By Neil Manthorp.
England seamer Ollie Robinson claimed four wickets to inspire an extraordinary collapse as South Africa stumbled into lunch on 69 for six on the third day of the third and final test at The Oval on Saturday.
Robinson took advantage of the seam movement on a pitch which has been undercover for most of the last 48 hours after the first day’s washout and the cancellation of the second day as a mark of respect for the passing of Queen Elizabeth and the South African batters had no answers.
Robinson finished the session with figures of 8-3-21-4, having begun the wicket-fest with a beautiful delivery to hit the top of Dean Elgar’s off stump to send the Proteas captain on his way for just a single.
Sarel Erwee (0) edged the impeccable Jimmy Anderson to Ben Foakes for the first of four catches for the England wicketkeeper. Keegan Petersen (12) played no shot to a Robinson off-cutter which nipped back to hit the top of off stump.
Ryan Rickelton (11) slashed Stuart Broad to the backward point boundary in a rare moment of defiance but soon edged another off-cutter from the same bowler to the keeper. South Africa’s own wicketkeeper, Kyle Verreynne (0), gained a thin edge to his second ball from Robinson and the tourists were 35 for five at drinks after an hour.
Wiaan Mulder (3) attempted to counter-attack after the break but his optimistic off drive against a rare wide ball from Robinson flew off another outside edge to Foakes and South Africa were 36-6.
Khaya Zondo and Marco Jansen managed to survive without further loss before lunch with Zondo, in his second test but first innings, defiantly driving spinner Jack Leach for a straight six and cutting him for another four past point to reach 21 not out from 52 deliveries. Jansen displayed a solid defensive technique and drove two straight boundaries to take lunch on 17 from 34 balls.
ENGLAND: Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Ben Foakes, Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, James Anderson
SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar (captain), Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Ryan Rickelton, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje.