Arsenal  2 - 1 Leicester City

                                                      

Danny Welbeck threw the Premier League title race wide open when he scored a dramatic winner with only seconds left as Arsenal beat leaders Leicester City.

The Foxes looked set to hold out for a vital draw as a thrilling game went into injury time, despite being reduced to 10 men after Danny Simpson was sent off for a second yellow card early in the second half.

This was until Welbeck, playing his first competitive game since April last year, glanced Mesut Ozil's free-kick past the magnificent Kasper Schmeichel to spark wild celebrations at Emirates Stadium as Leicester lost in the league for just the third time this season.

Jamie Vardy gave the Foxes the lead with a hotly-disputed penalty on the stroke of half-time after he tumbled over Nacho Monreal's outstretched leg.

Substitute Theo Walcott then set up a frantic final 20 minutes with a side-foot finish from Olivier Giroud's superb knockdown.

Leicester still lead the table - but Arsenal's win leaves them only two points clear.

 

A decisive day for the title?

 

 

 

In those closing seconds, with the Emirates awash with tension and anxiety, it looked like Leicester would secure a point that would feel like a victory to manager Claudio Ranieri and his players.
It would have been a draw achieved with a numerical disadvantage at the home of a title rival - and would have given them four precious points from visits to Manchester City and Arsenal.


Instead, Welbeck's intervention left Ranieri and his men desolate after an outstanding backs-to-the-wall performance, exemplified by the brilliance of keeper Schmeichel as he kept Arsenal at bay, with one late save from Giroud world-class especially notable.

Now they must bounce back at home to Norwich City in their next game - but why should we question them after what they have shown us this season?

As for Arsenal, this result will revive their title hopes as the impact will be just as dramatic for them. It would have felt like a defeat had they not beaten a Leicester side reduced to 10 men for 36 minutes.

So the title landscape has changed - but it is still Leicester at the top of the table.Theo Walcott's equaliser came at the end of a superb move from Arsenal which saw them move the ball from one side of the pitch to the other and back again.

As Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger rightly said after the match, his team were looking down the barrel when they trailed at half-time.

At that point, they were eight points adrift of the Foxes with only 12 games left after this one - a daunting gap.

Walcott's equaliser and that injury-time winner from Welbeck, who has been out for almost a year with a knee injury, was reward for their persistence and effort in the second half.


It was not just vital in the context of this game, it was crucial in the wider context after a poor run of home form which had seen the Gunners fail to win in four league games - with three draws and a defeat - before last week's win at Bournemouth.

 

 

Kante simply outstanding

N'Golo Kante arrived at Leicester City in early August as an under-the-radar £6m signing from French side Caen - he should now be a contender for Player of the Year.

When Rio Ferdinand is moved to tweet, "right now Kante is the best tackler/retriever of the ball on the planet", you get some idea of just how good he was at the Emirates.

In the first 45 minutes in particular, the Paris-born 24-year-old gave a masterclass in the arts Ferdinand was talking about. While the likes of Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have rightly claimed the limelight, Kante has been just as influential in the manner in which he retains and regains possession, helping Leicester to set up those trademark counter-attacks.

 

 

Tough day for Atkinson

 

Referee Martin Atkinson was left to handle a tidal wave of pressure and emotion, especially after awarding Leicester that penalty.

It was a tough call, with Vardy clearly accepting the invitation literally extended by Monreal's outstretched leg.

Vardy bought the penalty but it was understandable to see why he gave it - and it is worth noting former Arsenal legends Lee Dixon and David Seaman tweeted their agreement with the decision.

Arsenal fans were demanding every decision after that - and most supporters around the country would be the same - but Atkinson's decision to send Simpson off for two soft fouls was also correct.
It is not just players under stress on these occasions.

Man of the match - Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)

 

 

Kasper Schmeichel made a number of impressive saves - none better than his diving block to save a shot from Olivier Giroud from close range - to come within seconds of earning his side a point.

 

 

What the managers said...

 

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, speaking to BBC Sport: "The effort, energy, intensity was all good. Leicester defended very well but we had bad luck to be 1-0 down at half-time. We were relentless after that - we should have scored more goals.
"It was a pivotal moment today because the mathematics meant it could be eight points or it could be two points. That is a great change.

"There's a long way to go, we play a lot of big teams. But we had a bad spell where we couldn't win for four games and have now won two on the bounce. We have come out of that bad spell and still have a good chance."


Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri, speaking to Sky Sports: "It was a fantastic match, very fast. I don't know if in a normal match that our two yellows cards was a sending off.
They were normal fouls, but not yellow cards. I think the referee was too severe to us for the sending off. 11 v 11, I'm sure we win the match. The match was full of fouls so why send off a player? Come on.

"We know Arsenal are a fantastic team, they move the ball quickly and have skill, but we had to concentrate. We tried to counter-attack and we controlled the match very well.

"We are still top of the table, got two points more - we must carry on and smile. We lost to our opponents - we must say well done."

What next?

Arsenal face two cup games in a row as they host Hull in the FA Cup fifth round next Saturday (12:45 GMT) before the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Barcelona at the Emirates the following Tuesday.

Leicester, who are out of the FA Cup, face Norwich at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday, 27 February (15:00 GMT).

 

           

 

 

 

South Africa v England: De Kock and Amla make superb hundreds

Third one-day international, Centurion:

England 318-8 (50 overs): Root 125, Hales 65, Stokes 53

South Africa 319-3 (46.2 overs): De Kock 135, Amla 127

South Africa won by seven wickets

Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla put on 239 for the first wicket to help South Africa beat England by seven wickets in the third one-day international.

De Kock hit four sixes in a brilliant 135 and captain Amla made 127 as the hosts reached their target of 319 with 22 balls to spare at Centurion.

Joe Root hit five sixes in 125 - his highest one-day international score - but England's 318-8 proved inadequate.

England lead the series 2-1 with two matches to play.

 

Root shows his class

Root shared stands of 125 with Alex Hales (65 off 73) and 82 with Ben Stokes (53 off 37) as England left the hosts needing to make the highest successful run chase in an ODI at Centurion.

Coming together at 36-1 after Jason Roy was run out for 20, Hales and Root played sensibly and brought up their fifties in the 23rd over.

But Hales, who made 99 in the second ODI, then hooked Kagiso Rabada straight to Morne Morkel on the fine leg boundary.

In-form Jos Buttler was promoted to number four but was out first ball, flicking Rabada to JP Duminy at leg gully.

England captain Eoin Morgan struggled to find his timing, labouring to eight off 24 balls before he was caught at mid-wicket.

But Root continued to bat with skill, reaching his hundred off 95 balls, and then hitting two sixes and a four from his next three deliveries.

The Yorkshireman was finally run out in the 43rd over when a straight drive ricocheted off the non-striker's stumps into the leg-side field and a mix-up with Stokes left the 25-year-old stranded.

Stokes raced to his 50 in 33 balls - and despite a rush of late wickets as Kyle Abbott took two in two, David Willey and Adil Rashid added late runs to set South Africa a testing target.



De Kock and Amla ignored the thunder and lightning rumbling around the stadium to get South Africa off to a perfect start.

De Kock took advantage of anything slightly wide while Amla moved around his crease to upset the bowlers' lines, enabling the duo to bring up their century stand in the 18th over.

England's spinners bowled in tandem but were unable to slow the scoring, with De Kock cracking three sixes on his way to his 10th ODI century from 96 balls.

The onslaught continued with Amla supporting De Kock from the other end, whipping the ball off his legs for a six as England's bowlers grew increasingly resigned to their fate.

The stand was finally broken when De Kock tamely chipped Rashid to Root at mid-wicket.
But Amla reached his century, his 22nd in ODIs to move level with Chris Gayle, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sourav Ganguly in seventh place in the all-time list.

The skipper saw his team to the verge of victory before he was caught behind off Chris Jordan with just eight runs required.

Faf du Plessis hit a six to level the scores and then hit the winning run next ball to keep the series alive heading to Johannesburg on Friday for the fourth match.

 

 

What they said

England captain Eoin Morgan: "I thought 318 was a good score. The wicket got a little worse as our innings went on and a little wear and tear crept in, but Joe Root was outstanding.
"They had an incredible opening partnership, the ball didn't swing early on so we had to go back to hitting our lengths, and we didn't do that well enough."

South Africa captain AB de Villiers: "We needed that win, and I thought the boys played really well. We had a bit of urgency and hunger in the field, we've not had the greatest series until today but that shows the attitude we have."

Test Match Special analysis

 

 

Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott

"I don't think England did a lot wrong in their bowling, and their fielding was quite good, but nothing happened for them. Rashid bowled quite well, he tried to mix it up because wickets were everything.

"The team lacks a bit of something. Steven Finn and Stuart Broad would both improve it. Topley needs a bit more pace and I do worry about Jordan. He is a fantastic fielder, but Finn and Broad are better bowlers and add something more.

"But in the end we still might have lost because Amla played that well and De Kock was scintillating."

 

South Africa v England: Hosts race to 280-run consolation win in final Test

 

 

Fourth Test, Centurion (day five)
South Africa 475 & 248-5 dec: Amla 96
England 342 & 101: Rabada 6-32, Morkel 3-36
South Africa won by 280 runs

South Africa bowled England out for 101 on the final morning to seal a 280-run consolation victory in the final Test.

The hosts needed only 66 minutes and 82 deliveries to take the remaining seven England wickets in Centurion.

Kagiso Rabada, 20, became the youngest South Africa bowler to take 10 wickets in a match, and finished with 6-32 to add to his first-innings 7-112.

Morne Morkel claimed 3-36, with James Taylor's 24 the highest score for England, who won the series 2-1.

England, beaten 2-0 by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates earlier this winter, next play Test cricket against Sri Lanka at Headingley on 19 May.

All over in under a session

Having reduced England to 52-3 on Monday, South Africa hurried through the rest of the order thanks to some splendid bowling on a wearing surface.

In all, England lost their last seven wickets for 43 runs in 10.5 overs as any hopes of batting out the day vanished amid a flurry of reckless strokes.




Here's how the collapse unfolded:

• 58-4 (23.6 overs): Taylor c De Kock b Morkel 24 - gloved a brutal, rising delivery that moved away off the seam
• 58-5 (24.3): Root c Elgar b Piedt 20 - dropped off the first ball he faced on Tuesday, he soon edged a drive to slip
• 83-6 (28.3): Bairstow c De Kock b Morkel 14 - caught at slip off a Rabada no-ball, he edged the next delivery behind
• 83-7 (29.2): Stokes c S Cook b Morkel 10 - pulled straight to deep square-leg
• 91-8 (32.4): Woakes c De Kock b Rabada 5 - flailed at a wide one to be caught behind
• 101-9 (34.3): Broad c De Villiers b Rabada 2 - another drive outside off stump, another catch for slip
• 101 all out (34.4): Anderson lbw Rabada 0 - lbw on review after being struck on the toe

 

Rabada wraps it up in style

Fittingly, the lithe paceman, in only his sixth Test match, took the final three wickets as England were skittled out before a drinks break was required.

That gave Rabada match figures of 13-144, the best by a South Africa bowler on home soil and the second-best in their history.

The man of the match said: "It was a bit up and down so the key was the hit the deck and bowl the ball in a good area and I believed you'd get your rewards."

Best match figures for South Africa
13-132: Makhaya Ntini v West Indies, Port-of-Spain, 2005
13-144: Kagiso Rabada v England, Centurion, 2016
13-165: Hugh Tayfield v Australia, Melbourne, 1952
13-192: Hugh Tayfield v England, Johannesburg, 1957

 

 

'England have shown no heart' - what they said

Former England captain Michael Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special: "England have batted on a pitch with a bit of spice and they have shown no heart.

"It's almost like the white towel has been thrown in. It was a really feeble way to finish the tour."


Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott: "Get your head down and save the match. But there was no effort this morning.

"Coming out and playing shots, does that excuse you after winning the series? No. There's no excuse for that. You have to be professional. That's not good enough."


England captain Alastair Cook on Sky Sports: "We didn't get the balance right today. Today is a blow and shows how much work we still have to do.

"This is just a blip and incredibly frustrating. For us to be at number one, we do need to start gutsing these out. We need consistency, especially with our fielding.

"I can't really fault the lads too much, because if you'd said we'd win the series 2-1, we'd have taken that. We'll enjoy winning a series away from home."

Story of the series
1st Test, Durban: England won by 241 runs
2nd Test, Cape Town: Match drawn
3rd Test, Johannesburg: England won by seven wickets
4th Test, Centurion: South Africa won by 280 runs

 

 

What next for England?

England face a South Africa Invitation XI in a warm-up game on Saturday before a five-match one-day series against South Africa gets under way on 3 February.
The sides also meet in two Twenty20 internationals on 19 and 21 February.

South Africa v England: Hashim Amla & Stephen Cook make tons
Fourth Test, Centurion (day one) South Africa 329-5: S Cook 115, Amla 109 England: yet to bat Debutant Stephen Cook and Hashim Amla made hundreds for South Africa before England fought back on day one of the fourth Test in Centurion. Cook, 33, made 115 and former captain Amla 109 in a stand of 202. Both men were dropped - Cook on 47 and Amla on five - but England's bowlers showed little control of line or length in the first two sessions. However, the tourists took four wickets after tea to leave South Africa 329-5 at the close. Although England lost the toss, the heavy atmosphere in Centurion suggested the bowlers might receive some assistance, only for the visiting attack to fail to get the ball in the right areas often enough. As a result, Cook and Amla made the most of a true surface, before England's late rally kept their chances of a 3-0 series win, and their best result in South Africa since 1914, still alive. Cook makes up for lost time   Right-hander Cook, son of former South Africa opener Jimmy, had scored more than 11,000 runs in a 15-year first-class career before finally getting his chance at the highest level in one of five changes to the Proteas side. He looked immediately at home, whipping his first ball through mid-wicket for four in a portent of things to come, with England erring so frequently on the leg side that 80 of his 115 came off his pads. Only when he neared three figures did he lose his composure, spending an hour in the 90s and surviving an lbw review on 98. After he became the 100th man to score a century on Test debut, a rare error around off stump saw play on off Chris Woakes.   Awesome Amla In his second-wicket stand with Cook, the wristy Amla was imperious. He played a number of beautiful drives - 13 of his 19 fours came through the covers - and whips through mid-wicket. His century, reached by tucking James Anderson off his pads, was his 25th in Test cricket and fifth at Centurion Park. Amla appeared so comfortable that it was a surprise when he too played on off Ben Stokes just after tea.
England go from ridiculous... England, so rampant in the third Test win in Johannesburg, were well below their best in the first two sessions, with Stuart Broad and James Taylor perhaps the only members of the XI that were due praise. Broad was again dangerous with the new ball, while Taylor pulled off another brilliant catch at short leg, this time moving with the charging Dean Elgar to get an inside edge off Moeen Ali lodged between his legs. But the rest of the pace attack, particularly James Anderson and Woakes, were woefully inaccurate and Jonny Bairstow was guilty of two wicketkeeping errors. First, he dived to distract Alastair Cook, who dropped Amla's edge off Stokes, and then failed to hold on to another diving chance when Stephen Cook edged Broad. ...to the resurgent England's improvement came in the evening session, which was oddly delayed by around 10 minutes when water was discovered to be oozing from the ground square of the wicket. When play resumed, England's bowlers showed greater control and benefitted from South Africa errors as the hosts slipped from 237-1 to 273-5. After Stokes accounted for Amla, AB de Villiers edged Broad to second slip for a second-ball duck. And once Woakes removed Cook, JP Duminy played a horrible swipe at Moeen to be pinned lbw. Still, Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock added an unbeaten 56 against the second new ball and a prolonged occupation by one or both of them on the second morning could yet bat England out of the game. What they said South Africa batsman Stephen Cook on BBC Test Match Special: "I had to wait a long time [to play Test cricket], so when I was in the 90s I thought, 'I've had to wait so long, so I might as well wait another hour if I have to [to get a century].' "There were times when things were tough, when you think maybe this dream won't come true. Now I'm feeling absolute elation. It really is a dream come true." Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott: "Cook's footwork was immaculate, absolutely gorgeous. His shots were nice touch shots. "They have had airy fairy opening batsmen in but where has he been? For 90 runs he looked an excellent opening batsmen." England batsman Joe Root: "In the first two hours we probably weren't at our best, but the way we applied ourselves and came back in that last session was a fantastic effort."

            Johanna Konta shocks Venus Williams at the Australian Open

Johanna Konta outclassed eighth seed Venus Williams 6-4 6-2 to reach the second round of the Australian Open.

Britain's number one, 24, raced to victory in 79 minutes as seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams, her left thigh heavily strapped, struggled.

Konta denied that 35-year-old Williams' age had anything to do with the American's laboured display.
"It's irrelevant how old she is because she's such a champion with so much experience and knowledge," said Konta.

"Even if she's playing with one leg out there, you've got to really take care of things on your own because she's an incredible player. I have all the respect for her in the world."

Where the match was won
Konta hit five aces to Williams' one and won 71% of her points on first serve compared to just 52 from Williams.

 

Konta leads British women's challenge

Konta, who reached the last 16 at the 2015 US Open, is the only British woman left in the singles draw following Heather Watson's defeat on Monday.

The world number 47, making her Australian Open debut, will now face China's Zheng Saisai.
Andy Murray also won to join Konta in the second round but Dan Evans and Aljaz Bedene both went out.

"Right now it is still very much a blur," added Konta, who lost in the first round at her two warm-up tournaments.

"When the draw came out and I saw who I was playing, I was just hoping to stay out there more than an hour.

"I played two previous tournaments and didn't quite get the results I wanted but I have a very strong belief in the way I want to play and the way I want to be thinking."

Beating a legend 'still very much a blur'

The Briton, who has described Williams as her idol, moved her opponent around the court and hit deep into the corners to take control of the match.

Konta broke serve twice in the first set and then eased to a 5-0 lead in the second before the American rallied briefly.

But Konta held her nerve to secure a famous victory over the former world number one.
"Right now it is still very much a blur," added Konta, who lost in the first round at her two warm-up tournaments.

"When the draw came out and I saw who I was playing, I was just hoping to stay out there more than an hour.

"I played two previous tournaments and didn't quite get the results I wanted but I have a very strong belief in the way I want to play and the way I want to be thinking."

South Africa v England: Joe Root and Ben Stokes turn tide     Third Test, Johannesburg (day two) South Africa 313: Elgar 46, Stokes 3-53 England 238-5: Root 106*, Stokes 58

England's Joe Root scored a dazzling century to reverse the momentum of the third Test after South Africa looked set to take control in Johannesburg.

Replying to the Proteas' 313, England were wobbling at 22-2 and 91-4.

But Root combined with Ben Stokes to counter-attack in a fifth-wicket stand of 111 made at a rate of seven an over.

After Stokes fell for 58, Root moved to three figures and was 106 not out when bad light and rain ended day two 80 minutes early with England 238-5.

What made the effort of Root and Stokes all the more outstanding was its contrast to the rest of the England batting, as the majority of the top order struggled on a lively pitch against a hostile South Africa attack.

As England teetered, they responded by flaying the Proteas to all parts of the Bullring to give the tourists, 1-0 up in the four-match series, every chance of earning a first-innings lead.

Fight fire with fire

When James Taylor inside-edged Morne Morkel to short leg, England were 222 behind with six first-innings wickets remaining in conditions that seemed perilous for batting.

Stokes was almost hit on the jaw by Morkel from the second ball he faced, but when he hooked his fifth ball from Kagiso Rabada for six, it began an exhilarating passage of play.

The South Africa bowlers, previously rampant, were left short of ideas, just as they were when Stokes plundered 258 in the second Test in Cape Town.

Root scored all around, with cuts, pulls and some flowing straight drives, while Stokes whipped off his pads, slashed through third man and played one disdainful lofted drive off Morkel that encapsulated England's dominance.

Morkel would have his revenge, holding Stokes' leading edge off his own bowling, but Root completed his century with a wonderful cover drive and had added 36 with Jonny Bairstow at more than five an over when the weather intervened.

Root was limping for some of his innings and needed treatment on his left leg

"It's been a masterclass"

Former England captain Michael Vaughan: "It's been a masterclass in how to grab control of a situation and change the course of a Test match in an hour and a half. The South African attack were looking at each other as if they were wondering who wanted to bowl.

"There's not many teams who can play like this. There's a bit of genius about it. Ben Stokes has got a Gilchrist and Sobers-like ability to change a match."

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith: "What a knock from Joe Root. He's looked a class above on this surface, with energy and intensity. He's pounced on anything loose."

Ex-England batsman Geoffrey Boycott: "At times England were scoring 10 an over. Stokes is a game-changer. And at the opposite end, Root was playing magnificently. He's got the lot and batted beautifully."

England batsman Joe Root: "I'm very pleased at the moment but you'll have to ask to me at the end of the game to get a true reflection on it. Any sort of lead will be important because it will be close encounter. Whether that be 50, 100 or 20, edging in front is our goal."

 

Hail Hardus

That England were in peril was partly down to the imposing presence of Hardus Viljoen, the towering pace bowler on debut.

Viljoen had Alastair Cook caught down the leg side from his very first delivery in Test cricket, becoming only the 20th bowler in the history of the game to strike with his first ball.

Not only that, but Viljoen hit the first ball he faced with the bat for four. New Zealander Matt Henderson, against England in 1930, is the only other Test cricketer to complete such a double.
Viljoen was 20 not out when Morkel was the last to fall, edging Stokes to first slip. That too was Stokes' first delivery after coming on midway through an over because James Anderson had to be removed from the attack after running on the pitch.

England's wobble

 

 

Viljoen's dismissal of Cook came as both England openers fell cheaply and in familiar circumstances.

Alex Hales slashed Rabada to second slip with a flat-footed drive, while Cook's edge down the leg side, often seen as unlucky, is happening often enough to suggest the captain might have a problem.

Nick Compton was dropped at second slip on six but edged Rabada to the same place 20 runs later, while Taylor bat-padded Morkel to be well held by Temba Bavuma.

England were in danger of being rolled over. Then came the Root and Stokes blitz.

South Africa v England: Finn & Stokes wickets give tourists edge

 

 

Third Test, Johannesburg (day one)

South Africa 267-7: Elgar 46, Finn 2-50

England: yet to bat

England took wickets regularly to have the better of the first day of the third Test against South Africa.

The tourists recovered from a poor morning session to reduce the home side from 117-1 to 267-7 in Johannesburg.

Steven Finn and Ben Stokes each took two wickets, with Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali adding one apiece.

Too many of the South Africa batsmen wasted starts, but an unbroken stand of 42 between Chris Morris and Kagiso Rabada gave the Proteas a late boost.

That took the home side from 225-7, where they were in danger of surrendering, to a position where they could reach a par score of about 300.

England, 1-0 up with this and one more Test to play, will look for the final three wickets on the second morning, then set about batting long enough to secure a first-innings lead.

 

 

 

A slow start

On a pitch offering the most pace, bounce and encouragement for the fast bowlers than any of their previous five Tests this winter, England were guilty of erring too often in the morning session. Broad seemed affected by illness, while James Anderson is still feeling his way back after a calf injury.

AB de Villiers, in his first match since replacing Hashim Amla as South Africa captain, took the bold move to bat first under grey skies and looked like being vindicated during the early part of the day.

Dean Elgar and Stiaan Van Zyl scored 44 watchful runs for the first wicket before Stokes induced Van Zyl into the first of a series of misjudged South African pull shots.

Then Elgar and Amla, who mixed fortune with cover drives, looked set to be laying a decent platform with a second-wicket stand of 73.

The improvement

However, England were rejuvenated after lunch, especially through Finn, who was the pick of the bowlers throughout.

It was off-spinner Moeen, though, who made the breakthrough, getting one to turn and bounce at Elgar, with the left-hander feathering behind for 46.

And when Finn, who at times looked unplayable, produced a beauty that nipped away to take the edge of Amla, South Africa had lost two wickets for 10 runs. At 127-3, England had an opening.
De Villiers was intent on counter-attacking but he was caught behind on 36, attempting an ugly hook off Stokes, and South Africa began to subside.

Wasteful Proteas

 

 

For all the menace presented when the bowlers got it right, the surface also allowed batsmen to score if the bowling was off-target.

For that reason, South Africa can reflect on a wasted opportunity, particularly as they managed to avoid falling to England's good deliveries yet somehow gave wickets away to the poor ones.

The watchful Faf du Plessis was caught on the leg-side boundary off Finn and wicketkeeper Dane Vilas - rushed to the Wanderers from Port Elizabeth on the morning of the match after an injury to Quinton de Kock - hooked Broad to long leg.

In between, Temba Bavuma, looking comfortable after a maiden century in the second Test, was run out for 23 after being called through by Vilas - substitute fielder Chris Woakes firing in the throw that Jonny Bairstow did well to pick up and remove the bails in one movement.

In the end, it needed the correct Morris and fortunate Rabada to score off the second new ball. The value of their contribution will be measured when England come to bat.

 

'They played silly shots' - what they said

Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott on Test Match Special: "If I'm South Africa I'm disappointed with that.

"Amla and Elgar were the only two people who were got out by good balls. Four of them got out to cross-batted shots, and the run-out. They played silly shots and gave it away."

Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan: "South Africa have had many small partnerships but not one that really hurts an opposition team and goes a long way to winning a Test match."

England bowling coach Ottis Gibson: "We were on it for most of the day. We got better as the day went on.

"To lose the toss and bowl first, to have the opposition seven down is just reward for some hard work. We've got to be happy with that."