London: Jonny Bairstow made a run-a-ball fifty as England left South Africa needing to rewrite the record books if they were to pull off an astounding win in the third Test. England set South Africa a colossal victory target of 492 in the 100th Test at The Oval when captain Joe Root declared his side’s second innings on 313/8 shortly before tea on the fourth day.
The most any side have made to win in the fourth innings of a Test is the West Indies’ 418/7 against Australia at St John’s in 2002/03. And the largest fourth innings total in a Test at The Oval is the 429/8 posted by India against England in 1979, when Sunil Gavaskar struck a superb double century in a thrilling draw.
A draw now appeared to the only realistic aim for South Africa in this match, with the tourists needing to bat out a session plus Monday’s last day to keep the four-match series all square at 1-1 heading into next week’s finale at Old Trafford.
Keshav Maharaj took two wickets for no runs in four balls shortly after lunch to remove the well-set duo of debutant Tom Westley (59) and Root (50).
But Stokes, whose 112 in a first-innings total of 353 helped establish England’s strong position in this match, kept the runs coming with a brisk 31. Bairstow, whose fifty featured six fours, then scored rapidly.
Meanwhile Toby Roland-Jones, once more enjoyed himself with the bat on his Test debut by hitting two sixes in his 23 not out. England knew that if Middlesex seamer Roland-Jones produced anything like his stunning return of five for 57 in the tourists’ meagre first-innings 175, they would be well on their way to victory.
Scorecard
England 1st Innings: 353
South Africa 1st Innings: 175
England 2nd Innings: Alastair Cook b Morkel 7, Keaton Jennings c Morris b Rabada 48, Tom Westley st de Kock b Maharaj 59, David Malan lbw b Morris 10, Joe Root c Morkel b Maharaj 50, Ben Stokes b Morris 31, Jonny Bairstow c Rabada b Maharaj 63, Moeen Ali (run out) (Bavuma) 8, Roland-Jones (not out) 23.
Extras: (lb11, w3) 14 Total: (for 8 wkts decl., 79.5 overs) 313.
FoW: 1-30, 2-92, 3-170, 4-180, 5-202, 6-251, 7-265, 8-313
Bowling: Morkel 19-6-44-1, Philander 15-3-54-0, Rabada 18-4-56-1, Morris 11-0-70-2, Maharaj 13.5-2-50-3, Elgar 3-0- 28-0
