Wood makes Mark again as England finish the job
ENGLAND ended their triumphant Test tour of South Africa on a rousing high, wrapping up a 191-run win at the Wanderers to clinch the series 3-1.
Joe Root’s team backed the hosts into a corner over the first three days – 465 runs behind and with six entire sessions in front of them – then finished the job by dismissing them for 274.
The Proteas showed some fight, notably in the form of Rassie van der Dussen’s 98, but England’s pace attack was too strong, Mark Wood taking four more wickets for a match haul of nine for 100.
Ben Stokes was also key, breaking open the two biggest stands of the day by dismissing Dean Elgar at the end of the morning session and captain Faf du Plessis just before tea. Du Plessis was earlier seen nudging Jos Buttler with his shoulder and could find the pain of defeat exacerbated by disciplinary action.
Victory at Johannesburg’s vaunted ‘Bullring’ completed a famous hattrick of wins behind enemy lines, following the day five drama in Cape Town and the domination of Port Elizabeth.
It is just the third time since 1979 that England have won three in a row on the road, a feat that escaped the Sirs, Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook entirely, but which Root has now achieved twice.
Pieter Malan and Elgar set the right tone for their side, blunting the new ball as they put on a chanceless 39 in the first hour. They will have been satisfied
I do think we’re very much at the start of something and we’ve got to keep looking to learn, keep looking to get better. Joe Root
with their work as they headed to the drinks break but as soon as play resumed Malan was out, driving loosely at Chris Woakes.
Van der Dussen came to the crease on a pair in his first Test as a number three and was given lbw to Woakes on nought, escaping after a successful call for DRS. Getting off the mark with a pull for four, he went on to add 50 with Elgar. Lunch was hovering into view when Stokes intervened in his last over before the break, pounding one into the pitch and towards Elgar’s helmet. The batsmen popped a return catch back to Stokes. Van der Dussen and Du Plessis held court for the next two hours and 20 minutes.
Then Stokes charged in again and bowled Du Plessis for 35 as the ball kept low. After repelling England for so long the spell was broken and Van der Dussen was gone in the next over. When Wood attacked from round the wicket he could only pop a catch to short cover. Temba Bavuma and
Quinton de Kock peppered the boundaries immediately after tea but the writing was on the wall.
Broad returned to the attack and struck twice in his first two overs, Bavuma arching his back dramatically as he gloved behind and Dwaine Pretorius top-edging to fine-leg.
Vernon Philander came out to bat with a torn hamstring but his final act before retirement was a short one, strangled down leg by Wood.
Beuran Hendricks was run out and the series was settled in England’s favour when Buttler and Wood combined for Anrich Nortje’s wicket.