Zak Crawley guides England to verge of series win against South Africa

When South Africa declined the offer to push back their flight home and extend this third Test by a day, there were concerns – however trifling in the grand scheme of things – that an enticing series decider could well end up a case of what might have been.

Instead, only biblical rain or an unthinkable clatter of wickets on the final day will prevent England from completing their sixth Test victory of the summer and thus their best home season in 18 years. They will resume on 97 for no loss needing 33 more runs to reach a target of 130 before a celebration delayed by bad light can finally begin.

It follows the second evening in a row where the players were forced off early and this time, at 6.37pm, boos rang around the Oval. Ben Stokes, whose three wickets had earlier helped roll South Africa for 169 in their second innings, clearly felt the same up on the balcony, the England captain visibly miffed by the decision from the umpires.

Though forced to wait, Stokes could still reflect overnight on a dominant display from his players on a lively fourth day that was in effect just the second. His own thundering efforts were just one part of a ruthless collective show of seam bowling, with Stuart Broad claiming three for 45 and Jimmy Anderson and Ollie Robinson two apiece.

Perhaps most satisfying for Stokes was the sight of Alex Lees and Zak Crawley reaching unbeaten scores of 32 and 57 respectively after a 17-over assault on the target. South African shoulders had dropped, not least after Marco Jansen grassed Lees at slip off the first ball of the chase, but this was still a huge boon for both openers.

Crawley in particular looked unshackled by the task at hand, compiling a 36-ball half-century and slotting 10 fours.