from around the wicket to Harry Brook. Four dot balls on a good length he uses a short ball which Brook bowls lazily and fails to keep the ball down, it goes straight to Kagiso Rabada at long leg. A soft dismissal in his first Test knock.
England’s Harry Brook reacts after losing his wicket. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 17.53 BST
Good news! The players are out again, there are 39 theoretical overs left in the day. Cripes. England resume on 107-3, just 11 runs behind South Africa’s 118. Ollie Pope approaches his home patch, as he often does: 48 off 58. Debutant Harry Brook is with him on 12 off 16 balls.
We can go on until 7:30! Although we can’t… autumn.
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) September 10, 2022
The rain has stopped and it looks brighter in the stands and beyond Harleyford Road. If there is no more wet stuff, play will resume at 5:30 p.m. It’s 5.30pm with old money.
The rain continues to fall and there are more covers here at The Oval.
This gave me a real laugh.
22nd over: England 107-3 (Pope 48, Brook 12) Nortje scrambles through the darkness, Pope cuts it past point for a single to put Brook on strike. The rookie unleashes another confident drive to pick up three more, Brook has settled in nicely here.*
*MOCKERS ALERT
And I’m afraid to say that the rain has gotten a little too heavy, the umpires are calling for the covers and the players are taking it off the field. I don’t think/hope they will last long…
21st over: England 100-3 (Pope 46, Brook 8) A solitary single from Pope brings up England’s hundred. Jansen, who has been South Africa’s best bowler, keeps Brook honest. Floodlights on at The Oval and a few spots of rain, not ideal batting conditions.
20th over: England 99-3 (Pope 45, Brook 8) England bowled out for 99, Pope picks up a couple with a mistimed drive at mid-wicket before hurling the kitchen sink, pots and pans at a top cut, but it doesn’t. Before long, the ball drifts toward deep third where the fielder doesn’t catch the ball in the encroaching darkness. Has it gotten dark and crazy here at The Oval, a storm brewing?
19th over: England 96-3 (Pope 42, Brook 0) Harry Brook gets his first runs in Test cricket with a good game…