CENTURION (South Africa): Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada struck three times in 12 balls shortly before lunch to put South Africa on top on the third day of the fourth and final Test against England at SuperSport Park on Sunday.
England were 211 for six at the interval, still 264 runs behind South Africa's first innings total of 475. Rabada dismissed Joe Root, James Taylor and Jonny Bairstow in quick succession to have figures of five for 76 - his second five-wicket haul in successive matches.
Root, who hit a century and two fifties in the first three Tests, made 76 off 128 balls with 11 fours before edging a good delivery from Rabada to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.
Batting conditions were tricky under a heavily overcast sky on a pitch with occasional variable bounce but England lost only one wicket until Rabada?s burst.
Alastair Cook and Root made their third wicket stand worth 99 with largely watchful batting, adding 37 runs in an hour before Morne Morkel dismissed Cook.
The tall fast bowler, who had been wayward, followed up a wretched wide with a superb delivery from around the wicket which squared up Cook, straightened off the pitch and found the outside edge for wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock to take the catch. Cook made 76 off 186 balls with 11 fours.
Root went to his half-century off 92 balls when he hit his eighth boundary. He was given out caught behind by umpire Kumar Dharmasena when he had 67, attempting to sweep Dane Piedt. He immediately sought a review which showed he had not made contact with the ball.
Taylor made 14 before getting a top edge to a pull shot against a bouncer from Rabada and Bairstow was out when he gloved the third ball he faced from the fast bowler to De Kock, who took his fourth catch of the morning.