Bess takes five as South Africa totter on rain-hit day

PORTELIZABETH: Spinner Dom Bess took three more South African wickets, and grabbed his first test five wicket haul, to increase England’s stranglehold at the start of the third day of the third test at St George’s Park.

Quinton de Kock was the lone man standing as his unbeaten 63 took the team to 208 for six. He has added 54 for the seventh wicket with Vernon Philander.

The hosts are still 291 runs behind England, who made 499/9 declared.

Bess removed opener Dean Elgar and beleaguered captain Faf du Plessis in identical fashion to leave South Africa teetering at 113 runs for five wickets at lunch.

He had snagged two overnight as South Africa lost wickets at the start of their innings in the gloom at the close of the second day, and picked up where he left off on Saturday.

Dean Elgar was dismissed first, edging the ball off his pad to Ollie Pope at silly point, for 35 runs followed by Du Plessis, whose tenure as skipper of the South African side is now seriously in question.

He continued his poor form after belting two boundaries, also perishing to Bess in the same fashion as Elgar, making only eight runs.

Bess then saw captain Joe Root drop nightwatchman Anrich Nortje and Pope fail to snag a half chance off Rassie van der Dussen. But Bess’ fifth wicket came two balls later, to joyous celebration, as Van der Dussen played on and was bowled for 24 by the offspinner.

Bess had figures of 5-51 at stumps.

Brief scores

England 499-9 declared; South Africa 208-6 (Q de Kock 63*, D Elgar 35, V Philander 27*, D Bess 5-41)