England v South Africa fourth Test: Live over-by-over commentary
Fourth Test scoreboard
England 2nd inns: 224-8 (66.2 overs. Moeen Ali 67*, Root 49, Stokes 23, Jennings 18; Olivier 3-38, Rabada 2-37, Morkel 2-39, Maharaj 1-92)
South Africa 1st inns: 226 (72.1 overs. Bavuma 46, Amla 30, du Plessis 27, Kuhn 24, de Kock 24, Rabada 23; Anderson 4-38, Broad 3-46, Moeen Ali 2-57, Roland-Jones 1-41)
England 1st inns: 362 (108.3 overs. Bairstow 99, Stokes 58, Root 52, Cook 46, Westley 29, Malan 18, Jennings 17, Moeen Ali 14; Rabada 4-91, Maharaj 2-58, Olivier 2-91, Morkel 2-92)
Fourth Test headlines
Reviews remaining: England 2 South Africa 1
Rain stops play with England 360 ahead
Moeen counter-attack takes lead beyond 350
Olivier picks up Root, Stokes, Bairstow
Root misses out on half-century
Jennings, Malan fail again
England secure 136-run first-innings lead
Live Sky Bet odds
Get in touch: @tickerscricket | Dave.Tickner@sportinglife.com
Fourth Test commentary
STUMPS: England, 224-8, lead by 360 runs
That will be that for the day. With the rain still falling and the full covers in place, there's no prospect of getting back out there before 6pm. The spectators have had their money's worth, to be fair. Runs, wickets, walrus masks. Today has had everything. At the end of it all, England lead by 360 with two wickets in hand. It's a very good position.
1715: Rain Stopped Play: England, 224-8, lead by 360 runs
The rain is not heavy to be fair, but it won't need to hang around long to force an early close. England happy enough, you'd imagine. Long way ahead, two full days remaining, and no need to force the issue given a 2-1 lead.
Over 66.2: England 224-8 (Moeen Ali 67, Broad 0)
Moeen carries on his way. This innings every bit as good as Bairstow's in the first innings as South Africa once again fail to finish off having done much of the work. Crunches a drive back past Rabada's head for four before the rain we've been expecting all afternoon makes its appearance and sends the players off the field. England have got their lead right up to 360 now, and you have to think that's plenty.
Over 66: England 219-8 (Moeen Ali 62, Broad 0)
Moeen goes after Maharaj again. Doesn't get all of this one out of the rough. Still gets enough to clear the man at deep square-leg for a third six of his innings. Sweeps the next one hard to deep square-leg for a single. Broad now has four balls to just play for his mate. He sweeps at the first two and gets through the last. Here's a good stat. Moeen is the first England player to take 20 wickets and score more than 200 runs in a series since Andrew Flintoff in the 2005 Ashes. Eighth England player overall.
Over 65: England 212-8 (Moeen Ali 55, Broad 0)
Moeen takes a single to give Broad one ball to survive. He does so nicely enough, swaying inside a bouncer and keeping the hands well out of the way.
WICKET! Roland-Jones c Maharaj b Rabada 11
Really good catch this in the end. Roland-Jones goes after the short ball again but gets a big top edge to it. Maharaj runs - or more accurately hobbles - back from midwicket to take a smart diving catch over his shoulder. Easier ones have gone down for South Africa today.
Over 64: England 207-7 (Moeen Ali 51, Roland-Jones 11)
The good news for South Africa is that they've found a cricketer who can catch Moeen Ali. The bad news is that it's Jonny Bairstow, on the England balcony, after Moeen smashes one way, way back straight over Maharaj's head for six to reach a brilliant run-a-ball half-century.
MM Ali 50: 50 balls 7x4 2x6
Over 63: England 200-7 (Moeen Ali 44, Roland-Jones 11)
Drop! Another chance goes down. To be fair, this is a sensational effort from du Plessis. Short ball from Rabada flies off the shoulder of Roland-Jones' bat and over the slips. Looks like it's going to land safely, but Faf runs back and dives full length. He's got the ball in his right hand as he lands, but the jolt of the landing pops the ball out. To add to his woes, he's also jarred his shoulder. Rabada nails another yorker, but Moeen just manages to get his bat down in time from that big backlift and then pulls the next one through midwicket right out of the middle of the bat. Another pull to the deep square-leg brings up the 200. This partnership now worth 47 precious runs. Just starting to get to the vanishingly unlikely range here.
Over 62: England 194-7 (Moeen Ali 39, Roland-Jones 10)
Cracking cameo this from Moeen. I still can't decide exactly where he should bat between five and eight, but he's doing a grand job here. Gets width from Maharaj and laces a drive to the cover fence. Next ball is quicker, flatter, and deposited miles over midwicket for six. Moeen now 39 off 43, and the lead reaches 330.
Over 61: England 184-7 (Moeen Ali 29, Roland-Jones 10)
Good diving take from de Kock diving down the legside to save four leg-byes. England do get an extra on their total as a very short bouncer from Rabada is rightly called wide by Aleem Dar. Sometimes those can be really harsh on the bowler, but that sailed way over the batsman's head. Rabada goes for that yorker of his to end the over and gets it just about spot on. Landing on the crease with a bit of tail in to the right-hander, but Roland-Jones is equal to the task, getting his toe out of the way and his bat into it.
Over 60: England 183-7 (Moeen Ali 29, Roland-Jones 10)
Elgar not having a good time at slip. Reverse-sweep from Moeen nutmegs him and runs away for four. Maharaj spins away in frustration. Worth noting that for all the drama and unpleasantness of the left-handers trying to cope with that rough, he's now got figures of 1-68. He's bowled well, though, just hasn't had any luck/help.
Over 59: England 179-7 (Moeen Ali 25, Roland-Jones 10)
Rabada back into the attack. Roland-Jones tries to pull one that only just clears the off bail. First drops of rain starting to fall, but it's not heavy and it looks like we've escaped most of the wet stuff.
Over 58: England 179-7 (Moeen Ali 25, Roland-Jones 10)
England doing the right thing here. Quick runs before you get one with your name on it. Two very different but equally good swept fours from Moeen, the first deftly paddled fine and the second hit hard over square-leg.
Over 57: England 171-7 (Moeen Ali 17, Roland-Jones 10)
Moeen hits the ball hard into the ground and over the cover fielder to collect a single. Roland-Jones then absolutely hammers a pull shot to the midwicket fence as Olivier drags one down halfway. TRJ's batting reminiscent of a right-handed, early-career Broad. Already excited for about five years from now when he literally won't be able to score a run.
Over 56: England 166-7 (Moeen Ali 16, Roland-Jones 6)
Moeen manages to get on top of the bounce as one spits from the footmarks and guides it past gully for a single. Roland-Jones plays out the over.
Over 55: England 165-7 (Moeen Ali 15, Roland-Jones 6)
One thing we can say with confidence is that these two will play their shots. Toby Roland-Jones off the mark with a booming cover-drive off Olivier. South Africa will now have to chase 300 at least for victory. Leg-before shout turned down, going down leg by plenty, and Roland-Jones ends the over with a tidy clip off his hip for two.
Over 54: England 159-7 (Moeen Ali 15, Roland-Jones 0)
Drop! Another eventful over in which Moeen swipes to midwicket for two, punches beautifully through the covers for four, and is then bizarrely dropped at slip by Elgar. Had the ball in his hands but as he tumbled back to earth having rolled to his left the ball pops out.
Over 53: England 153-7 (Moeen Ali 9)
South Africa now 9/2 for victory. Fascinating Test match this. And there's now an elephant mask as well as the walrus mask in the party stand, so it's literally all happening.
WICKET! Bairstow c Rabada b Olivier 10
A wicket to end an eventful over. Moeen gets three through square-leg before Bairstow gets two for a dab behind point and four for a crunching pull shot just out of Amla's reach at midwicket. Goes after another short ball from Olivier, but this time succeeds only in skying it to long-leg where Rabada gets himself in a bit of a tangle before safely pouching the ball low to his right. England's lead is 289. Game moving forward...
Over 52: England 144-6 (Bairstow 4, Moeen Ali 6)
Moeen misses out on a half-volley from Maharaj, crunching a drive to mid-off. Does get a single from the last ball of the over after steering the ball wide of that man.
Over 51: England 143-6 (Bairstow 4, Moeen Ali 5)
Olivier starts the evening session as he ended the afternoon, snaking one past the outside edge as Moeen optimistically looks to work it through the legside. Gets himself a single from one that's short enough to work away off the back foot before Bairstow finally gets off the mark with a crunching cover-drive as Olivier fractionally overpitches.
TEA: England, 138-6, lead South Africa by 274 runs
In truth, England have probably got enough already given the way the pitch is starting to play and the gloomy overhead conditions that are forecast to remain in place for the rest of the game. But huge credit to South Africa for the way they've kept themselves in the match and the series here. Four quick wickets and one heroic partnership, who knows? They could still do this, and are 6/1 to do so. England still firm favourites at 2/7 with the draw drifting like a barge at 6/1 - and it's only the weather keeping it as short as that. The tricky batting conditions summed up by the fact Bairstow, a man in fine form, is right out at 5/4 just to reach 25 here.
Over 50: England 138-6 (Bairstow 0, Moeen Ali 4)
South Africa rush around and get another over in before tea, but Bairstow safely negotiates another six balls from Maharaj.
Over 49: England 138-6 (Bairstow 0, Moeen Ali 4)
My word, Olivier looking unplayable here. Almost gets Moeen first ball as an inside edge off an attempted leave whistles past the off stump and down to the boundary. Olivier has figures of 8-5-13-2, and eight of those runs have been off genuine edges in this over.
WICKET! Stokes c du Plessis b Olivier 23
Stokes gets away with one outside edge that flies through the gap between second and fourth slip, but no escape next time. Straight into du Plessis' breadbasket, and South Africa still just about in the game here.
Over 48: England 130-5 (Stokes 19, Bairstow 0)
Bairstow plays out a maiden from Maharaj. No run in 29 balls.
Over 47: England 130-5 (Stokes 19, Bairstow 0)
Another maiden for Olivier. Bowled really well in this game, and especially in this second innings. Generally thrown in the odd real loose delivery to relieve the pressure, but has 1-5 through seven overs here.
Over 46: England 130-5 (Stokes 19, Bairstow 0)
A sweep shot against Maharaj proved Bairstow's undoing in the first innings, and there's another appeal against him here. No doubt about whether this one hit him in line, but it's drifting on down the legside. Didn't straighten.
Over 45: England 130-5 (Stokes 19, Bairstow 0)
Drop! Kuhn almost holds on to a screamer. He's very close at midwicket, barely 10 metres from the bat, and Stokes absolutely creams a pull shot at him. Kuhn throws his hands out and gets a good piece of it, but just can't hold on. Classic "either they stick or they don't" job, and this one didn't. Definitely saved four.
Over 44: England 130-5 (Stokes 19, Bairstow 0)
Stokes v Maharaj been a good battle. Stokes gets himself a single early in the latest round, working the ball to leg.
Over 43: England 129-5 (Stokes 18, Bairstow 0)
England's near-centurion from the first innings back in the middle with work still to do to put this game safe. The pitch is starting to deteriorate quite rapidly. Don't think there's going to be enough rain to bring the draw back into play, to be honest.
WICKET! Root b Olivier 49
Olivier gets Root for the second time in the match. The ball just keeps a bit low, and comes off the bottom of the bat and into the off stump. That's a very good 49 in the conditions, but a double frustration for Root. He was one short of a landmark and knows that rain could take the players off at any moment.
Over 42: England 129-4 (Root 49, Stokes 18)
Maharaj just trying to contain Root by throwing it into all that rough. Gets one too short, though, allowing Root to rock back and work the ball through point for an easy single. Stokes takes a couple of big risks but is good enough both times to get the middle of the bat to the ball and pick up boundaries. The first is a well-struck reverse sweep, the first an almighty mow over midwicket after running down the wicket. Had stumped written all over it as he started his advance. Stokes has great hands, though, and they get him out of trouble even though he got nowhere near the pitch. WALRUS MASK UPDATE: The cameraman put the mask on. Everyone was delighted.
Over 41: England 120-4 (Root 48, Stokes 10)
Nonchalantly done by Stokes, moving across and down the pitch to whip Morkel away behind square on the legside for four. Meanwhile, we've just seen what's keeping the party stand so vocally entertained. It's a rubber walrus mask. Obviously. Other news: floodlights are on.
Over 40: England 116-4 (Root 48, Stokes 6)
Stokes sweeps Maharaj hard out of the footmarks for a single before Root adds four more. Poor delivery from Maharaj way down legside and very full. Root gets just enough bat on it to get it pretty much straight through de Kock and down to the fence. Root spend the rest of the over kicking the ball away out of the rough. Left-handed Stokes watching on jealously from the other end. The lead, meanwhile, is past 250 and South Africa drift back to 9/1. Does feel like the light is closing in as well; this is about the point at which the rain was forecast to arrive. Judging by the sound emanating from the party stand, they've made sure to take on a full day's drink in two sessions just in case. Good forward planning - let's hope that has also extended to booking Monday off work.
Over 39: England 111-4 (Root 44, Stokes 5)
Root clips Morkel out to deep square-leg for a couple and adds four with a no-nonsense deflection as the big man falls away to off and spears one down the legside. In between, Root absolutely laces a drive straight to Heino Kuhn at cover. Genuinely thought for a moment it had knocked Kuhn's little finger clean off, but it was only some strapping he'd had on it. Which is a relief.
Over 38: England 105-4 (Root 38, Stokes 5)
Given how hard it's been for actual left-handers against Maharaj, bit of a strange option for famously right-handed Joe Root to have a go at southpaw. Attempts an audacious switch hit at one that bounces out of the filth outside the right-hander's leg stump and cannons off de Kock's shoulder for a bye. Last ball of the over spins down the legside at head height giving de Kock literally no chance. Four byes the technical outcome but no blame for the keeper there. Unlike in the previous over, it turns out, when a ball that everyone thought had gone past Stokes' outside edge had in fact, according to Ultra-Edge, found it. Stokes either a brilliant actor or genuinely didn't realise he'd nicked it. Gave no clue.
Over 37: England 100-4 (Root 38, Stokes 5)
Morkel oversteps - hasn't done that much since Lord's, to be fair - as Stokes pulls him to long-leg for a single. That brings up England's hundred and takes the lead to 236. Another hundred runs and England will be starting to feel pretty comfortable, while still wanting another hundred runs because people are inherently greedy and nervous.
Over 36: England 97-4 (Root 37, Stokes 4)
Yeah, Root needs to face all the Maharaj deliveries. So much easier. Pads up and defends until he gets the line and length he wants to hammer a sweep shot to the square-leg boundary.
Over 35: England 93-4 (Root 33, Stokes 4)
Root at his scampering, busy best here as he pushes to deep point and clips to long-leg and scurries back for a second run each time off the returning Morkel. Big appeal for leg-before from the bowler, but nobody else is much interested. Sliding down, and it's just a leg-bye to the total.
Over 34: England 88-4 (Root 29, Stokes 4)
Root takes the ball almost out of de Kock's gloves to guide a late cut past gully for a couple before keeping the strike with a tip-and-run single to cover. The left-arm spinner rather easier for the right-hander to counter.
Over 33: England 85-4 (Root 26, Stokes 4)
Stokes absolutely nails a cut shot off Rabada but can't get it past Bavuma who suffers some stinging palms for his trouble.
Over 32: England 84-4 (Root 25, Stokes 4)
Becoming a bit of a lottery out of those footmarks now. First one bounces waist height from a good length as he lets it go, and the next grubs along the ground and through de Kock's legs for four byes. Stokes does get a hard sweep away for four, but there's a strong case for Root getting himself down to Maharaj's end and just camping there while there's a left-hander in with him.
Over 31: England 76-4 (Root 25, Stokes 0)
You know things have got a bit tense when you reach the cheering-every-run stage. A cheer that is more a 15,000-strong outpouring of relief and pent-up tension greets a cut shot from Root off Rabada as it bounced back off the boundary boards at third-man. The lead is up to 212 as the clouds begin to gather over Manchester.
Over 30: England 72-4 (Root 21, Stokes 0)
New batsman Ben Stokes shoulders arms to one that spins back sharply from Maharaj. Much closer than the one they wasted a review on earlier - only missing by a stump this time instead of a full set. No review this time. South Africa, meanwhile, back in to 6/1 again after another double strike.
WICKET! Malan c de Bruyn b Maharaj 6
England getting themselves in a pickle here. Malan unable to capitalise on his good fortune as he comes down the pitch to defend against Maharaj but succeeds only in getting an inside edge to short-leg. England also need a number five against West Indies. I'd go for Alex Hales, in a position where he's got the freedom to just smash it like he does in one-day cricket.
Over 29: England 71-3 (Root 20, Malan 6)
Drop! Bizarre shot from Malan, attempting to pull the ball from way outside off stump and ending up skying it down towards third-man. Bavuma sprints back from point and dives full-length to get two hands on the ball as it drops over his shoulder, but can't hold on. Would've been a sensational catch, and I'd wager no other fielder in this team could've laid a hand on it.
Over 28: England 67-3 (Root 19, Malan 3)
Not been much loose stuff from Maharaj in this match, or indeed the series, but Root cashes in here by clubbing a full-toss to the midwicket rope. The lead goes past 200.
Over 27: England 62-3 (Root 15, Malan 2)
Malan nurdles a single, before Root's thigh-pad chips in with a useful boundary to fine-leg.
Over 26: England 57-3 (Root 15, Malan 1)
Couple of swept singles from Maharaj's over.
Over 25: England 55-3 (Root 14, Malan 0)
Root seems to have spent literally all his Test career trying to put out fires at 55-3. Another man under pressure joins him in the middle as Dawid Malan bids to both get England out of South Africa's reach and, more selfishly, play his way into the team for the West Indies series.
WICKET! Jennings c Amla b Rabada 18
That might be that for Jennings. Such a tame dismissal as well. Short and not quite wide enough from Rabada, but Jennings goes for the cut and edges straight to Amla. The ball travels to the fielder in almost apologetic slow-motion. England's search for an opening batsman goes on. Getting to the stage where it's going to need an ITV reality show called Opening Up! hosted by Mark Nicholas and Claudia Winkleman to solve the problem. If Winkleman can't fix it, then maybe England will just have to bite the bullet and pick Mark Stoneman.
Over 24: England 55-2 (Jennings 18, Root 14)
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, run!" comes the call from Root as he waits to discover whether his back-foot steer off Maharaj will beat the man at point. Tougher for Jennings than Root against Maharaj because a) he's not as good and b) he's got to deal with stuff spitting and spinning and bouncing out of the footmarks. Gets hit on the thigh padding up to one, before working the ball away for a single by nutmegging short-leg. We could, if we wanted, technically just about call it a chance.
LUNCH: England, 53-2, lead South Africa by 189 runs
Two wickets have just about kept South Africa in the hunt here, albeit clinging on by their fingernails. Jennings showed plenty of ticker to get through to lunch after getting a life on nought. Run-scoring has been difficult this morning - Root having only 13 to his name from 44 balls is testament to that - and 189 is a pretty handy lead. England are 1/3 for victory, South Africa back out to 12s having shortened to 6/1 when Westley was dismissed, while the draw a forecast-influenced 100/30. Draw would be any price you like if we could guarantee getting all the remaining play. Root is a 13/8 Price Boost to top-score in this innings.
Over 23: England 53-2 (Jennings 17, Root 13)
Olivier so much more consistent in this spell. Is it just coincidence that it's also the first spell he's bowled with his shirt tucked in? Not for me to say. Jennings beaten outside the off stump, but battles through the rest of the over, as he has all session long. Whatever flaws and problems he may have, a lack of heart is not one of them.
Over 22: England 53-2 (Jennings 17, Root 13)
Jennings beaten by the drift as Maharaj gets one to go straight on, but he manages to get himself off strike with another reverse-sweep for a single. Root calls Jennings in for a chat with one ball left in the over as the clock ticks agonisingly towards 1pm. It's not worked; there will be one more over for Olivier.
Over 21: England 52-2 (Jennings 16, Root 13)
Swing and a miss from Root outside the off stump to end another good over from Olivier. His best, most consistent spell of the series, this.
Over 20: England 52-2 (Jennings 16, Root 13)
Maharaj gets away with a short ball, Root steering it straight to backward-point, but does give up a run as a half-volley is driven out to Hashim Amla on the fence.
Over 19: England 51-2 (Jennings 16, Root 12)
Jennings middles a cover-drive off Olivier for four, but you can still see all the reasons why that shot gets him in trouble. Stiff, standing tall on the shot, playing on the up away from his body. His eyes and hands are good enough on this occasion, but it's easy to see how that shot could go wrong. It basically looks exactly like Marcus Trescothick's cover-drive, but without the transfer of weight into the shot.
Over 18: England 47-2 (Jennings 12, Root 12)
Leg-before shout to end a good maiden over from Maharaj, but it's sliding down leg. Aleem Dar says now, and a gun-shy du Plessis has no interest in using up his second review after that nonsense earlier.
Over 17: England 47-2 (Jennings 12, Root 12)
Good opening over from Olivier. Got Root lbw in the first innings and almost does so again here with one that tails in to the right-hander and finds the inside edge. Root also misses an attempted cut shot, but will feel like he missed out on four rather than being beaten by the bowler there. Gets a single to long-leg from the fifth ball, before Jennings watches one carry nicely through to de Kock at head height. Bounce definitely becoming unpredictable here.
Over 16: England 46-2 (Jennings 12, Root 11)
Shot from Root, a hard sweep behind square-leg for four. A shorter ball from Maharaj allows Root to get back and work to leg for a single. Looking typically busy here. Good ball to finish the over, drawing Jennings forward and getting the desired bat-pad contact. Pops up out of short-leg's reach, though.
Over 15: England 41-2 (Jennings 12, Root 6)
One more over for Morkel, it turns out. Root drives carefully through cover for two, and adds a single to deep point. One ball for Jennings to negotiate, which he does. He has officially seen off the new ball.
Over 14: England 38-2 (Jennings 12, Root 3)
Keshav Maharaj into the attack. Contender for worst review of all time here, given that the batsman is Jennings and the ball from Maharaj literally would not have hit a second set. He's padding up to a ball absolutely miles outside the line that spins, but nowhere near enough to get anywhere near the stumps. Maharaj and de Kock, though, are absolutely adamant and du Plessis decides to send it upstairs. Jennings then gets himself four with a well-struck reverse-sweep. Was one of the features of that debut century in India, which now seems a very, very long time ago. Hasn't hung around long enough to face much spin in this series.
Over 13: England 33-2 (Jennings 8, Root 2)
Root squirts one to deep point for a single. That might be that for Morkel's new-ball spell. Been another cracking one, and this time it's been rewarded.
Over 12: England 32-2 (Jennings 8, Root 1)
Couple of iffy runs in the over, Root's to get off the mark in particular putting Jennings in strife after dabbing the ball barely a foot or two away from the speedy Bavuma at backward point. The lead now a very useful but not yet commanding 168.
Over 11: England 30-2 (Jennings 7)
England just need to be slightly careful not to give South Africa a sniff here.The Proteas' odds have halved from 12/1 to 6/1 since the start of this innings.
WICKET! Westley c sub (Markram) b Morkel 9
Mirror-image of the dismissal of Westley's Essex team-mate Cook. Fine bowling from Morkel, pushing the ball up there and encouraging the drive. Westley's, like Cook's, squirts off a thick outside edge to gully, where sub fielder Aiden Markram this time is on hand to take the catch.
Over 10: England 26-1 (Jennings 7, Westley 5)
Good from this inexperienced pair, each picking up tight but safe quick singles off Rabada. Ticking the scoreboard over so important here.
Over 9: England 24-1 (Jennings 6, Westley 4)
Westley almost done by one that grubs along the ground from back of a length. Goes right under the middle of the bat but misses the off stump. Two balls later, one climbs past the shoulder of the bat and through to de Kock at head height. Tricky. Morkel gets himself in a tangle trying to show off his football skills when Westley defends one back to him. Tries to flick it up with his boot and instead shins it painfully to cover. Great touch.
Over 8: England 24-1 (Jennings 6, Westley 4)
Nice pressure-reliever for Jennings as Rabada serves up a leg-stump half-volley that just begs to be clipped away through midwicket for four.
Over 7: England 20-1 (Jennings 2, Westley 4)
Cook departing early and leaving Jennings and Westley in charge feels a bit like when Liam Neeson pegs it in The Phantom Menace and leaves Ewan McGregor to try and carry that absolute mess of a film. Obi Wan Westley uses the Force to steer Darth Morkel behind point for four.
WICKET! Cook c de Bruyn b Morkel 10
No such luck for Cook, who's drawn into a loose drive and slices to gully where Theunis de Bruyn takes a simple catch.
Over 6: England 16-0 (Cook 10, Jennings 2)
Drop! Is this the turning point for Jennings? Almost certainly not, but it's a chance at least. Edge goes quickly but at a lovely height to Dean Elgar's left at third slip, and he can't hold on. Would've had a better chance if he wasn't still insisting on standing on du Plessis' toes at second slip. Huge cheers as Jennings then gets off the mark with a push through cover for two. They're well-meaning, those cheers, but they did just sound a tiny bit sarcastic.
Over 5: England 14-0 (Cook 10, Jennings 0)
Shane Warne is on commentary, and already talking about the declaration. On the third morning. Of a match England need only draw. It's going to be a long couple of days. Cook gets two more for a controlled defensive push behind point.
Over 4: England 12-0 (Cook 8, Jennings 0)
It almost seems cruel and unusual to subject Jennings to this. Somehow manages to get through another Rabada maiden over, but it just looks like no kind of fun.
Over 3: England 12-0 (Cook 8, Jennings 0)
Genuinely, the most impressive thing about this series is the fact that Morkel hasn't completely lost his mind at the sheer, rage-inducing injustice of it all. Cook gets four through midwicket - fair enough, it's a good shot and one of Cook's staples - and then adds four more off a genuine edge that finds the gap between slips and gully. Cricket balls are attracted to that gap like cricketers to Nando's.
Over 2: England 4-0 (Cook 0, Jennings 0)
England's position may be close to impregnable, but Keaton Jennings' certainly is not. No exaggeration to say he's playing for his Test career here, and it surely won't have helped him to see Haseeb Hameed sitting in the England dressing room on day one. You don't want to be giving another bloke a chance in that West Indies series coming up before the Ashes. Nail down a slot now. Not the most auspicious start, though, with three plays and misses in Kagiso Rabada's opening over. Two of the three don't carry to de Kock, it's worth noting. Slips shuffling gradually forward.
Over 1: England 4-0 (Cook 0, Jennings 0)
England's lead grows by four in the opening over via the flap of Cook's pad as Morkel gets his line slightly wrong from round the wicket. Rest of the over is decent, as Unlucky Morkel generally has been throughout the series.
END OF INNINGS: South Africa, 226, trail England by 136 runs
No five-wicket haul for Anderson but a thoroughly professional job from England's attack. Pretty poor effort from South Africa, it must be said. Morkel looked as solid as anyone bar Bavuma and Amla, which is telling. Over to England's batsmen now to put the series beyond the Proteas. England now 1/3 to beat the South Africans and the weather to secure the series by a 3-1 margin. South Africa 12/1 to pull a rabbit out of the hat and draw the series 2-2.
WICKET! Olivier c Bairstow b Broad 4
No five-fer for Anderson, Broad the party pooper. Short ball that Olivier can't resist. Sends the ball steepling over the keeper and slips, and both Bairstow and Cook set off after it. The man with the gloves rightly takes charge, sends Cook out of the way and pouches it easily enough. England's first-innings lead is 136
Over 72: South Africa 226-9 (Morkel 20, Olivier 4)
Morkel showing better judgement of his off stump than some of his top-order mates with a trio of nice leaves. Good technique, nice flourish as the arms are shouldered. He's no Robin Smith, sure, but very good for a number 10. Has to play at the final ball of the over, but defends it stoutly to gully.
Over 71: South Africa 226-9 (Morkel 20, Olivier 4)
Morkel helps himself to a single to deep square-leg. Olivier looking solid enough for a number 11, in behind a couple of defensive shots and then doing well to keep a short ball down with short-leg lurking. Jimmy gets another chance...
Over 70: South Africa 225-9 (Morkel 19, Olivier 4)
Morne Morkel takes a quick single. Tight run, and Keaton Jennings' throw might've found Olivier just short had it hit the target. Mixed emotions for Anderson as that ball whistled past the stumps, but he now has Olivier in his sights. He's off the mark with a thick edge off a defensive push that beats Stokes to the third-man fence despite his typically committed full-length dive and attempt to flick the ball back in play.
Over 69: South Africa 220-9 (Morkel 18, Olivier 0)
Stuart Broad goes past South Africa number 11 Duanne Olivier's outside edge but he blocks the final ball of the over solidly enough. It will be James Anderson then, but he'll now be bowling towards rather than from his own end. Which still sounds wrong.
1040. Welcome. What a day for England yesterday. Jonny Bairstow and James Anderson to the fore, and they are now one competent second innings away from securing a series victory. That's assuming they're able to polish South Africa's first innings off early this morning. Which they ought to do. Stuart Broad will have three balls before Anderson embarks on a bid to secure his first ever Test five-fer at Old Trafford. Unless Joe Root is feeling mischievous, of course...
Updated emoji weather forecast:
Morning: ⛅️
Afternoon: 🌧
Evening: 🌧
Tomorrow: 🌧
Tuesday: 🌧
And check out yesterday's highlights, of which there were many...