England on the brink of victory at The Oval
England will return on the final day of The Oval’s 100th Test in pursuit of six more South Africa wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
The hosts set their visitors a world-record 492 to win in four sessions after half-centuries from Tom Westley, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow in their 313-8 declared.
First-innings centurion Ben Stokes then took two wickets in two balls, as South Africa faltered to 52-4 before Dean Elgar (72 not out) and Temba Bavuma demonstrated the hint of a lasting rearguard in an unbroken stand of 65 on the way to 117-4 at stumps.
It is nonetheless a long shot that South Africa could somehow prevent a home victory, with only the fourth Test to come at Old Trafford.
Debutant Westley’s was the most notable of England’s 50s. They had to dig in as South Africa bowled tightly, and partial cloud cover meant batting remained an awkward occupation as it has been throughout this match.
But Westley (59), Root (50) and Bairstow (63) were able to help present the home attack with a minimum 138 scheduled overs in which to force the endgame. After 18 of them, they appeared to be on the fast track.
Opener Heino Kuhn is still searching for a first significant score after his three Tests, this time bowled off-stump when Stuart Broad got one to nip back and defeat his defence.
England struck another big blow when Toby Roland-Jones continued his fine debut by seeing off Hashim Amla for the second time in the match, for just five to add to his first-innings six.
Quinton de Kock could not interrupt the unstoppable force, bowled off his pads by a yorker from Stokes, who immediately followed up when Faf du Plessis was lbw first ball, playing no shot as in the first innings.
Only opener Elgar, dropped by Keaton Jennings at third slip off James Anderson on nine, appeared to be sticking around.
But en route to a 77-ball 50, he found a like-minded ally in Bavuma – the batsman who batted longer than the rest with a half-century first time round.
In the hosts’ second innings, no one worked harder than No 3 Westley, who shared a stand of 62 with Keaton Jennings and then - during a partnership of 78 with Root - reached 50 at his second attempt in Test cricket.
His second-wicket partner Jennings needed none of the good fortune he had relied upon the previous day, after England resumed on 74-1.
The left-hander was assured in defence until he finally got a ball with his name on it.
Kagiso Rabada found alarming bounce to have the opener helplessly splicing a simple catch to gully.
Westley’s struggle brought him just nine runs from 54 balls in 85 minutes, while 47 were scored at the other end.
But he did not panic, and after Root took 13 deliveries to open his account, the captain was batting fluently. Both were rewarded with 50s, Root reaching his from 91 balls shortly after Westley was stumped trying to take the attack to Keshav Maharaj (three for 50).
The slow left-armer struck in successive overs, Root mistiming a sweep into the hands of deep square-leg.
Dawid Malan fell lbw on DRS for 10 to a Chris Morris delivery. Stokes then huffed and puffed, but the desired quick runs did not really come until Bairstow got himself in too.