Elgar resists as England close in on win: 3rd Test, Day 4 (Oval)

Opening batsman Dean Elgar was defiant with an unbeaten 72 as South Africa slipped to a precarious 117 for four, still 375 runs short of a 492-run target.

Ben Stokes took two wickets in two balls to leave England eyeing victory as the visitors plunged to 52-4. Elgar (72 not out) and Temba Bavuma (16 not out) took them to stumps with an unbroken 65 run stand.

Earlier, England declared at 313-8 after Tom Westley completed a maiden Test fifty. Westley (59) and Root (50) were supported by Jonny Bairstow's a run-a-ball fifty.

South Africa 175 and 117 for 4 (Elgar 72*, Bavuma 16*) need a further 375 runs to beat England 353 and 313 for 8 dec (Bairstow 63, Westley 59, Root 50, Maharaj 3-50).

July 2017