England v South Africa third Test: Over-by-over commentary

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Close of play

England 1st inns: 353 all out (103.2 overs. Stokes 112, Cook 88, Bairstow 36, Root 29; Morkel 3-70, Rabada 3-95, Philander 2-32) 

South Africa 1st inns: 175 all out (58.4 overs. Bavuma 52, Rabada 30; Roland-Jones 5-57, Anderson 3-25) 

England 2nd inns: 74-1 (Jennings 34*, Westley 28*)

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Third Test headlines

Rain calls halt to play
England lead by 252
South Africa dismissed for 175
Roland-Jones takes five wickets on debut

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England v South Africa day three commentary

CLOSE OF PLAY

1720: So that's it, the umpires have removed the bails abandoning play for the day. I've certainly had the short straw covering days one and three which have been hampered by showers and longer spells on rain.

We've only managed to see 36 overs today but in that time England's Toby Roland-Jones wrapped up a five-wicket haul on his debut and England have taken their lead to 252 with nine second innings in hand and two days remaining. 

You'll be delighted to know Dave Tickner returns to the chair tomorrow morning so hopefully he'll bring some sunshine with him. I hope you've enjoyed today's coverage it's just a shame the weather has cut the day short.

1650: The umpires are set to inspect at 1730, but it's not looking promising. It's still raining quite heavily now and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the umpires decided enough is enough.

1545: A quick update from The Oval. It's still raining and prospects of an immient return look bleak. We'll be back with updates as soon as we get them.

Over 21.2:  England 74-1 (Jennings 34, Westley 28)
It's started drizzling. Two balls of the 22nd over are bowled by Rabada and then the umpires call procedings to a halt.

RAIN STOPS PLAY

Over 21:  England 74-1 (Jennings 34, Westley 28)
Morris is all over the shop but is capable of bowling the odd cracker and Jennings and Westley need to be wary. That's drinks!

Over 20:  England 73-1 (Jennings 33, Westley 27)
That's another good over from Rabada, that's his third successive maiden.  

Over 19:  England 73-1 (Jennings 33, Westley 27)
Morris sees the first ball of his spell driven through extra-cover by Westley - lovely shot. Another short one from Morris is meat and drink to England's No 3 and he crashes it behind square for another boundary. England now lead by 251.

Over 18:  England 64-1 (Jennings 33, Westley 19)
There's a big appeal from Rabada on Jennings but the opener clearly got an edge on that. 

Over 17:  England 64-1 (Jennings 33, Westley 19)
Morkel continues. Du Plessis clearly feels he is his side's best chance of getting a wicket, but Westley drives the final ball of the over for a couple. I think that's it for the big man.

Over 16:  England 62-1 (Jennings 33, Westley 17)
REVIEW: Jennings reviews after the umpire gives him out for a caught-behind or was it leg before of Rabada? The review clearly showed there was no bat involved and the ball also pitched outside the line.  Joel Wilson reverses his decision. That was a great review from Jennings who was clearly unsure whether or not had nicked it.

Over 15:  England 62-1 (Jennings 33, Westley 17)
Morkel is looking tired and strays down the leg side and again Jennings takes full advantage, clipping it off his legs through mid-wicket for four. Westley also chips in with a lovely straight drive. Take your sweater Morne!

Over 14:  England 52-1 (Jennings 28, Westley 13)
Jennings cashes in on some wayward stuff from Rabada, smashing a couple of boundaries through cover. He appears to be growing in confidence.  England go beyond 50 and their lead is now 230.

Over 13:  England 44-1 (Jennings 19, Westley 13)
Only one run coming from Morkel's seventh over. England's batsmen are hanging firm. Time for a change at the Vauxhall End as Kagiso Rabada takes over from Philander.

Over 12:  England 43-1 (Jennings 18, Westley 13)
Westley is proving the benefit of handing a right/left hand combination at the crease as Philander struggles to find his line. The Essex batsman adds a couple of boundaries in that over either side of the wicket. That looks like it's it for Philander who heads off to pavilion.

Over 11:  England 35-1 (Jennings 18, Westley 5)
Morkel is providing a fast bowling masterclass. That's another maiden but he was desperately unlucky not to add Jennings to his list of Test scalps.   

Over 10:  England 35-1 (Jennings 18, Westley 5)
I was very impressed with Tom Westley in that first innings and he's quickly driving Philander on the up through extra-cover for four.

Over 9:  England 30-1 (Jennings 18, Westley 1)
Westley gets a snorter first ball from Morkel but then manages to get off the mark. A very good over there from Morkel which included the prized wicket of Cook. 

WICKET! Cook b Morkel 7

Morkel is rewarded for a a fine spell with one that pitches and hits the top of Cook's off-stump. There's not much the former England skipper could have done about that. Top class fast bowling.

Over 8:  England 30-0 (Cook 7, Jennings 18)
Philander certainly appears to have the wood on Jennings this series but the Durham man currently looks a lot more assured against the seamer's probing accuracy and guides one through third man for his third boundary of the innings so far.

Over 7:  England 26-0 (Cook 7, Jennings 14)
These are tricky conditions for the England batsmen. It's gloomy, the ball is darting around. Morkel gets a couple to pitch and jag past the outside edge of Cook's bat. 

Over 6:  England 26-0 (Cook 7, Jennings 14)
Could this be Keaton Jennings' day. He gets another inside edge off the luckless Philander for another boundary down to fine leg. 

1330:  The umpires Aleem Dar and Joel Wilson are on their way out to the middle and are followed by the South African fielder. I wonder what Faf du Plessis is saying to his troops in their huddle.

1325: Good news. The covers are coming off and play is expected to restart shortly.

1305: A quick update. Lunch is being taken and hopefully the rain will subside and the action will resume shortly.

Let's just take a quick recap as what has happened this morning so far. 

South Africa added 49 runs to their overnight total courtesy of Temba Bavuma, who went on to complete his half-century, and Morne Morkel. But it was Toby Roland-Jones who had the final say by claiming five-for on his Test debut.

England have added a further 20 runs without loss to their lead and are Sky Bet's odds-on favourites to go on and take a 2-1 series lead.

RAIN DELAY

Over 5:  England 20-0 (Cook 6, Jennings 10)   
Morkel beats Cook all ends up the first ball of the over and then steers it through third-man for a boundary. 

The umpires consult and take the teams off the field. The rain has been getting heavier and it's no surprise. As I've mentioned the forecast isn't great. Fingers crossed for more play soon.

Over 4:  England 16-0 (Cook 2, Jennings 10)  
Jennings gets his first boundary of the innings but didn't know too much about it as the ball from Philander comes off the inside edge and flies to the fine-leg boundary. The very next ball finds extra bounce and Jennings edges high to Elgar at slip and the South African opener only gets a finger tip to it. A definite chance there.

Over 3: England 8-0 (Cook 2, Jennings 2)
Jennings adds another single to the total with a drive through cover off Morkel and Cook then gets off the mark with a lovely drive for two. Worryingly though it has started to rain and the forecast is shocking. The coats are going on.

Over 2: England 1-0 (Cook 0, Jennings 1)
Jennings avoids a pair by scampering a single off Philander. That was shocking by South Africa. Keshav Maharaji threw wildly at the non-strikers end and a fumble allowed the Durham opener to get home. A huge cry of relief echoes around the ground.

Over 1: England 0-0 (Cook 0, Jennings 0)
The first over from Morne Morkel to Cook is a maiden. A good start from South Africa who really need to grab some early wickets to put the pressure back on England.

Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings are back out and play will resume in a couple of minutes. There will be huge pressure on Jennings here and he knows it.

INNINGS ENDS

Over 58.4: South Africa 175 all out (Bavuma 52, Philander 10*)  
Another boundary to Philander and he's quickly into double figures, but just as South Africa look to add to their tally.   

WICKET! Bavuma ct Bairstow b Roland-Jones 52

That's it. Roland-Jones caps a dream debut by picking up his fifth wicket of the innings and South Africa are all out for 175 - that's 178 behind England, a very healthy lead and surely England will go on an win it from here.

Over 58: South Africa 170-9 (Bavuma 52, Philander 5)
Philander gets off the mark with a boundary. He's got to be the best No 11 in world cricket at the moment and England need to beware. That's five off that Anderson over.

Over 57: South Africa 165-9 (Bavuma 52, Philander 0)
FIFTY BAVUMA:  Roland-Jones is quickly brought back into the attack and the first ball is edged by Bavuma wide of slip for four to bring up his half-century. It has been a gutsy effort from the South African batsman. That's drinks!

Over 56: South Africa 161-9 (Bavuma 48, Philander 0)
A great over from Anderson who showed all his experience in removing Morkel. Philander is in and plays out the final four balls without too many worries.

WICKET! Morkel ct Cook b Anderson 17

Anderson grabs his third wicket of the match as he finds the edge of Morkel's bat and Cook snaps up a straight forward catch at first slip.

Over 55: South Africa 161-8 (Bavuma 48, Morkel 17)
Moeen gets his look at Bavuma and the South African No 6 looks a little uncomfortable. He's playing for spin but there's nothing there. 

Over 54: South Africa 160-8 (Bavuma 48, Morkel 16)
Double bowling change as Jimmy Anderson replaces Broad. Bavuma edges closer to his half-century with another drive for four, but Anderson responds superbly by beating the outside edge with three successive balls. 

Over 53: South Africa 156-8 (Bavuma 44, Morkel 16)
Time for spin and Moeen Ali and the first two deliveries have Morkel in all kinds of bother. The fourth ball is also close as Morkel manages to get an edge on it and the final delivery brings an appeal for a catch behind by Bairstow, but he's the only one pleading with the umpire. 

Over 52: South Africa 156-8 (Bavuma 44, Morkel 16)
FOLLOW-ON SAVED:  Bavuma takes his side beyond the follow-on with another boundary off Broad, who is proving costly this morning. South Africa trail now by 197 runs.

Over 51: South Africa 152-8 (Bavuma 40, Morkel 16)
Great stuff from South African. Morkel takes his tally to 16 with another boundary of Roland-Jones. Conditions certainly favour batting at the moment and the demons in this pitch seem to have disappeared.

Over 50: South Africa 148-8 (Bavuma 40, Morkel 12)
Broad is certainly struggling to find his line and length, the first ball of his 14th over flying down the leg side for four byes. 

HALF CHANCE: But he almost breaks the stand the final ball of the over as Bavuma drives and Stokes is unable to cling on to, what could only be described as a half chance. Great effort from Stokes who managed to get his left-hand on the ball but it didn't stick.

Over 49: South Africa 143-8 (Bavuma 40, Morkel 12)
A maiden this time from Roland-Jones to Bavuma. This pair certainly look at ease at the moment. Maybe it's time for a bit of spin?

Over 48: South Africa 143-8 (Bavuma 40, Morkel 12)
Morkel square-cuts Broad for another couple and looks at ease prompting the Nottinghamshire bowler to switch to over the wicket. That's much better from Broad, but the final ball he drops it short and Morkel crashes it straight back through mid-on for another boundary. Only 11 runs needed to avoid the follow-on.

Over 47: South Africa 137-8 (Bavuma 40, Morkel 6)
Bavuma wants to get in on the action and straight-drives Roland-Jones for a boundary the first ball of the over, and two balls later the Middlesex seamer lures the diminuative batsman into a false shot and Jonny Bairstow takes above his head. That's certainly the closest England have come this morning.

Over 46: South Africa 133-8 (Bavuma 36, Morkel 6)
Morkel crashes the final ball of Broad's second over of the morning through the covers for four. You could tell he enjoyed that.

Over 45: South Africa 128-8 (Bavuma 35, Morkel 2)
Yesterday's bowling hero, Toby Roland-Jones resumes at the Vauxhall End to Temba Bavuma who picks up a single off the final ball to keep the strike when he could have come back for two easily.

Over 44: South Africa 126-8 (Bavuma 34*, Morkel 2*)
After a couple of wayward deliveries down the leg side, Broad is back on the mark with a maiden, the last ball moving nicely off the seam to provide the england attack with some early encouragement.

1100: It's Stuart Broad to get the action under way this morning from the Pavilion End bowling to Morne Morkel.

1057: The players are out on the pitch - wearing blue caps as part of Cricket United day.  We've also got some blue stumps.

1055: Apparently England's players turned up for today's action on the Underground due to a big cycling event in London. Were you on the tube with them? Let me know if you were and did you get any selfies?

1050: We are 10 minutes away from the resumption with South Africa requiring 28 runs to avoid the follow-on. Good news for Proteas' fans is that Philander is out of hospital and will bat which is a huge boost for the tourists.

1045: Right, let's take a quick look at Sky Bet's in-play odds. England  are now 1/9 to win the match with South Africa 20/1 and the draw, an unlikely 9/1 shot.

1040: It's a glorious start to the day, warm and sunny, but the forecast isn't great with the threat of heavy downpours later this afternoon.

1036: The biggest question is will England enforce the follow-on if they pick up the remaining two wickets cheaply? With the conditions perfect for batting this morning, probably for the first time in the match, I expect Joe Root to bat again and build a huge total and put England in an unasailable position. 

1025: Good morning and welcome to our coverage of day three of the third Test between England and South Africa live from The Oval. I'm Steve Bramley and I'll be bringing you all the action as it happens.

England have put themselves in a superb position to take a 2-1 series lead after dominating Friday's play with both bat and ball. My colleague, Simon Crawford certainly picked the right day to blog yesterday - 14 wickets in the day, four wickets on debut for Toby Roland-Jones and a brilliant Ben Stokes century.

South Africa have their backs against the wall now, still 227 runs behind England with only two first innings wickets in hand and doubts as to whether or not Vernon Philander will bat after suffering a stomach problem.

Day 2 blog replay
Day 1 blog replay