peasy23

I did say it could end quickly if they could get Philander or De Kock early, but that was ridiculous. Rain is the only thing that can save SA now, and it's stopped play at the moment.

And I got that table from the official PDC website. [emoji85]

Here's the top end of the UK order of merit after day 3. Paul Nicholson sits just outside it with 7 points, while Fallon Sherrock and Scott Waites only have 2 points each.

Can't argue with any of that tbh, conditions have certainly helped England here in that Bess has bowled almost exclusively from one end allowing the seamers to bowl in 4 or 5 over bursts. Wood has looked as dangerous and effective here as Archer did in late summer and through the autumn and winter, I think fatigue might have caught up with Archer in the end. I really hope the rumours about Jennings coming back for the Sri Lankan tour are just that. Backward step imo.

An absolute mugging by Newcastle.

Aye, he's had a dismal series so far, and some questionable captaincy decisions too.

If SA manage to avoid the follow on it will make it very hard for England to force the win, especially if any more time is lost in the next two days. If England get a quick wicket in the morning I would expect them to mop up the tail quickly, and that should be enough to force the follow on. De Kock and Philander were quite stubborn today though.

Yep.

Nope, it was against SA at Headingley in 2012.

I'd agree, if England can bowl them out and still have a lead of around 250, they probably won't have to bat again.

Nope.

Shouldn't be too surprised that spin is making all the difference. They mentioned yesterday that Maharaj was getting 5° of turn on day 1, the biggest margin on a day 1 pitch in SA since they started keeping records of it when ball tracking came in. Last England spinner to dismiss the top 3 in the batting order?

Not according to Froome. Tour de France: Chris Froome says he will go for a fifth title in 2020 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/51155759

Pretty much a carbon copy of Hamza's dismissal yesterday. Saffers in deep trouble.

Jason Garrett is the new Giants OC.

Ooft.

Browsed but never bought anything. Only thing I need is a driver and if I was going to chuck a couple of hundred quid at it I would want to see it in person. Affordable Golf have a big second hand section.

2 down, Bess going over the wicket and Hamza tickling one off bat and pad to short leg. Rain has just come on, that will be it for the day.

Wood has got Hamza in all sorts of trouble here.

SA 50-1 with Malan looping one straight back to Bess. Surprised Wood didn't open the bowling, he would have been flying after that innings. He's just whacked Elgar on the arm with a short one, he looks to be fine after treatment.

Handy knock from Curran, Pope has lost all momentum since Stokes got out.

You would hope so, especially now that 4, 5 and 6 in the order look solid. Buttler and Bairstow are just cheap wickets waiting to happen at the moment. Both need to get back to county cricket and score some runs to justify a place in the team.

Actor Derek Fowlds passes away. Boom boom. BBC News - Derek Fowlds: Yes Minister and Heartbeat dies aged 82 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51147182

All the pundits didn't think it was too excessive either (fwiw neither did I), but all said that under the current ICC rules he had overstepped the mark, and Rabada had accepted he was guilty. Great morning for England, 4000 test runs for Stokes quickly followed by his ton.

Stokes batters another one from Maharaj right out the ground.