ENGLAND are closing in on a series-clinching victory over South Africa after a supreme bowling display on the fourth day of the third Test at the Kia Oval.

The home side bowled South Africa out for 169 to leave 130 required for a 2-1 triumph.

England’s bowlers collectively used the prodigious movement on offer, Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes taking three wickets each, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson both claiming two.

In a frantic start to the chase that made a Sunday finish a possibility, England raced to 97-0 in 17 overs and were only halted by the fading light.

Zak Crawley reached his fifty from 36 balls, his first half-century in 17 Test innings, and ended 57 not out. He will return alongside Alex Lees, who is unbeaten on 32, with 33 more required for victory.

That was the second time in the day England had batted, their first innings earlier wrapped up for 158.

After resuming on 154-7, England lost the final three wickets for four runs in 16 legal deliveries, part of an overall collapse of six wickets for 29 runs.

South Africa wiped out the deficit of 40 for the loss of only one wicket, and were arguably in charge at 83-1, until England’s skilful bowlers got to work.

England on brink after see-saw day
England were in real danger of wasting a strong position on a day when The Oval continued to show respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – black armbands are still being worn, images of the Queen continue to be shown on the big screens and much of the signage around the ground remains black.

South Africa dominated the morning, as England meekly lost their last three wickets in only 13 minutes before the Proteas moved ahead by lunch.

However, as the ball swung in the afternoon, the hosts cut through a South Africa batting line-up that could not find a way to cling on.

The prospect of England winning on Sunday, after only two days of play, was raised when they were left with around 100 minutes to reach their target.

The intention was clear in a frenetic start as Crawley and Lees were swept along by the growing belief of a rapt crowd.

England took 27 from the first three overs, an approach entirely in keeping with their summer revolution under captain Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

The light faded and the tension rose. Crawley kept England on track until the umpires intervened to boos from the spectators.

Bowlers set up victory push
This was another relentless display by the England bowlers, who have allowed South Africa a total in excess of 179 only once in five innings this series.

South Africa lost their last nine wickets for 86, a collapse started by an error of judgement from captain Dean Elgar, who failed to review an lbw decision off Broad when the ball would have missed leg stump.

Broad was rewarded for attacking the stumps. Ryan Rickelton was also lbw and Keshav Maharaj bowled, Broad climbing to 566 Test wickets, fifth on the all-time list and second in terms of seamers, behind only Anderson.

Stokes hooped the ball throughout. He had earlier taken the first wicket – Sarel Erwee caught at first slip – before the captain returned for a marathon spell either side of tea when he bowled Marco Jansen and had Kagiso Rabada edge to third slip.

Twice Robinson got the ball to jag back from outside off stump, first to have Wiaan Mulder chop on, then for Khaya Zondo to be pinned leg before not knowing whether to play or leave.

Anderson’s first scalp was Keegan Petersen steering to third slip and he persuaded Kyle Verreynne to sky a caught and bowled for a final wicket that signalled England’s charge.

Crawley and Lees make rapid progress
The idea of England completing the chase on the fourth evening should barely have been contemplated, but Stokes’ side have regularly pushed the boundaries of what is possible.

In a hectic start, Lees was dropped first ball by fourth slip Jansen, survived a direct-hit run-out attempt, was the subject of a failed review and looped a catch just over the grasp of Maharaj.

At the other end, Crawley was playing some crisp strokes, looking more comfortable than at any other point this season.

He reached 50 with three fours in four Rabada deliveries, then was dropped at mid-wicket and edged between keeper and slip in the same Anrich Nortje over.

Just as victory was in sight, umpires Nitin Menon and Richard Kettleborough returned the same light reading recorded to end play on Saturday evening.

Still, England have taken the sting out of what could have been a tricky target and are set to reap the rewards on Monday, when entry to The Oval will be free of charge. (BBC Sport)

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 118
England 1st inningso/n 154-7
Alex Lees b Marco Jansen 13
Zak Crawley lbw Marco Jansen 5
Ollie Pope c Kyle Verreynne b Kagiso Rabada 67
Joe Root c Keegan Petersen b Marco Jansen 23
Harry Brook c Kagiso Rabada b Marco Jansen 12
Ben Stokes c Sarel Erwee b Anrich Nortje 6
Ben Foakes c Keegan Petersen b Marco Jansen 14
Stuart Broad c Kyle Verreynne b Kagiso Rabada 6
Ollie Robinson c Dean Elgar b Kagiso Rabada 3
Jack Leach b Kagiso Rabada 0
James Anderson Not Out 0
Extras 1b 1lb 7nb 0pen 0w 9
Total (36.2 overs) 158 all out
Fall of Wickets : 1-17 Lees, 2-43 Crawley, 3-84 Root, 4-107 Brook, 5-129 Stokes, 6-133 Pope, 7-151 Broad, 8-155 Robinson, 9-158 Leach, 10-158 Foakes
Bowling: Kagiso Rabada 13 – 1 – 81 – 4 (5nb), Marco Jansen 12.2 – 2 – 35 – 5 ( 1nb).
Wiaan Mulder 2 – 0 – 11 – 0, Anrich Nortje 9 – 0 – 29 – 1 (1nb)

South Africa 2nd innings
Sarel Erwee c Joe Root b Ben Stokes 26
Dean Elgar lbw Stuart Broad 36
Keegan Petersen c Ollie Pope b James Anderson 23
Ryan Rickelton lbw Stuart Broad 8
Khaya Zondo lbw Ollie Robinson 16
Wiaan Mulder b Ollie Robinson 14
Kyle Verreynne c&b James Anderson 12
Marco Jansen b Ben Stokes 4
Kagiso Rabada c Harry Brook b Ben Stokes 0
Keshav Maharaj b Stuart Broad 18
Anrich Nortje Not Out 0
Extras 4b 4lb 4nb 0pen 0w 12
Total (56.2 overs) 169 all out
Fall of Wickets : 1-58 Erwee, 2-83 Elgar, 3-91 Petersen, 4-95 Rickelton, 5-120 Mulder, 6-133 Zondo, 7-146 Jansen, 8-146 Rabada, 9-169 Maharaj, 10-169 Verreynne
Bowling : James Anderson 15.2 – 4 – 37 – 2, Ollie Robinson 15 – 5 – 40 – 2 ( 2nb),
Stuart Broad 13 – 2 – 45 – 3, Ben Stokes 13 – 2 – 39 – 3 (2nb).
ENGLAND 2nd innings
Alex Lees Not Out 32
Zak Crawley Not Out 57
Extras 0b 5lb 3nb 0pen 0w 8
Total (17.0 overs) 97-0
Bowling : Kagiso Rabada 8 – 1 – 41 – 0 ( 1nb),
Marco Jansen 5 – 0 – 24 – 0 (1nb), Anrich Nortje 4 – 0 – 27 – 0 (1nb).