Robinson leads England charge in third test at The Oval

LONDON : Seamer Ollie Robinson took four wickets as England reduced South Africa to 69 for six at lunch on the third morning of the third test at The Oval on Saturday, with play finally getting under way following an emotional tribute to Queen Elizabeth.

Khaya Zondo will resume on 21 and all-rounder Marco Jansen on 17 as South Africa look to rebuild and reach a respectable first innings score in the face of the stifling skill and guile of the home bowling attack.

The first day of the test was washed out by rain and the second cancelled following the death of the queen, meaning the first ball of the match was only bowled on the third morning.

After a rousing rendition of "God Save The King" - with the vast majority of the crowd singing it for the first time in their lives - there was a long round of applause as images of the queen were shown on screens around the ground.

Fired-up England did not take long to get to work. Robinson (4-21) clean-bowled South Africa captain Dean Elgar (1) in his first over with a delivery that nipped back into the left-hander off the wicket and clattered into the stumps.

James Anderson then had opener Sarel Erwee (0) caught by wicketkeeper Ben Foakes after the batter chased a wide delivery, while Keegan Petersen (12) did not offer a shot and lost his off-stump to Robinson in a poor error of judgement.

Excluding Elgar, South Africa’s top seven batsmen have only played 38 tests between them and in the face of an examination by the swinging Duke ball, the sense of panic was palpable.

Ryan Rickelton (11) played down the wrong line trying to defend a Stuart Broad delivery and was caught by Foakes, who also gobbled up an edge from Kyle Verreynne (0) off the bowling of Robinson.

The same pair combined to