'Broad bowled out of his skin' - Relive England's win

"This team is very handy to captain. I wouldn't mind captaining them, that's for sure.

"When you're up against a team that has that knack of losing the key moments you make the most of it.

"England are on an upward curve, in all formats. The group is gaining more experience and, although I don't want to shout about it too much, England are on the pathway of becoming a really powerful team across all the formats."

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"I expected South Africa to lose the series, even if Steyn and Philander were fit. There are lots of kind words like transition and there have been some wonderful players.

"But this is one of the all-time lows since readmission to international cricket. They have to look around and make some honest assessments."

"The best side stood up to be counted when the pressure was on, and that was England. South Africa have all the problems now. England are playing well - there is no reason to change anything unless Finn has an injury."

More from Alastair Cook on Sky Sports: "It hasn't sunk in yet at all. We knew today would be 'moving day' in a sense. The plan was to get level with them and then pile pressure on with the ball. 

"Trev [Bayliss] gave us a rocket and said, 'If you want to win the series, go now and go hard.' I can't take any credit for man-managing Ben Stokes. He's an absolute gem for a side: the ability to score 250 one day and bowl 90mph the next. 

"Everyone in that dressing room can be very proud of their contribution in this series. I'm really pleased for all the lads."

joshua crivelli: I hear springbok tastes good to English lions....as good as wallabie?

"Hales is a problem. He does not have the technique for Test cricket. You have to have a reasonably decent technique to play good balls, but his feet are all over the place.

"Unless he improves his footwork, I don't think he'll make consistent runs. Over a period he will have a number of failures."

First Test, Durban: England won by 241 runs

Second Test, Cape Town: Match drawn

Third Test, Johannesburg: England won by seven wickets

Fourth Test, Centurion: 22-26 January

Howard Horner:  It's a shame that Steyn and Philander were absent for SA, but even with them, on their day this side can beat anyone.  

"Broad destroyed them. He was running in like a cheetah. The ball that De Villiers out was a crackerjack and he is the best player in the world. He has this ability to get a match-winning performance decisively. He bowled people out with quality balls. He had them five down for nowt - game over."

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Stuart Broad is named man of the match for his performance of 6-17 in the third innings.

He says: "I was under the weather on the first day. Everyone we know has been ill at some stage over the past few weeks.

"In the first innings I bowled a bit too short. We had a chat before the second innings and talked about bringing the batsmen forward a lot more. 

"We got lucky today - it was perfect conditions to bowl, but we also got the ball in good areas and took our chances.

"I was quite tired towards the end. Finny was trying to get on and I was trying to get off. I got in a rhythm and it was a good day to bowl. There was a bit of bounce there too. I wish I could take that wicket around with me."

More from Alastair Cook: "I don't tell Stokesy anything, I just let him play, those two did exactly the same against New Zealand last year. We also took our catches - we made a conscious effort to practice it between the Tests.  Andrew Strauss told us to have a big one tonight and if he says so, we're going to have to."  

England captain Alastair Cook: "To come here and beat South Africa is a huge achievement for the lads, they can be very proud.

"In the first session of the match we didn't quite get it right with the ball, but credit to the guys, they bounced back pretty well and kept South Africa to about par. Joe Root played exceptionally well to get us to about a par score, and then it was over to Broady, who just got one of his rolls."

More from AB de Villiers: "I haven't seen a team bowl like that for a long time. We were outplayed in the second innings - credit to them.

"There's a lot still to play for personally. It's my first Test as captain - I have a lot of motivation. I don't know about changes. We need a few good meetings about where we're going. I don't think there's a lot of issues with the squad."

South Africa captain AB de Villiers: "It was a good toss to win and the right decision to bat first. All the batters got in, but there were soft dismissals. It cost us dearly I thought it was a 400 wicket. We allowed them into the game.

"It's a disappointing Test for us. Maybe I missed a trick or two; maybe the intensity wasn't good enough. There was a sniff at 90-4 and there were areas where we could have done better."

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"It's been a wonderful Test, a great advert for Test match cricket, competitive all the way. When the pressure moment came, it was England in the name of Stuart Broad.

"He showed ability, technique and character, above all. He bowled out of his skin; the crux was he broke the back of the South African innings with five wickets. He came out and did the business - he was fantastic."

Tom Sparkes: This morning Rooty would have been told, be there at the end. Great day of cricket.

So, in the short term, South Africa have surrendered their number one Test ranking: India now occupy top spot in the ICC Test ratings. But in the medium term, England have surely shown in this series that they have a fantastic chance of taking over that place at the top of the table.

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England won by seven wickets

England take unassailable 2-0 lead in series

South Africa 313: Elgar 46; Stokes 3-53

England 323: Root 110, Stokes 58; Rabada 7-78, Morkel 3-76

South Africa 83: Broad 6-17

England 74-3: Cook 43; Elgar 2-13

Full scorecard

When we started this morning, who would have thought England would have this match - and the series - wrapped up by tonight. That they have done so is testament to they extra-ordinary match-turning capabilities of Stuart Broad, who produced a phenomenal 6-17 to wrest control of this match in the third innings.

"This was a terrific cricket wicket, and brought to life by overhead conditions today and high-class bowling. It was real class from Broad and catching from the highest drawer."

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What a magnificent effort by England. They've beaten the world's best side in their own back yard, and they've done it with a game to spare. They have fully deserved to win this series, and just as they were in the Ashes, Stuart Broad and Joe Root have been the key players.

"This is a triumph. To beat South Africa in South Africa with a game to spare is really quite something."

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It's there! England have done it. Joe Root clips a four through the leg-side and sets the seal on a famous series victory.

Have you ever seen a team win a hugely important series in confident manner? There are even glum faces on the balcony. Root and Taylor prolong the agony. If they don't get on with this we'll be off for bad light soon.

"It's been a funny old 20 minutes."

"A tentative push, it was wide and he got himself into a tangle - you're better off having an old yahoo! There was width on offer."

Joe Root is doing what Nick Compton probably wishes he'd done - he's making sure he's there at the end, to boost his already princely average. Hence he's quite content to play out a maiden from Elgar.

Gordon MacGregor: Seems a bit far fetched, calling this a Test....

Did someone in the dressing room tell Compton: "Bet you can't win it with a six?" All very odd. Anyway, Root inches England three runs closer.

Rachel T: Nick Compton gets carried away. Now I've seen it all!

Joe Root, fresh from his superb knock in the first innings, is the new man. England are six runs away.

"I don't get that. He's not that kind of player. He'll be in that dressing room thinking, 'What the hell have I done that for?' Experienced players just don't do that. You get in that dressing room not out." 

"He tried to finish it in style but he's holed out."

Glenn: Just got into a pub after a winter hill walk to see England 10 runs away from a series victory. Did I miss much?

So, Nick Compton is the new man, although he's down the other end for the time being. Cook picks up three with a nice drive through the covers, and Compton blocks his first ball. 

"That's one he will regret deeply, it was a half-volley, he should have whacked it straight down the ground. That's silly, a real dampener on the victory for him. Another failure and there will be more chat about his position."

"That's a silly shot. Elgar's not going to be spinning the ball. It was there to be drive - just whack it down the ground. Alex Hales is going to regret that deeply."

Part-time tweaker Dean Elgar into the attack. And has he done the trick? Hales gets down to sweep and is hit on the pad. Umpire says out...

Hales stands tall and drives Rabada behind square for three, then Cook square-cuts for four to bring up a very welcome 50 partnership between this under-pressure duo. Rabada is flagging here as Hales hits his stride, and more width from the young bowler is punished by a brutal slash behind point.

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Chris Brown: All over in 3 days... tedious one-sided Test cricket.

Even with the finish line in sight, it's very much safety first from Alastair Cook. He watchfully blocks out another Morne Morkel over for a maiden.

Hales finally gets one out of the middle of the bat and sends Rabada down to third man for four. Time for drinks, with England looking pretty untroubled in pursuit of this very modest target. Their first away series win since India in 2012 is surely a matter of minutes away.

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The ECB says Steven Finn, who was off the field for part of the South Africa innings, has tightness in his left side and will be reviewed tomorrow.

Ooooh, Morris gets one to hoop back in and it's a gnat's hair away from disturbing Cook's off bail as the skipper deliberately leaves. That's it, Alastair, pretend you knew it was going to do that. Just style it out. Another absolute beauty from Morris, lavish movement again, turning like an off-break to beat the bat of Cook. Excellent over.

Cook hammers Viljoen through the covers for four. England halfway there...

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Email Message: Got to be Rabada for man of the match - five-for in England's first innings and top scored in South Africa's second innings.

from Sean, Bristol

Got to be Rabada for man of the match - five-for in England's first innings and top scored in South Africa's second innings.

Chris Morris comes into the attack. South Africa appear to be going through the motions here. Cook tips a single to fine leg, and Hales blocks out another couple.of deliveries. 22 consecutive scoreless deliveries for 'England's answer to David Warner' now...

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Richard Black: Cook's record as captain: away series wins in India & SA; x2 home Ashes wins. Humble pie on the menu for his critics? @ShaneWarne.

That's a good delivery from Viljoen, full and speeding past the outside edge of Hales. The Nottinghamshire opener still looks out of sorts...

"England's media officer says they are awaiting news from the physio about Steven Finn."

Richard raises a good point. It is certainly a curious sight to see Hales blocking and Cook batting with much relative fluency, especially with only 74 needed. On the other hand, can you blame Hales for wanting to scrap his way to a red-inker, with his place in the side still in the balance? He blocks out a maiden to Morkel to take him to five off 27, his strike rate just 18.

Email Message: Somebody - press or coaching staff or both - has got inside Hales' head. He is a hitter. If he is not a good enough hitter for Test cricket so be it but he will never make it as a blocker for sure.

from Richard, Norwich

Somebody - press or coaching staff or both - has got inside Hales' head. He is a hitter. If he is not a good enough hitter for Test cricket so be it but he will never make it as a blocker for sure.

Flirty from Cook - having a little flat-footed sally at a wide bouncy delivery outside off. Decent over from Viljoen, which he ends by squaring Cook up and inducing a pretty fortunate edge which trickles through the slip cordon for four.

Naveed Afzal: Eng are going from strength to strength. Great depth in batting. 2-3 X factor cricketers, young vibrant side. Will only improve.

Hales is still scratching around. Morkel has him wafting at a wide, full one which whistles through to wicketkeeper Dane Vilas. But he survives another challenging over.

"I'm running out of things to say. Just waiting for England to chase down this 58 and then the South Africa post-mortem will begin."

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Hardus Viljoen into the attack now. It's scattergun stuff from the big man - his first delivery is sprayed miles down the leg side and forces Vilas into a brilliant goalie-style save, his second is bang on the money and prompts a big LBW appeal against Hales.

Phil Kennard: I went to walk the dogs when South Africa were 16-0. Come back and we are chasing down 63 to win. Awesome stuff.

Dean Elgar claps and hollers his encouragement from the slip cordon. Is he the man South Africa go to for the captaincy next? AB de Villiers hasn't exactly been making encouraging noises about his long-term future in Test cricket. You'd have to say - and who could imagine saying this a year or so ago? - the job looks a bit of a poisoned chalice at the moment. Mind you, South Africa will still be a formidable team as long as they have Morne Morkel in the side - he beats Cook's outside edge with another jaffa.

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Inspired by what you've witnessed today? Want to bowl like Stuart Broad?

Watch this video for top tips from the man himself...

Rabada hasn't quite hit his lengths yet in this innings - he's just erring a bit short. He then overcompensates with a slightly overpitched delivery and Cook gets his weight nicely into a drive which races away to the long-off boundary.

David Beckett: Incredible bowling performance by England. Remarkable that, of the 20 South African wickets to fall, only one was LBW.

Morkel drops too short and Cap'n Cook is off the mark with a flashing square drive off the back foot that goes for four. Half-chance off the next ball, Cook flicking aerially on the leg side and just clearing the 5ft 3in Bavuma. It looped up invitingly but Bavuma just couldn't react quickly enough to get the jump in.

Jay: That's 5.4% of the required score knocked off in one shot.

Rabada from the other end. That's the kind of shot that has often brought about Alex Hales's downfall - big booming drive, bat away from his body - but he gets a big stride in and belts it through the covers for four. The next stroke isn't too clever though - losing his shape as he attempts another expansive drive and almost getting himself in a pickle.

Simon Harkins: Big session this for Hales. I hope he proves the critics wrong & sees us home.

Tell you what, it's a good start from Morkel. He beats Cook's outside edge with a couple of absolute rippers. How does he not get the new ball usually? 

So, Cook and Hales in the middle. Mornel Morkel has the ball, and South Africa need him to perform miracles with it.

"There are games within games. You've got Alex Hales going out - he needs a nice red-inker, a not-out score. There's the captain, Alastair Cook, who hasn't got many runs this series..."

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The result might look inevitable, but it's a big innings for Alex Hales, who hasn't made much of an impact in this series so far. Can he stamp his place in the side?

South Africa 83 (33.1 overs) - England need 74 to win

Broad 6-17, Stokes 2-24

Fall of wickets: 23-1 (Elgar), 28-2 (Van Zyl 11), 30-3 (De Villiers 0), 31-4 (Amla 5), 35-5 (Bavuma 0) 45-6 (Vilas 8), 46-7 (Morris 1), 67-8 (Rabada 18), 77-9 (Viljoen 6), 83 all out (Du Plessis 14); Not out: Morkel 3*

Bowling figures: Anderson 10-1-26-1, Broad 12.1-6-17-6, Stokes 8-1-24-2, Finn 3-0-14-1

First innings: South Africa 313; England 323

Full scorecard

Tell you what, what a catching display that was from England after the dropfest at Cape Town. Three genuinely outstanding catches (two from Taylor, one from Broad) and another from Stokes that I'd put into the 'very good' category.

Mally Graveson: Arise Sir Stuart Broad!! Six For! Fast, hostile and just brilliant! 

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One of those magnificent days from Stuart Broad. Most cricketers might experience it once in a lifetime but England's blond assassin seems to be making quite a habit of it. He finishes with 6-17 and he has surely won England this series.

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"A truly, truly wonderful performance."

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"Broad in his follow-through has gone flailing across the pitch and at full stretch has taken a wonderful catch. What a tremendous day. As he walks off he takes his floppy hat off and waves the ball to the whole ground."

Defiance from Morne Morkel, standing proud and tall and noble in the face of disaster, like a giraffe watching sadly as the zoo floods. He seizes on a slightly back-of-a-length delivery from Anderson and cuts it languidly, almost mournfully, through point for four.

Nope, the ball was missing leg stump. Faf survives again.

It's review o'clock at the moment. This time it's England again, Anderson hitting Du Plessis on his pads. Verdict is not out, England seek a second opinion...

Elliot Barker: The slow motion replay of @jimmy9 sending Viljoen off is an exceptional use of technology.

Is Faf du Plessis a man for a crisis? He has been on occasion in his Test career, but he's been curiously passive so far. Mind you, I guess there are crises and then there are crises. This is a pretty big one.

Yes, often when the batsman immediately reviews it's a telltale sign of not out, and so it proves here. No deflection on the ball and nothing on Snicko, so the decision is overturned.

Hang on, is England's work done here? We've got another review - Du Plessis propping forward, has he got a skinny edge through to Bairstow? The verdict is out but Faf immediately sends it upstairs...

"Jimmy Anderson has now got his average at the Wanderers below 100."

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"England are going to be chasing something like 70-odd unless a miracle happens. This has been a remarkable day's play."

"Straight, straightens, hits just below the knee roll."

Now then! Has Jimmy joined the party? Full and straight, hits Big Hardus on the pads, umpire's finger goes up. Hardus wants another look...

Broad, unsurprisingly, takes the ball after lunch. Hardus Viljoen - a man who frequently appears in the same sentence as the word Broad - is the rather imposing obstacle at the striker's end. He pushes the last ball and rather surprisingly South Africa opt to take the single which keeps Viljoen on strike.

Right, here we go again. England two wickets and an easy run-chase away from winning match and series. Surely nothing can go wrong from here? Can it?

Thank you Stephan. As I was leaving BBC Sport towers to grab some lunch, the radio was playing 'Hang On In There Baby'. If only South Africa had taken Johnny Bristol's advice...

James Gheerbrant has sprinted back to the chair next to me. He's here to talk you through the evening session and what is likely to be a three-day win for England.

"Hasn't it been a wonderful Test match? Competitive, cut and thrust..."

Also, if (and when) England win this match, South Africa will lose their place at the top of the world rankings, regardless of what happens in the fourth Test. India will be the new world number ones.

England, by the way, have not won a Test series away from home since 2012. That will almost certainly be righted tonight.

"An extraordinary and entirely unpredicted afternoon."

"Broad bowled with wonderful pace, rhythm, accuracy; he cut the ball, made it bounce - and he fully deserved it. One or two of those balls might have got anybody out."

Broad leads England off, applauded by his team-mates. They'd probably follow him over the top, or into the Red Sea.

There's tea, the end of the second-most extraordinary session of Test cricket you will ever see (Australia lost 10 wickets before lunch at Trent Bridge, remember). 

South Africa began at 16-0. They will have a brew at 71-8. I say have a brew, because all the cups are likely to be smashed. Stuart Broad took 5-1 to rip the heart out of the home batting. England should have the series won tonight.

Guy Miller: Domo arigato, Mr Rabada.

It's still bleak in Johannesburg, but not as dark in the mood of the South Africa dressing room. Hashim Amla is wearing shades. We can still see you, Hashim. Du Plessis and Viljoen take a single each. There might be one over left before tea. 

"This match is all over bar the shouting."

It's odd because, before that Rabada wicket, it felt like we were just coming down from the high, as if the DJ had stopped playing the belters and was now spinning Never Forget. Not that England were any less dominant, just that the cricket felt more... normal. Hardus Viljoen is the new man, the returning James Anderson is the bowler.

"Beautiful length, perfect length. Stokes has made it move more than anybody. You can't blame a tailender for that."

ade herbison: My 4-yr-old is gutted SA have passed 50. It means they have beaten his Bop It high score.

The floodlights burn down on the Bullring, almost like a torch being shone in the eyes of these South Africa batsmen. They have wilted under interrogation. Rabada decides that flashing is a decent plan, going up and over the off side to take three off Finn. I can't imagine that plan is built to last.

Rachel Lawson: Can @astro_timpeake get @bbctms#bbccricket up on the #ISS? If not, he’s missing out!!

Just turning on? It's not a typo. South Africa really are 55-7. They've been Broaded. James Taylor almost gets another sniff at short leg, but the ball just bounces short. When Rabada jams Stokes through the slips and for four, it brings up the 50. That brings the biggest cheer the home fans have mustered all day.

I can't remember seeing a spell of Test cricket where the ball has done so much - and I include Trent Bridge 2015 in that. There's bounce, nip and movement in the air. South Africa look like they are inventing batting, like the first men who have ever been asked to put willow to leather. Every ball could be a wicket. Somehow Rabada skins the cat and gets through Finn's over.

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Jack Moult: Stuey Broad loves it a hot streak. Is this his best one yet? De Villers and Amla are both top 10 batsmen.

Josh Roberts: This spell by Broad is 2nd only to Durham 2013. It's hard to top a spell that snatches a win from the Aussies & wins the Ashes!

It's been an absolute capitulation from South Africa, but, believe it or not, they haven't played that badly. England have just been absolutely outstanding. It's hard to think of anyone that has got himself out, it's just that the Proteas haven't been up to. Kagiso Rabada is the latest lamb to the slaughter, beaten by jaffa after jaffa from Stokes. 

"South Africa's lowest total since readmission was 76 in Nagpur last year. That is now under threat."

If this was a boxing match, the referee would have stepped in. Chris Morris arrives and is immediately hit on the head by a Finn bouncer. Replays of the Taylor catch make it look even better. Everything has gone for England, bowling conditions, great catches, a bit of luck. That's taking nothing away, though. They have been magnificent.

"The first three wickets were genuine dismissals, the last three have been the kind of wickets you get when you just know it's going to be your day. It was a leg-stump half-volley and it's gone straight into Taylor's left paw."

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"Taylor's done it again. It was another sensational catch. This is now a complete dismantling."

"If I was South Africa now, I'd just tee off. They need to try and get the scoreboard ticking. If they keeping playing timidly like this, they'll get bowled out. It's a long shot, but they need to try to get another 100 runs."

The conversation between Du Plessis and Vilas: "Brilliant, Broad is coming off. We've got through. Who's coming on? Oh."

Steven Finn...

"It's the fifth time in five games that South Africa have had a spell where they've lost five wickets for 15 runs or fewer."

I've just seen a replay of Du Plessis lobbing the ball back to Broad. He stood with his hands on his hips, not even moving when the ball hit him on the knee. Livid. You know the one run in Broad's 5-1? It was Anderson's dropped catch. It could have been 6-0. There's a suggestion that he might now be set for a rest. At the other end, Dane Vilas drives Stokes for four.

"Broad just keeps producing these spells. He's just got that X factor, when he gets in rhythm on any surface, that knack of taking wickets."

I like this, a bit of agro. The ball drops at the feet of Du Plessis, who picks it up and lobs it back to Broad. The bowler doesn't like it. "You're here to bat, not field. Leave the ball alone." Boos, but that's just more fuel for the Broad fire. Inside-edge from Faf, who's lucky to see his furniture still there. 

Still Broad, obviously. You feel like he can take a wicket with every ball he bowls.

"It's the seventh time in Test match cricket that Stuart Broad has taken five wickets in a single spell."

To remind you, Broad has 5-1 in 31 balls. To celebrate, the Barmy Army play Livin on a Prayer - England are halfway there. Du Plessis, less of a batting partner, more of an eyewitness, gets the scoreboard moving with a single, then Vilas drives Stokes back down the ground for four.

James Johnston: Broad is surely the most destructive bowler in the world when he bowls spells like this. A pure delight to watch.

Luke Swales: What does @StuartBroad8 eat for brekkie on days like this? It's like Trent Bridge all over again.

Jonny Brook: Broad is like Metallica in Nashville, absolutely unplayable!

It's absolutely incredible stuff. This game was on the sharpest of edges, but Stuart Broad has taken the blade and cut off the head of the Protea. One by one they come down the tunnel, into the Bullring, the Colosseum. Broad is the rampaging Lion. Dane Vilas is the next line of defence. 

"South Africa are having this Test match ripped from their grasp by Stuart Broad."

"When it's your day, it's your day. It hasn't bounced anywhere near as much as Bavuma expected and it's come off the glove and hit the stumps. Broad is on for 10!"

• 428: James Anderson (2003-present)
• 383: Ian Botham (1977-1992)
• 328: Stuart Broad (2007-present)
• 325: Bob Willis (1971-1984)
• 307: Fred Trueman (1952-65)

Click here for the full list

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In my excitement at that catch, I called Amla the captain. He's not and, judging by the look on his face in the dressing room, he's relieved about it. Stokes to Du Plessis in the gloom, grey clouds firmly circled over the Proteas. An appeal for leg before, looks good, but no dice. Has he hit it? No review.

Alex Haworth: What a catch! What. A. Catch!!!!

Middlemarch: Catches win matches. Bowling is super tight. SA collapsing in a heap. Test matches are about pressure and England are on top.

Tim Sowula: Amazing commentary for that wicket! Wow. Classic radio, for any sport #TMS

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Broad is having one of those spells, but bowlers always need a touch of help. It's come from Taylor, who set off on a lap of the square when he held that. I'm told the reaction was 0.4 seconds. Broad has 4-1 in 23 balls. This might be done tonight.

"It's brilliant from Taylor: not only to have the bravery to stay up, but also to have the reflexes to get his fingers under the ball."

"I'm virtually speechless. I cannot believe he's caught that. That's one of the best catches I've ever seen in my life."

Howard Horner: BROAD! He has always always had the capacity to bowl these magic spells, and once again, he is winning us a series!

Adora Belle: What a cracking morning in the cricket! I defy anyone to say the test format is dead.

The Barmy Army sings for Stuart Broad as England smell a series victory. Ben Stokes on for James Anderson, immediately jamming the bottom hand of Du Plessis. Glum faces in the South Africa dressing room, the world number one ranking slipping away. Ooofff - a snorter from Stokes almost beheads Du Plessis. Tough, tough batting conditions. 

"South Africa need Faf du Plessis. He's struggled with his tempo in this series - he's got to find a bit of positivity here."

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Looking again, Broad got the seam absolutely perfect - bolt upright. It nipped back and bounced - jumping as much as Broad's blond locks do in his run-up. A lot of bat from ABDV, goodnight Vienna. Faf du Plessis the new man. South Africa need no faffing from Faf.

"A huge, huge moment in this Test match. De Villiers is the one batsman who can take this game away from England and they've got him early. Stuart Broad is on fire, he's bowling with great control."

"You've got to feel for Van Zyl. He's been thrust into a position that he knows nothing about, and he's been exposed."  

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You feel that this is the ball game, right here. South Africa's two gun players at the crease, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers the two most likely to take this away from England. Anderson as a man plays the trombone in the crowd, Amla driving back down the ground for a couple. One more England, just one more...

"Stiaan van Zyl now has 155 runs at an average of 15.5 in 10 innings as an opening batsman."

"What a cracking catch that was. It went fast to Ben Stokes and he snaffled it above his head. Broad has bowled with good venom today, but it was a nothing defensive shot by Stiaan van Zyl."

Anthony Slack: It's been more than 2 years since Anderson has been a significant threat with the ball. Now he can't buy a catch!

Jay: Anderson is consistently beating batsmen, going past the outside edge by millimetres. He is clearly past it.

Stuart Broad has had a mishap with the zinc. There's a blob on one side of his nose, but nowhere else on his face. In the crowd, a full band is playing. It's as if they've sneaked the brass section of the London Philharmonic into the Wanderers. Van Zyl is wafting like a conductor, flashing outside off stump. He's been batting like a man with a conductor's baton....

"By bowling to a seven-two off-side field, England feel they can not only create chances, but deny the batsmen runs. They're not going to give them anything on their legs. It's not a plan I like, but it's one that has worked for England in the past. The pressure builds on the batsmen."

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Jimmy, the dropper, to Van Zyl, the reprieved. Has Anderson got the nip-backer in mind? Lots of deliveries are swinging across the leftie at the moment. A stab down the ground, an inside edge, three from the over. Three notches of joy for South Africa. Three inches on to the mountain for England. Knife-edge stuff.

"That's Anderson's third drop of the series. It went very quickly away to his left-hand side. It was a very difficult chance."

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Do not miss a delivery. Every ball is an event. Heavy air, packed ground. A buzzing Bullring. Crowd invested in this action - a fair fight between bat and ball.

Is that a drop? It is! It would have been a cracker from Anderson. Broad to Van Zyl, edge to third slip. Anderson dives to his left but can't take it one-handed. Is that cordon too close? The ball is carrying quite comfortably.

Boom: Would love @StuartBroad8 to have one of his magical spells to win this match.

Josh Roberts: WICKET!! Get in Stuart you absolutely beauty!

Dan, I'm with you. No cricket, no party. We all go to huge lengths to keep up with the Test score. When Alex Tudor made 99 as nightwatchman, I phoned home from a school trip and had to explain to my sister than the scorecard was on Ceefax page 341. Anderson looks closer to the groove, hooping it around under the grey. Van Zyl beaten, Amla leaves. Good example of the difference between the two batsmen.

Email Message: How do I listen in St Lucia? There are rights restrictions. It's spoiling my holiday. Wouldn't have travelled if I'd known!  

from Dan Johnson

How do I listen in St Lucia? There are rights restrictions. It's spoiling my holiday. Wouldn't have travelled if I'd known!  

Looking again, it didn't actually bounce that much. Elgar played it about waist high. The illusion of bounce came because Bairstow took it above his head. It really was wide, Elgar was playing miles away from his body. Hashim Amla the new man. One of two who hold the key for South Africa, you fancy.

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"That's 325 Test wickets now for Stuart Broad. He's caught up with Bob Willis, joint third on the all-time England wicket-takers list."

"It was a wonderful delivery and the plan worked. Elgar was playing it off the back foot but it bounced and left him a fraction. He could have left it, he should have left it, but it drew him away from his body."

Neil: Horrible thing to say, but is Jimmy past it?

MixItNFixItMan: Jimmy is lacking match fitness after his injury, that is obvious. It doesn't mean he's past it.

Francis Edwards: Anderson hate coming after two games being out of form after an injury. Would you really prefer Woakes to Jimmy? REALLY?

Will the real James Anderson please stand up? Jimmy is still searching for that post-calf-injury rhythm, but there were signs before the break that the nip might be back. It was definitely back this morning when I was defrosting the car. Ooohhh, Van Zyl turns one past short leg, but it's past James Taylor in a flash.

"That was a good over from Broad. He had a lovely rhythm, bowled it where he wanted, drew the batsman forward a few times. If you put it in the right spot often enough, the ball will do something."

Van Zyl, who might not have been playing in this match had Quinton de Kock been fit, chews his gum as he waits for the round-the-wicket Broad. Angled in. Off stump and around. To play or not to play. The left-hander, who has been allergic to runs this series, gets through a maiden.

Andy Wales: I presume when Elgar takes his guard, he's composing himself?

Players back out after the break, into the Johannesburg gloom. Stuart Broad to Stiaan van Zyl. Three slips and a gully.

If you're interested, Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori would be in there too. That's four. Will give the other seven some thought.

Now then, good morning to you. Stephan Shemilt in the chair, taking over after some sterling work from James Gheerbrant.

An excellent lunch break that - Herschelle Gibbs on TMS and memories of Mike Atherton and Jack Russell on the TV. In my favourite cricketers XI, Atherton would skipper and Russell would keep.

Neil: Horrible thing to say but is Jimmy past it?

John M Butt: I know Anderson is a wonderful bowler. He is yet to turn up in this match. Either turn up next session or back to 1st Test team.

Former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs on TMS: "This match is poised for an unbelievable finish."

Ben Turner: Next hour SO key. Would be glorious to see Jimmy steamroll their top order like days of the past.

Ex-South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs's advice for Alex Hales: "First-class cricket is where you learn to play - you can't score enough hundreds in first-class cricket.

"But I would never tell anybody to restrict themselves from their natural instincts."

Former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs on TMS: "We didn't share any beverages after the game in the changing room. We met in the hotel bar an hour or two later and got it on there.

"Punter (Australia captain Ricky Ponting) gave them the biggest tongue-lashing because they couldn't defend 400. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall."

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Herschelle Gibbs on his 111-ball 175 against Australia: "It was my most enjoyable one-day innings. You could play with freedom. 

"It was a phenomenal game to be part of - it had everything. Nathan Bracken got a five-for in that game - no one remembers."

Herschelle Gibbs is recalling South Africa's record 438-9 to beat Australia in an ODI at the Wanderers in 2006. His contribution: 175 off 111 balls.

Email Message: Said it yesterday - the 100-plus runs South Africa's last four batsmen got while Anderson and Board bowled the wrong line will cost us the match...

from Andy from Leeds

Said it yesterday - the 100-plus runs South Africa's last four batsmen got while Anderson and Board bowled the wrong line will cost us the match...

Former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs: "Full marks to the curator. It's his first Test and he's produced an absolute belter of a pitch. It's intriguing and it's Test match cricket at its best."

South Africa 313 & 16-0

Batsmen: Elgar 10*, Van Zyl 6*

Bowling figures: Anderson 3-1-7-0, Broad 2-0-9-0

England 323: Root 110, Bairstow 45; Rabada 5-78, Morkel 3-76

South Africa lead by 6 runs

Full scorecard

"England will be desperate for the clouds to stick around. I'm in South Africa's camp at the moment. I'd rather than the six-run lead with 10 wickets in hand. But the momentum can shift."

The physios are banished back to the dressing-room and Elgar grits his teeth and continues. He sees off the final three deliveries of Anderson's over, and South Africa have survived through to lunch.

Wow, that's a rozzer from Anderson. Back of a length, climbing faster than a cat-burglar up a drainpipe and swinging wildly away from the batsman. And another jaffa from the England quick, spitting off the surface and rapping Elgar on the shoulder. Elgar's a tough sort but even he's going to need a bit of magic sponge here.

Elgar swings hard at a short ball and slices it over the top of the slips for four. Is this a bit short from England? We haven't seen too many forward defensive strokes so far.

"I'd turn to Steven Finn now, replacing Anderson. He's been the pick of the bowlers all tour."

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Good contest this. Two thoroughbred pace bowlers steaming in, the series potentially on the line for South Africa in the next couple of hours. These two batsmen hoping to make it through to lunch unscathed by whatever means necessary. Van Zyl squirts a couple behind square on the leg side and South Africa are back in the lead again.

"England have got the bit between the teeth. This pair are running in better than they did on the first morning."  

Yeesh! Broad gets one to spit venomously off the surface and Elgar only just withdraws his gloves in the nick of time. Another one takes off sharply from a length and clangs Jonny Bairstow on the sternum. Elgar responds well with a flashing stroke over backward point for four.

Immediately there's a bit of shape on offer for Jimmy and he induces an edge from Dean Elgar which goes down and scuttles between the slips for a single. Van Zyl gets off the mark with a nice square-drive which runs away for four.

"If South Africa bat really well, they put the pressure back on England. The Test will be won or lost this afternoon."

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Gareth Axenderrie: What a finely poised Test... Any lead now a good 1.. On a good fair track, Test Cricket still trumps all formats of the game!!

Paul Lewis: England have thrown away a really good position this morning. South Africa have to be favourites to win now.

Van Zyl and Dean Elgar are out in the middle. Jimmy Anderson with the new conker. Can he get it hooping? (The lights are on.) Let's see.

England 323 - first-innings lead of 10

Root 110, Bairstow 45; Rabada 5-78, Morkel 3-76

Fall of wickets: 10-1 (Hales 1), 22-2 (Cook 18), 74-3 (Compton 26), 91-4 (Taylor 7), 202-5 (Stokes 58), 242-6 (Root 110), 279-7 (Moeen 19), 309-8 (Broad 12) 311-9 (Finn 0), 323 all out (Bairstow 45)

Bowling figures: Morris 15-1-71-1, Rabada 23.1-5-78-5, Morkel 20-1-76-3, Viljoen 15-0-79-1, Van Zyl 3-0-4-0.

South Africa 313: Elgar 46, Stokes 3-53

Full scorecard

"It might come down to a bit of luck. It looks like it's getting brighter, so it might be easier for South Africa to bat."

Now then, a tricky (and potentially crucial) 20-minute session for South Africa's openers to navigate. Stiaan van Zyl has looked vulnerable so far in this series - can England make an early breakthrough?

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So, England's lead is 10, and Kagiso Rabada goes on the honours board for the first time in his Test career. A star is born? He certainly bowled beautifully in that innings.

"It's sad that Jonny didn't wait. It doesn't mean a lot and it's now up to England's bowlers. They need to be saying to Broad and Anderson 'come on, we need it now'."

"It's excellent against from Bairstow, who fell on his sword there. Ten runs is nothing. It's even."

"This is difficult for Jonny. There's so many men on the boundary."

Careful Rory, that's the kind of simile that could win you a job on the BBC live cricket desk. Bairstow launches an almighty yahoo that goes miles up in the air and just evades the leaping AB de Villiers on its plummet back to earth. Oh, that's better though - gorgeous back-foot punch from Bairstow, splits the covers and runs away for four. And a scampered single off the last keeps JB on strike. Top work. He couldn't have played that over much better.

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Rory Stoves: Well this is a rather good Test match, more ebbs and flows than an ebby-flowy thing.

So, down to JB to launch a few lusty blows, you would reckon, with only Jimmy Anderson for company now. He swings his beefy forearms at one and gets the faintest of top-edges to clear the wicket-keeper and get the boundary that takes England into the lead. Now how much of an advantage can this last pair eke out?

"It just clipped the right thumb as it rose from short of a length. It was a very good DRS decision."

"I think he's gloved it."

Morne Morkel thinks he's got Steven Finn here. Steepling bounce, did he glove it? Aleem Dar says no, but South Africa want another look...

"They have to take the singles on offer, there's so many gaps. Jonny has to talk to Finn. They just get what they can."

Strangely, Van Zyl continues. Will Jonny B look to go big here? Nope, just a tickle for one. Finn blocks out the rest of the over, and here comes Morne...

Test-best figures for Rabada now, chance of a first five-for. Steven Finn the new batsman.

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"It was a great yorker - we don't see enough of those. I like Rabada. I saw him bowl in India and thought he's got something."

Dave: Any lead that England can get in this match will be invaluable. Some excellent batting to get this far.

Van Zyl continues. Broad is looking in reasonable touch with the bat and that's good news for England. He's not trying to flay everything to the boundary, he's playing with a bit more patience, happy to trundle a two through the covers.

"England would think 250 to win is reasonable. South Africa will want more because of the inexperience of their attack. If it's 220, South Africa have to believe they have a chance."

Rabada is back for South Africa as AB de Villiers looks to break this partnership pronto and mop up the tail. Good move, I reckon. Rabada cuts Broad in half like a magician's assistant with a full delivery that whistles over the top of the bails. Nice riposte from Broad, back-foot punching through the covers for three. That deficit is coming down...

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"There are only 20 runs to play with, three wickets to take. Van Zyl is the option to bide the time until the new ball. That's 12 overs away. Two or three overs each for Morkel and Rabada and you might not reach the new ball."

Ed Cinderey: This Test is set up similar to the 2nd Test v NZ this summer. England could find it very difficult if SA bat aggressively.

Duh-duh-duh-duh, duh-duh-duh-duh, duh-duh-duh-duh, duh-duh-duh-duh, tonight's the night for me and you, my part-time bowler. AB de Villiers turns to his occasionals and summons Stiaan van Zyl for an over of dibbly-dobbly medium-pace stuff. Broad pinches a single.

"South Africa were on the ropes yesterday afternoon, but they have bounced back well be taking two big wickets. You feel today is the day for the breaking point. Who will give in? Both teams will feel nervous because so much is on the line."

Oh my goodness. Viljoen spears down an absolute monster of a bouncer that forces Broad to topple backwards and end up on his back on the dancefloor. Undiginifed, but effective. Viljoen stares and offers a few choice words. Or does Hardus even do words? Maybe he just communicates in grunts. Drinks for everyone, can of rocket fuel for Hardus.

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Grum makes a good point - you have to wonder if AB de Villiers will think about going back to his strike bowlers. Bairstow crunches Morris through point for four.

"South Africa have to have the mindset of breaking this partnership. Finn and Anderson to come, but they won't take the game away. South Africa's lead is still valuable."  

What a match we have on our hands here. England still a few runs short, South Africa into the tail. Momentum sliding all over the place. Broad digs out a yorker for a single, then narrowly misses getting an edge on an attempted upper-cut.

Partridge Thornton: As a big fan of Brass Eye, Blue Jam & The Day Today I never thought I'd want to see the back of Chris Morris.

The more you look at that Dane Vilas catch, the better it gets. He was going to his left, but changed direction and flung himself to his right. Congratulatory hair ruffles all round from his delighted team-mates. Stuart Broad is the new man and he clips a single to get off the mark.

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"That's the length that Morris should be looking to bowl. Just short with a little bit of movement. What a catch, it just sticks in the right paw. This game - there's always going to be opportunities."

"Momentum switches in this game are coming every two or three hours. England's tail is so dangerous. Moeen Ali got some vital runs in the Ashes, even on spicy wickets."

Viljoen pounds in, sweat-soaked shirt clinging tightly to his muscular frame. (I should give this job up and start writing airport romances.)

Watching him, the duchess knew instantly - sorry, got a bit carried away there. Moeen is ticking along nicely all of a sudden and he thwacks Hardus in front of points for another boundary. England are taking the initiative again.

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Ian Blyth: Bit of black insulation tape and that bat will be fine

A heart-in-mouth moment for Moeen, who was slightly dawdling a second run and almost came a cropper to a very sharp Temba Bavuma throw from the deep. Lots and lots of replays before the third umpire decides that Moeen got over the line.

"No amount of tape can save that bat. It's gone."  

"I don't know how long Moeen has had that for, but it might still be in the guarantee. He can take it back."

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Here he is. My first sighting of Hardus Viljoen in his natural habitat, and what a magnificent specimen he is. Chest like an oak wardrobe, thighs like pistons. Bowls a heavy ball, too. So much so that he's just snapped Moeen's bat like a matchstick. With a delivery, not Jackie Chan-style, though I suspect he could manage that too. Moeen, perhaps aggrieved by the loss of his favourite bat, gets his own back by carving Viljoen through point for four.

"I'm not sure how he doesn't prevent that shirt from splitting open across his chest.

"Viljoen will have had about 55 eggs for breakfast."

Lovely lines from Kagiso Rabada, whistling one past the outside edge of Bairstow. The batsman responds with a clip into the leg side and an assertive piece of running turns it into two.

"There's a real buzz about the crowd - there's a different feel to the first two days."

The Wanderers is filling nicely, the grass bank on the leg side as Morkel giraffes in to Bairstow is slowly being populated. Beer and barbecues there today, I fancy. Right on cue, there's some singing. I can't tell if the song is of an English or South African persuasion.

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Jonathan Horrocks: Are people really having a go at Root? A great knock. Even Bradman couldn't bat forever.

Terry Mahoney: Come on guys! No one else has got anywhere near a century in this match. Credit where credit is due, a great innings from Root!

Moeen looking about as fluent this morning as Katie Price in a Russian conversation class. (I'm assuming that's not on Ms Price's list of hidden talents.) An inside-edge into the pads tells of his wonky timing.

"This is real Test cricket - real, competitive Test cricket with both sides fighting. Who's on top? I don't know."

Now to be fair Luke, Root's not alone in that. We've all struggled to get going the morning after a particularly heavy one. One man's Test-match run-binge is another man's big night at the Red Lion. You know the symptoms - foggy head, weary eyes, not quite sure whether you've just edged Kagiso Rabada. Morkel bang on once again, allowing Bairstow just a single from a hostile over.

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Michael Jones: Great knock yesterday but poor shot today.

Chris Brown: Rooooooooooooooooooooo...... oh.

Luke Dady: For all his qualities, Joe Root never seems to be able to get going again the next morning after a big day before.

I told you Boycs wouldn't like it. Well, he didn't like it. He'll like this though - his favourite son of Yorkshire, young Johnny Bairstow, gets onto a short delivery from Rabada and short-arm pulls it through midwicket. JB has been the man for England so often in this series - can he do it again?

"I never understand it. First ball, new batsman - and they have a man at fine leg and a man at deep square. Why don't you have a third slip? It's mindless. Now another slip is going in - you twits!"

Young Joseph, I seem to remember, has been making a bit of a habit of not kicking on in the morning after a big score. But there's no time to discuss that, we've almost got another wicket on our hands! Morkel rears one up at new bat Moeen Ali, the ball flies off the edge and loops nicely to third slip, where - there's no-one there. No-one there? Third over of the day, Morne Morkel steaming in at a new batsman? Dear oh dear, that'll have the pundits combusting on the sofa.

"That has really set the cat among the pigeons as far as England are concerned."

"That's a wonderful wicket. It's always difficult to start in the morning, whether you've got a hundred or not."

"Big moment in the day - for South Africa, for England."

Hello hello. If you were still brushing the sleep out of your eyes, wake up... England's best batsman might be out. Rabada the bowler, big stroke from Root, umpire's finger goes up. But Root reviews immediately...

Morkel keeping Jonny Bairstow pinned on the back foot - no early half-volleys to get his score moving this morning. What's this? With one delivery of the over remaining, little Temba Bavuma at short leg realise he wasn't wearing his box Good job Bairstow didn't middle one.

And Morne Morne is ready to roll at the other end...

Two balls of Kagiso Rabada's over to complete after the teams were hauled off for bad light last night. First ball: defended stoutly by Root. Second ball: watchfully turned away.

"It's cooler today but it's muggy; it has the feel of a nice bowling day. Because England have scored so quickly, it has given them a chance. When you've got players like Stokes in your side you can catch up with the opposition that much faster."

Right, the players are out in the middle. Big first hour, as they say. (When is it not?) Can Root pile on the pain? Or will South Africa fight back? Let's find out...

The BBC's cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew sounds a note of caution in his column.

He says: "It was a great shame for England that bad light stopped play. The home side, deprived of debutant fast bowler Hardus Viljoen who had gone off with cramp, were under the cosh. 

"Their hope will be to regroup overnight - they still have a lead of 75 runs, and the new ball due just before lunch. England are by no means out of the woods yet."

England certainly didn't have it all their own way though, and one man who seemed hell-bent on making sure the tourists didn't get away was South Africa debutant Hardus Viljoen.

The barrel-chested fast bowler took the wicket of Alastair Cook with his very first ball in Test cricket - only the 20th man to do so.

There was some debate on yesterday's live text over whether his actual name is GC or Gerhardus. I'm in the Gerhardus camp. Surely his parents wouldn't actually name him GC? I mean, not unless they were really big Tour de France fans...

Joe Root on Test Match Special: "Any sort of lead on here will be important. It's going to be quite a close encounter, so anything we can get is going to be vitally important. As long as we can get in front, that's our goal."

It wasn't quite 258 but Ben Stokes provided another reminder of just how dangerous he can be with willow in hand.

The all-rounder blazed 58 off 54 balls - his fastest Test fifty - as he and Root added 111 at a rollicking rate of seven an over.

"It was a real masterclass by Joe Root on how to play on this wicket - he was committed in defence and in attack.

"England are in a good position and the real advantage is there are 28 overs until the second new ball - it's got o be soft with the clattering it took yesterday afternoon. You feel the momentum shifted towards England.

"If they get today they should be able to get a good lead. But you never know on a pitch like this. As we've seen, all it takes is a good half hour for South Africa."

Yes, yesterday belonged to Joe Root and Ben Stokes, who managed to get England from a perilous position to one of relative strength.

Stokes departed for 58 after a glorious cameo of counter-attacking batting but Root remains unbeaten on 106 after what critics are calling his best ton yet.

Hello and welcome to live text coverage of day three of the third Test between England and South Africa.

The tourists will resume on 238-5 in around 15 minutes' time.

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At 91-4 in reply to South Africa's 313, things were looking decidedly dodgy for England. 

And then came one of those mad hours were everything seemed to go right. South Africa lost the initiative, England seized it, runs flowed like booze at the Christmas party, and at the centre of it all was England's most exciting young double act in ages.  

They call it the Rooster...