England polish off South Africa with searing pace to seal the series

• South Africa vs England, fourth Test: live scoreboard in full

England ended their triumphant Test tour of South Africa on a rousing high, wrapping up a 191-run win at the Wanderers to clinch the series 3-1.

Joe Root's team backed the hosts into a corner over the first three days - 465 runs behind and with six entire sessions in front of them - then finished the job by dismissing them for 274.

The Proteas showed some fight, notably in the form of Rassie van der Dussen's 98, but England's pace attack was too strong, Mark Wood taking four more wickets for a match haul of nine for 100.

Ben Stokes was also key, breaking open the two biggest stands of the day by dismissing Dean Elgar at the end of the morning session and captain Faf du Plessis just before tea. Du Plessis was earlier seen nudging Jos Buttler with his shoulder and could find the pain of defeat exacerbated by disciplinary action.

Victory at Johannesburg's vaunted 'Bullring' completed a famous hat-trick of wins behind enemy lines, following the day five drama in Cape Town and the domination of Port Elizabeth.

It is just the third time since 1979 that England have won three in a row on the road, a feat that escaped the Sirs, Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook entirely, but which Root has now achieved twice.

Pieter Malan and Elgar set the right tone for their side, blunting the new ball as they put on a chanceless 39 in the first hour. They will have been satisfied with their work as they headed to the drinks break but as soon as play resumed Malan was out, driving loosely at Chris Woakes.

Van der Dussen came to the crease on a pair in his first Test as a number three and was given lbw to Woakes on nought, escaping after a successful call for DRS. Getting off the mark with a pull for four, he went on to add 50 with Elgar and dealt mercilessly with three overs of Root's off-spin.

Lunch was hovering into view when Stokes intervened in his last over before the break, pounding one into the pitch and towards Elgar's helmet. The batsmen flailed in self-defence and popped a return catch back to Stokes.

Van der Dussen and Du Plessis held court for the next two hours and 20 minutes, putting plenty of hard labour into the English attack.

Van der Dussen was largely enjoying himself, moving to his third half-century of the series, then past his previous best of 68 in calm fashion. When Joe Denly tried his luck for three overs, his rag-tag leg-breaks were summarily dispatched.

Du Plessis' stay was more of a scrap, at one stage almost literally. He was beaten a couple of times before getting off the mark from his 18th ball, rapped on the glove when Woakes found some joy from a crack outside off and almost played on with 10 to his name.

Wood was next to try his resolve, forcing Du Plessis back with a fierce bouncer and almost causing him to fall into his own stumps. The skipper's adrenaline was hardly any surprise but when he pushed his shoulder against Buttler it was a step too far. There was some mitigation, an ongoing verbal spat with Broad and a loose Curran throw that thumped into his pads, but any physical contact is liable to be punished by the match referee.

The only blow that really counted was the one about to be inflicted by Stokes, who charged in again and bowled Du Plessis for 35 as the ball kept low and skimmed off the toe end.

After repelling England for so long the spell was broken and Van der Dussen was gone in the next over. He had batted brilliantly and deserved his side's first ton of the series, but when Wood attacked from round the wicket he could only pop a catch to short cover.

Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock peppered the boundaries immediately after tea but the writing was on the wall.

Broad returned to the attack and struck twice in his first two overs, Bavuma arching his back dramatically as he gloved behind and Dwaine Pretorius top-edging to fine-leg.

Vernon Philander came out to bat with a torn hamstring but his final act before retirement was a short one, strangled down leg by Wood.

Beuran Hendricks was run out and the series was settled in England's favour when Buttler and Wood combined for Anrich Nortje's wicket. PA

3:19PM

Joe Root speaks

3:17PM

Ben Stokes is man of the series

3:14PM

Mark Wood is man of the match

3:13PM

Faf du Plessis speaks

3:09PM

Vernon Philander is the first to the presentation zone

"Not the way I wanted to end it but it's all in the hands of the Man above. All praise to Joe and his players. Sharing a changing room with so many greats has made it easier for me over the years."

3:04PM

Terrific application from England today

They dug in during that third-wicket partnership, used their bowlers exceptionally well and all of the quicks bowled to a plan. Ben Stokes, as so often, made the breakthrough and once the dam was broken, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes flooded through. England have found some grit and a broader range of fast bowling options than at any time I can remember.

2:55PM

England win the fourth Test by 191 runs

And take the series 3-1, winning three Tests in a row for the first time since the autumn/winter of 2018.

2:50PM

Wicket!!

Nortje c Buttler b Wood 4  Wood, bound to be man of the match, cleans up South Africa's innings with back-to-back bouncers. The first flies over Nortje's shoulder and is called wide, the second flicks the glove on the way through. It was given as not out but England successfully referred it. FOW 274 all out.

England win by 191 runs.

2:49PM

OVER 77: SA 273/9 (Nortje 4* Paterson 0*)               

Root milked for five singles before Hendricks runs himself out.

2:45PM

Wicket!!

Hendricks run out 4  Sums up some of the haplessness that has bedevilled SA this series. Rip van Hendricks was dozing at the non-striker's, all but sitting on his bat handle when called through for a perfectly respectable single. He simply didn't respond and all Sibley had to do was toss it to the keeper who caught him stranded by 10 yards. FOW 273/9

2:45PM

OVER 76: SA 268/8 (Nortje 2* Hendricks 1*)             

At the end of a long, hard series De Kock chucks his wicket away again. More excuse for him today than when he slapped Joe Denly to midwicket or spooned Root straight up in the air. Tired of batting with the rabbits, his patience exhausted, he chanced his arm with a mow over midwicket. Elgar, presumably, will pip him to the Test captaincy for a couple of years because of that rashness. Though if QdK impresses as white-ball captain, the temptation to give him the red-ball job and overburden him may be overwhelming.

Wood greets Hendricks with a nasty ball that hits him in the ribs.

2:38PM

Wicket!!

De Kock c Woakes b Wood 39  Cloths a drive high to mid-off who waits, waits and pouches it when it finally falls to earth.  FOW 267/8

2:38PM

OVER 75: SA 267/7 (De Kock 39* Nortje 2*)             

Nortje is caught at slip off his pads. Root appeals but receives an assured shake of the head from Joel Wilson.

2:36PM

OVER 74: SA 265/7 (De Kock 38* Nortje 1*)           

Wood continues round the wicket to the new batsman Nortje who spoons a defensive into the offside where it drops safe between cover point and extra. The barnacle tailender jogs a single, giving De Kock one ball, which he laces with a chop of the bottom hand behind point for four.

A tribute to Vernon, written after the Pretoria Test.

2:29PM

Wicket!!!

Philander c Buttler b Wood 10  Strangled by a short ball that kissed the glove as he tried to pull it. England park their aggression to applaud this magnificent bowler off the field where he is met by a guard of honour of his team-mates and support staff.  FOW 260/7

2:28PM

OVER 73: SA 260/6 (De Kock 34* Philander 10*)           

Root speeds through another over to get to the new ball. De Kock keeps the infielders on their toes until he launches the final ball of the over over deep midwicket for a mammoth six.

2:24PM

OVER 72: SA 253/6 (De Kock 28* Philander 9*)         

Mark Wood returns after Stuart Broad's two-wicket, two-over spell. Philander, determined to depart in style, skelps four off the back foot through cover, then pulls four more with ridiculous force over midwicket.  De Kock joins in when Wood comes round the wicket and serves up a back-of-a-length delivery. The left-hander opens his stance and murders it over mid-on for a one-bounce four.

2:20PM

OVER 71: SA 240/6 (De Kock 24* Philander 0*)         

Root relieves Stokes and rattles through a maiden to De Kock from round the wicket, beating him comprehensively with one that dipped, gripped and ripped.

2:19PM

OVER 70: SA 240/6 (De Kock 24* Philander 0*)       

No need for Pretorius to play at the ball that dismissed him at all. Enter Vernon Philander on one leg in his last Test for his final contribution. The batsmen had crossed so De Kock takes strike and gives it straight back with a single whacked off the back foot to the cover boundary rider. Philander is struck on the thighpad to begin his positively final appearance, too high even to warrant a polite inquiry.

2:13PM

Wicket!!

Pretorius c Curran b Broad 2 Takes on a short ball on off-stump and top-edges the pull. Curran runs in from the long leg boundary and catches it by diving forwards, hands outstretched, eyes on the ball.  FOW 239/6

2:12PM

OVER 69: SA 238/5 (De Kock 22* Pretorius 2*)       

It has been a very bad tempered series all round. Stokes stays on for the entrance of his bunny, Pretorius, who uses the angle wisely this time to work a couple through midwicket before leaving two and blocking two.

2:10PM

OVER 68: SA 235/5 (De Kock 22* Pretorius 0*)     

Broad replaces Woakes after his costly last over. SA start it briskly with De Kock creaming a drive through mid-on for four and Bavuma skelping a square cut for another. But then Broad pulled out a savage snorter to do for Bavuma. When he departed England's exuberance possibly crossed a line and Root was given the big curly finger by the umpires and treated to a lecture.

2:04PM

Wicket!!! 

Bavuma c Buttler b Broad 27 Sensational from Broad. A malevolent leg-cutter, perfume ball that followed the batsman. Bavuma tried to jack-knife out of the way but it just kissed his thumb in front of his mouth as he tried to jerk his head further than the anatomy of his neck would allow. What a brute. FOW 235/5

2:02PM

OVER 67: SA 226/4 (De Kock 17* Bavuma 23*)     

Nice shot from Bavuma, pulling a short ball outside off-stump over square leg for four. For every angel, there's a devil with Bavuma and here he plays that back-foot drive again, nicking it over the beanpole Crawley at gully for four more. It was so close it almost trimmed Crawley's fingernails. Stokes is incredulous and stands shaking his head with both hands on hips.

1:57PM

OVER 66: SA 216/4 (De Kock 16* Bavuma 14*)   

At last England are given the ball change they have lobbied for all day when it is finally bashed sufficiently out of shape to sit on top of the gauge like an Easter egg in a superfluous, logo-bedecked mug that is automatically relegated to the rear of the cupboard. England give the replacement ball a long polish then Woakes comes in to use it. De Kock looks a million dollars, even in defence, and after failing to penetrate the field with a dab and cover drive, he pulls a short ball for four as a chaser to a front-foot drive, knee artfully bent, through extra for four more.

1:51PM

OVER 65: SA 208/4 (De Kock 8* Bavuma 14*)   

Bavuma plays a false stroke off the back foot, attempting to square drive he misses the ball completely as it climbs on him. England whelp. Undaunted, he attacks the next channel ball in the same way and edges it streakily past gully for four.

1:48PM

OVER 64: SA 201/4 (De Kock 7* Bavuma 8*) 

De Kock slaps a cut shot in front of point for a single, then Bavuma 'a little lad' in Nasser's words, creams a square drive off Woakes for four followed by four more off a thick edge past gully's right hand. Woakes, Peter Perfect, is not happy and regales him with an uncharacteristic volley. Bavuma smiles back and is not suckered into wild strokes at the final two balls down the corridor, leaving them well alone.

1:42PM

OVER 63: SA 192/4 (De Kock 6* Bavuma 0*) 

Stokes pounds in again. He was flexing and massaging his left knee after finishing the final over before tea but seems OK. Bavuma gets in line to defend well, helping Stokes to another maiden but looking, so far, in good form in terms of judging length and line.

1:38PM

OVER 62: SA 192/4 (De Kock 6*, Bavuma 0*)

Woakes resumes after tea, over the wicket to the right-handed De Kock who nicks a back-foot push through the gap between second and fourth slip for four. Quinton is the series' leading scorer and has been in fine nick but has thrown away his wicket three times with rash shots. Could have had three centuries without the rush of blood.

1:17PM

TEA: SA 188/4 (De Kock 2*, Bavuma 0*)

A fine third-wicket partnership, gutsy and occasionally feisty, frustrated England for more than two hours in that elongated session. They fought shrewdly, punished any lapses until Ben Stokes, with the help of the pitch did for Du Plessis in his last home Test innings. The curse of being a useless (coin) tosser once again consigned Faf to the pitch at its worst and his team paid the price. Rassie batted superbly until he fell ... gripped by century fever and a Root funky field, his mind was scrambled. Back in 15 minutes.

1:14PM

OVER 61: SA 188/4 (De Kock 2*, Bavuma 0*)

England are Stokes are looking for the ball to misbehave off the cracks but they all behave themselves and Bavuma can confidently leave a couple after De Kock works a single off his hip.

1:09PM

OVER 60: SA 187/4 (De Kock 1*, Bavuma 0*)

England bring back the slips for Bavuma who is struck on the gloves in front of his throat by a vicious Wood lifter. England have a forward short square but the ball went behind square. One more over before tea. Stokes, who else, will bowl it.

1:05PM

Wicket!!

Van der Dussen c Broad b Wood 98 Poor lad. Victim of a bluff. England took out the slips and posted a fly slip for the uppercut on the rope, men out on the hook and short legs, indicating a barrage. But after only one short ball form round the wicket, Wood pitched one up, VDD interpreted it as a gimme for his century and chipped it to cover. Smart catch from Broad diving low to his right. FOW 187/4

1:04PM

OVER 59: SA 187/3 (Van der Dussen 98* De Kock 1*)

De Kock is off the mark with a tuck off his hip for a single and VDD strides closer to a maiden Test century and SA's first of the series after surviving a horrible bouncer that he played with both feet off the ground and almost ran off the blade and spun onto the stumps. As soon as Stokes pitches up, though, VDD spanks a drive through mid-on for four then pokes a single with a defensive to cover to move to 98.

12:58PM

Wicket!!

Du Plessis b Stokes 35  His brave and provocative innings ends, making him a victim of Stokes' discombobulatingly wide delivery point and a pitch that is full of serpents and this time imparts low bounce. It shot through off a shortish length and he inside-edged his hasty attempt to adjust into middle and off. FOW 181/3

12:57PM

OVER 58: SA 181/2 (Van der Dussen 93* Du Plessis 35*)             

This pitch is a brute -Wood, who back for a fifth successive over - gets one to spit up like a cobra off a good length and crash painfully into Van der Dussen's heart. Over he goes and on comes the physio. Wood's dander is up because it's very hot, England are exasperated and Van der Dussen just poked four through the slips, his feet in a dreadful tangle.

12:53PM

OVER 57: SA 177/2 (Van der Dussen 89* Du Plessis 35*)             

That's enough of Denly. Enter the gamechanger, Ben Stokes, who begins with one that is back of a length and sixth-stump at the very best. Van der Dussen is up on his toes like Gordon Greenidge to harpoon it off the back foot and on the up for four. Cue for the bouncer, that VDD ducks but after he works a single off his pads, Du Plessis plays one up on his toes and it crashes into the bat handle.

Du Plessis has been picking the ball up to return it to the England fielders when he drops it at his toes and a couple of overs ago polished it on his thigh before tossing it back. At the end of the previous over he blocked a return to the keeper with his bat and England are ticking. Words have been exchanged and Du Plessis isn't impressed with something that was said to him.

12:46PM

OVER 56: SA 172/2 (Van der Dussen 84* Du Plessis 35*)           

A fourth successive over for Wood - which should be his last of this spell. Du Plessis clips the sweetest of leg glances for four but is almost caught on the hop with the next ball which shoots through. Faf manages to jab his bat down to stop it, almost with the underside of the blade, where the bevelled hole for linseed oil used to be. Broad argues that the stroke has damaged the ball irreparably but the umpires send him on his way.

Any scorers out there?

12:42PM

OVER 55: SA 168/2 (Van der Dussen 84* Du Plessis 31*)           

Just the single off Denly's third over as he finds ... and sticks to his line. Decent flight now, too.

12:40PM

OVER 54: SA 167/2 (Van der Dussen 84* Du Plessis 30*)         

Du Plessis is hit again on the top hand when surprised by steepling bounce off a good length. It also knocked him off his feet but as he fell backwards he managed to kick out his legs in a pretty little Cossack dance which prevented him from falling on to his stumps at the last moment. Wood is lethally quick on a pitch that is breaking apart but senses his team-mates are a bit flat so encourages them to be more vocal with a double handed rousing gesture.

12:36PM

OVER 53: SA 165/2 (Van der Dussen 83* Du Plessis 29*)         

As Buttler attempts to encourage 'Denners' with claps and cries of 'good boy', Van der Dussen belts a low full toss through mid-on for four. Didn't middle it but still thrashed it and then back to the bread and butter with a single to rotate the strike.

12:31PM

OVER 52: SA 159/2 (Van der Dussen 78* Du Plessis 28*)       

Du Plessis tucks a single off his hip round the corner. Wood invites Van der Dussen to inhale the aroma of leather with a 91mph snorter that jags back at him and arrows towards his hooter but the batsman, as he has all innings, employs his agility to limbo out of the way.

12:29PM

OVER 51: SA 158/2 (Van der Dussen 78* Du Plessis 27*)       

England turn to Joe Denly to buy a wicket and the two batsmen push singles, one to cover, one to mid-on. Curran shies at the stumps from mid-on to try to prevent Du Plessis' larceny. He misses but Faf winds himself diving to make his ground and jars his sore elbow. Denly drags one down to VDD who carts it into the stands at midwicket for six then overcompensates with a full bunger that VDD slaps past mid-on for four more.  SA have found their No3. Markram might have to come back at No4 to replace the retiring Faf.

12:21PM

OVER 50: SA 146/2 (Van der Dussen 67* Du Plessis 26*)     

Mark Wood is brought back for a third short spell. Van der Dussen pushes a full-length ball through cover for a single and Du Plessis gets his nose over the ball to defend stoutly while advertising the maker's name. England moan about the ball again and try to persuade the umpires to change it but it fits through both gauges and they eventually ***Bumble bat signal*** get on with the game. That'll be drinks.

12:17PM

OVER 49: SA 145/2 (Van der Dussen 66* Du Plessis 26*)     

Du Plessis pulls Curran's ill-judged bouncer with savage force for four a couple of balls after thick edging him in the gap between second and fourth slips for four, a false stroke off one that lifted unnaturally that provoked Curran to try the bumper. Fifty partnership for these two.

12:13PM

OVER 48: SA 136/2 (Van der Dussen 65* Du Plessis 18*)   

Du Plessis works Woakes around the corner for four - inspiring Nasser to lament the fad fro fine leg being positioned closer to long leg or even deep backward square rather than being placed to cut off those kind of strokes. Woakes fires back with a lovely nip-backer that beats Faf all ends up but pins him too high to be out. Hence Woakes' appeal fades away on the thin Highveldt air moments after it leaves his lips.

12:10PM

OVER 47: SA 130/2 (Van der Dussen 65* Du Plessis 12*)   

Curran comes round the wicket to try to bring lbw into the range of possibilities. Du Plessis exploits the wide angle coming across his body to tickle a single behind square. Van der Dussen gets going again with a jerky lift of the clutch as he bottom edges fine of gully for four, chasing a wide one with a semi-horizontal bat, almost as if he was playing a snooker shot at it, cueing it to the boundary.

12:05PM

OVER 46: SA 125/2 (Van der Dussen 61* Du Plessis 11*) 

Du Plessis cringes at the big screen replay of him getting into a tangle playing defensively without planting his feet securely, wafting at the ball and slipping as well. He extricates himself from this seaaching inquisition by Woakes with a single scratched off his pads round the corner.

12:00PM

OVER 45: SA 124/2 (Van der Dussen 61* Du Plessis 10*) 

Bowling change - Curran returns. Over the wicket to the right-handers and pins Van der Dussen on the top of his left pad and the ball canons into the flap of his right. England appeal both for leg-before - too high - and a catch - nowhere near the bat. Sibley again thwarts a fill-blooded drive, swooping to his left to stop the ball torpedoing all the way to the rope. Du Plessis began the over with a cheap single nudged towards point but England are drying VDD up in the hope he will crack.

11:54AM

OVER 44: SA 123/2 (Van der Dussen 61* Du Plessis 9*)

Sibley saves four with a terrific diving stop at cover to stop Van der Dussen's blistering drive while Pope does the same, not so spectacularly, at midwicket as Woakes momentarily loses his line ... but without damage. Maiden.

11:52AM

OVER 43: SA 123/2 (Van der Dussen 61* Du Plessis 9*)

Du Plessis gives the canes of his pads a rattling by inside-edging a back-foot defensive into his ankle. The advice from the commentary box begs him to play forward ... and he obliges to the rest of Broad's over for a couple of balls before going back to block the last. VDD began the over by opening the face to squirt a single down to third man. All at sea against spin in the last two Tests, England have no slow bowler with the precision to tie him down in similar fashion here.

11:47AM

OVER 42: SA 122/2 (Van der Dussen 60* Du Plessis 9*)

Good morning - Chris Woakes continues. He has bowled very well in this match - sharp pace, excellent discipline over length and lines and delivering punishing blows by exploiting his accuracy to hit those cracks. After hurting Du Plessis in his previous over, he gets one to leap up off a good length and bang into Van der Dussen's hip, which requires a vigorous rub. Both batsmen work singles to cover off balls that behave themselves better.

11:41AM

OVER 41: SA 120/2 (van der Dussen 59* du Plessis 8*)

Broad continues. Van der Dussen picks up another single as South Africa continue to progress nicely. A leg bye gets du Plessis off-strike.

And now Broad gets some additional bounce, this time van der Dussen wears one. This extra bounce is looking promising for England! Surely they need a short leg in!

That is my stint done, over to Rob Bagchi for the remainder over the session.

11:34AM

OVER 40: SA 118/2 (van der Dussen 58* du Plessis 8*)

Woakes is into the attack for Stokes. He bowled a magnificent spell this morning and really earned his wicket. However, his first ball of the spell is a genuine half-volley that is duly punished with a drive for four through extra cover.

England are now trying to get the ball changed. Broad is very disappointed that he cannot persuade Joel Wilson to comply with his wishes.

Woakes then bangs one in which whistles past the face of van der Dussen. That flew off the pitch! He did well to avoid that. He then, sensibly, gets off strike.

Woakes then wraps du Plessis on the gloves who drops his bat in pain. Eventful over!

11:28AM

OVER 39: SA 113/2 (van der Dussen 53* du Plessis 8*)

Broad is shaping the ball in slightly, trying to get du Plessis to flick the ball to a catching short mid-wicket. Instead he nails it past the man and all the way to the boundary. Shot!

11:24AM

OVER 38: SA 109/2 (van der Dussen 53* du Plessis 4*)

Stokes continues, into his ninth over. Van der Dussen is getting on top of the bounce nicely, and he works a single through mid-wicket much to the frustration of Stokes.

Stokes is pushing du Plessis back with good pace here. The South African skipper flicks Stokes away for single.

11:20AM

OVER 37: SA 107/2 (van der Dussen 52* du Plessis 3*)

Broad is back into the attack - he has only bowled four overs so far. Van der Dussen works a single early in the over handing the strike over to the captain who plays out the over competently.

11:15AM

OVER 36: SA 106/2 (van der Dussen 51* du Plessis 3*)

Stokes is testing van der Dussen. He just evades one short ball before attempting a hook at the next. The third bouncer in a row is called a wide by Joel Wilson.

Stokes finally goes full and it rears up onto the splice of the bat. A full toss follows which is pushed out to deep point for a single. Du Plessis then works a two through the vacant square leg region.

11:09AM

OVER 35: SA 102/2 (van der Dussen 50* du Plessis 1*)

Wood strays onto van der Dussen's pads who clips him away for three - 100 up for South Africa! And then Faf gets off the mark with a bunt into the leg side.

Van der Dussen then pinches a single to mid-off, bringing up a 50 from just 67 balls! Some knock so far!

11:05AM

OVER 34: SA 97/2 (van der Dussen 46* du Plessis 0*)

Stokes is bowling quickly, up at 90mph. But du Plessis survives.

11:04AM

REVIEW!

Du Plessis left the ball but as it passed him England heard a noise. They appeal, not out is the decision but they review straight away. It clipped his elbow on the way through! Review lost.

11:02AM

OVER 34: SA 97/2 (van der Dussen 46* du Plessis 0*)

A good bumper from Stokes greets van der Dussen who just about avoids it. He then works a single off his pads.

Du Plessis has not settled yet and is yet to get off the mark.

11:00AM

OVER 33: SA 96/2 (van der Dussen 45* du Plessis 0*)

Wood is too full and van der Dussen straight drives him for four. That was a sumptuous shot. He is looking good today!

Wood drops short and is worked away for a single.

10:55AM

OVER 32: SA 91/2 (van der Dussen 40* du Plessis 0*)

Stokes is plugging away outside off stump, bowling a good length with decent pace. He gets one to nip back, cannoning into du Plessis' thigh pad off an inside edge.

Du Plessis then chases a wide one, which he edges along the floor to Root in the slips. Another maiden.

10:52AM

Faf du Plessis is the key to this innings with Elgar and Malan dismissed

10:51AM

OVER 31: SA 91/2 (van der Dussen 40* du Plessis 0*)

It will be Mark Wood to start from the other end. Good call from Root. He only bowled four overs in the opening session.

What a delivery! Wood fires one in and it nips away beating van der Dussen all ends up. Nothing he could do about that one!

Maiden.

10:45AM

OVER 30: SA 91/2 (van der Dussen 40* du Plessis 0*)

It will be Stokes, who will begin his fifth over. Van der Dussen is on strike to start the session.

He leaves the first two balls alone before squirting a single out to deep point.

Stokes draws a play and miss from the South African skipper. That ball just nipped away off a length. One from the over.

10:40AM

The players are back out in the middle

Mark Wood and Chris Woakes to start after lunch? Or will Ben Stokes be given a few more after taking that wicket.

10:26AM

The crucial partnership awaits after lunch

10:10AM

It has been a remarkable innings against Joe Root by van der Dussen so far

10:10AM

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10:04AM

LUNCH! SA 90/2 (van der Dussen 39* du Plessis 0*)

Well, South Africa looked in control then lost a wicket the first ball after drinks. They then re-established control, before losing a wicket just before lunch. Honours even.

Van der Dussen sits on 39* from just 45 balls after sending Root around the park. He looks determined to get a score today.

10:02AM

OVER 29: SA 90/2 (van der Dussen 39* du Plessis 0*)

Joe Root continues. Van der Dussen takes a more sensible approach to this last over before lunch, prodding a single through the leg side.

Du Plessis blocks out the over. And that will be lunch.

9:59AM

OVER 28: SA 89/2 (van der Dussen 38* du Plessis 0*)

Out comes the South Africa skipper with just minutes to go until lunch. He blocks the final delivery of the over.

9:58AM

WICKET! Elgar (24) c & b Stokes

Stokes fires in a hostile bouncer which Elgar tries to hook. He ends up chipping the ball straight back to Stokes who claims an easy catch. Horrible timing from the opener.

BEN STOKES MAKES THINGS HAPPEN.

9:57AM

OVER 28: SA 89/1 (van der Dussen 38* Elgar 24*)

South Africa are on top here. A long, long way to go of course, but they have handled the first session admirably.

9:53AM

OVER 27: SA 89/1 (van der Dussen 38* Elgar 24*)

Root continues. His first ball spins down the leg side and runs away for four byes. Van der Dussen is playing a shot a ball against Root. Sweeping and reverse sweeping every delivery.

He gets the third attempt away for four with a conventional sweep this time. Entertaining stuff!

Van der Dussen then launches Root into the stands for six! The England captain is not happy. Will he keep himself going?

9:51AM

OVER 26: SA 75/1 (van der Dussen 28* Elgar 24*)

Stokes strays onto Elgar's pads who clips him for a single out to the boundary-rider. Van der Dussen then crunches a half-volley through extra cover for another boundary. He has gone up a gear here! He's thinking about the win...

He follows it up with a quick single. Good batting.

9:47AM

OVER 25: SA 69/1 (van der Dussen 23* Elgar 23*)

And here he is! Joe Root is on. Fair enough after his exploits last match, and the fact he has a left hander to go at.

Van der Dussen reverse sweeps him for four from outside leg stump. What a shot! He then comes down the pitch and whacks Root for four through mid-wicket! Van der Dussen is not letting Root settle.

He then reverse sweeps Root for another four! Wow, this over came from nowhere.

9:44AM

OVER 24: SA 57/1 (van der Dussen 11* Elgar 23*)

Stokes is around the wicket to Elgar who is leaving nicely before prodding a single into the offside. England have gone a tad flat here.

Van der Dussen then pinches a sharp single.

A Mark Wood spell and the first over of spin in the match could change the dynamic for lunch!

9:40AM

South Africa aren't going down without a fight

9:39AM

OVER 23: SA 55/1 (van der Dussen 10* Elgar 22*)

Curran is full again and beats the bat of van der Dussen. It is hot work for the England bowlers.

The session has settled down after a dramatic start post drinks.

9:35AM

OVER 22: SA 55/1 (van der Dussen 10* Elgar 22*)

Here comes Ben Stokes. He is replacing Woakes who bowled a terrific spell.

Stokes draws a loose drive from Elgar. The ball falls well short of one of the two gullies that Joe Root has put in place. Decent start for the all-rounder.

9:32AM

OVER 21: SA 55/1 (van der Dussen 10* Elgar 22*)

Elgar squeezes a single away after a good start to the over by Curran.

Curran is too straight to the right hander who clips him away for four.

9:28AM

OVER 20: SA 50/1 (van der Dussen 6* Elgar 21*)

Woakes continues to hit good areas at decent pace. This has been an important match for Woakes given the reputation he was starting to get as home-only selection.

The final ball of the over keeps a little low but van der Dussen keeps it out.

9:23AM

OVER 19: SA 50/1 (van der Dussen 6* Elgar 21*)

Curran has been better in this spell than his first. He nips one away, past Elgar's bat and through to Jos Buttler.

As I say that, he over pitches and Elgar drives him crisply for four past a sprawling Stuart Broad at mid-off. 50 up for the home side!

9:20AM

OVER 18: SA 46/1 (van der Dussen 6* Elgar 17*)

Woakes digs in a short ball and van der Dussen competently pulls him to the boundary for four. Nicely played.

Woakes draws a play and miss. He is on rhythm here. Van der Dussen then pushes Woakes through backward point for two,

9:16AM

Here is the breakthrough!

9:15AM

OVER 17: SA 40/1 (van der Dussen 0* Elgar 17*)

Curran is back into the attack for Wood after his four over spell. England's energy has gone through the roof after that over, can they capitalise?

Curran gets one to nip back and it cuts Elgar in half. England on top here.

Curran follows it up with a bouncer that is called a wide.

9:12AM

OVER 16: SA 39/1 (van der Dussen 0* Elgar 17*)

Woakes then bowls a near identical delivery and England go up. This time it is given not out, due to a little inside edge.

What an over from Woakes!

9:11AM

WICKET OVERTURNED!

Woakes nips one back into the pads of the number three. It hits him above the knee roll but it is given out by Joel Wilson.

Van der Dussen has reviewed it and it is missing! Too high! He very nearly didn't review it. NOT OUT!

9:07AM

WICKET! Malan (22)  c Stokes b Woakes

First ball after drinks, Malan chases a wide one from Woakes edging it to Stokes in the slips! Poor dismissal. FOW: 39/1

9:02AM

DRINKS!

It has certainly been South Africa's hour!

9:02AM

OVER 15: SA 39/0 (Malan 22* Elgar 17*)

Wood continues. I'd like to see Stokes given an early go here. He could replace Woakes after drinks. Elgar and Malan are just looking a little too comfortable right now.

The Barmy Army are in fine voice as Malan crunches Wood through extra-cover for four. Lovely shot. Wood responses with a bouncer at 90mph. No problem for Malan who sways out of the way with ease.

Malan completes a single to end the over.

8:58AM

OVER 14: SA 34/0 (Malan 17* Elgar 17*)

Woakes continues to plug away, back of a length outside the off stump.

Malan pushes into the offside, taking a single to keep the strike. South Africa are looking rather settled now.

8:54AM

OVER 13: SA 33/0 (Malan 16* Elgar 17*)

Elgar crunches Wood off the back foot for four through point. Lovely shot to start the over.

Wood sends down a bouncer that is well evaded by Elgar. And another. A yorker is then fired in but well kept out. Classic short, short, full.

The final ball of the over is a play and miss as Wood gets the ball to nip away.

8:49AM

OVER 12: SA 29/0 (Malan 16* Elgar 13*)

Woakes nips one back into Malan, hitting up on the waist line. There is definitely some bounce off a length on this pitch. England now bring in a short leg for Woakes too, good call I reckon.

Another appeal, another not out decision. The ball hits Malan on the pads and the ball is then caught in the gully. Not sure what England were appealing for there, hedging their bets perhaps. It hit Malan outside the line and there was no bat involved. Another good decision, this time from Joel Wilson.

Woakes bangs one in at Malan, a reminder not to camp on the front foot too much. Malan then carves Woakes over gully for four, a little streaky but he went hard enough at it.

8:45AM

OVER 11: SA 25/0 (Malan 12* Elgar 13*)

Wood is round the wicket to Elgar who looks well up for the fight today. The Durham quick is starting to get his pace up here, he's up to 89mph then 90mph the next delivery.

There is a huge appeal but not out! Wood bangs one in and it hits Elgar before popping up into the hands of Ollie Pope at short leg. It hit Elgar's hip, did it catch the bat or glove on the way through?

The replays show it did not, good umpiring and good decision not to review from England.

8:40AM

A grade two hamstring tear is not the way Vernon Philander would have wanted to end his Test career

8:40AM

OVER 10: SA 25/0 (Malan 12* Elgar 13*)

Double change! Chris Woakes is on for Curran. He starts back of a length, but with minimal sideways movement.

It is looking like a rather good batting day at the moment...

Elgar picks up another single, they are rotating the strike nicely here.

8:35AM

OVER 9: SA 24/0 (Malan 12* Elgar 12*)

Mark Wood is into the attack for Broad! His first ball is pushed away for one by Elgar. Can he break another solid opening partnership that has formed in this match?

He bangs one short but Malan evades comfortably. Wood then goes very full and Malan punches him through mid-on for two.

8:32AM

Stuart Broad has had a couple of half appeals but nothing too threatening for South Africa this morning

8:30AM

OVER 8: SA 21/0 (Malan 10* Elgar 11*)

Curran over pitches and Malan drives him nicely through the covers for two. He then picks up an easy single. It might be time for Mark Wood from this end. There has not been much lateral movement for Curran.

Elgar whips Curran away for four through square leg before picking up another single. Broad is certainly the bowler causing the problems at the moment. Eight from the over.

8:27AM

OVER 7: SA 13/0 (Malan 7* Elgar 6*)

Broad finally gets a chance to bowl at Elgar. He starts with a cracking delivery, round the wicket and nipping away. The kind of delivery that gave David Warner nightmares.

Elgar gets off strike with a push. Broad then nips one back into the pads of Malan and a big appeal goes up! It may have struck him just outside the line but that was close. England choose not to review the not out decision.

Malan then pinches a quick single through the offside.

8:22AM

OVER 6: SA 11/0 (Malan 6* Elgar 5*)

South Africa have made a solid start so far - and just as I say that, Elgar almost chops a shortish ball onto his stumps. He attempted a cut shot but it was just a bit too full for it.

Elgar then edges one along the ground, wide of the slips and they pinch a single.

8:18AM

OVER 5: SA 10/0 (Malan 6* Elgar 4*)

Broad fires in a booming in-swinger that hits Malan on the pads - it was doing too much for LBW. Good delivery that. He follows it up with a ball that moves in the opposite direction, outside off stump. The movement is not overly pronounced but there is enough there this morning.

Malan punches a half-volley back past Broad for four, shot of the day so far.

8:14AM

OVER 4: SA 6/0 (Malan 2* Elgar 4*)

Curran starts his second over with a cracking delivery. It swings and nips away from a length, drawing a play and miss from Elgar. It just needed to be a touch fuller to draw an edge!

Curran draws an outside edge from leg stump which squirts away for four through gully along the floor - Elgar was trying to work that through mid-wicket.

Promising start from the Surrey left armer.

8:11AM

OVER 3: SA 2/0 (Malan 2* Elgar 0*)

Broad continues with a full length, drawing Malan forward who is squared up.

Malan works a straight ball off his pads for two through square leg, the chase is underway...

8:07AM

OVER 2: SA 0/0 (Malan 0* Elgar 0*)

Sam Curran starts from the other end, as he has done throughout this Test. He starts with a little away shape from the left handed Elgar.

Curran starts very full, giving the ball every opportunity to swing. There is a hint of movement in the opening over. Back to back maidens to start the innings.

8:03AM

OVER 1: SA 0/0 (Malan 0* Elgar 0*)

Stuart Broad will start the day for England, can he add to his 483 Test wickets early on?

He is full and straight to start, with a hint of movement in to the right hander. Jerusalem blares around the Wanderers as Broad's second ball takes off from a length, but too far outside off stump to cause any problems for Malan.

Broad gets the final ball of the over to nip back, cannoning into Malan's thigh pad - far too high for an appeal.

7:58AM

The weather is set fair in Johannesburg

The rain that plagued the early parts of this match are well and truly gone. Glorious sunshine greets the players as they make their way out to the middle.

7:52AM

Can Mark Wood continue his remarkable recent form today?

7:50AM

England will surely wrap up the series

The question seems to be when, not if. England will feel confident that they can knock over a fragile South African batting line up today with the knowledge that they always have day five if required.

The good people at CricViz have England winning at 96 per cent likelihood, with a remarkable South African win at two per cent and a draw having the same possibility. So there remains some hope for South Africa, even if 96 per cent chance of an England victory seems a little on the low side...

7:37AM

Day four preview - can England secure series victory?

Sam Curran is banking on a combination of scoreboard pressure and Mark Wood's fear factor to see England home in the decisive fourth Test against South Africa.

Having lost the opening match of the series in Centurion, Joe Root's side are on the cusp of 3-1 win after engineering a lead of 465 heading into the fourth innings of the match with two full days to take 10 wickets.

Anything other than a third straight win for the tourists seems a long shot following rousing results in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and Curran is convinced the stage is set at the Wanderers.

"With a lead of 465 on that wicket we are pretty confident we are in a good position to win the Test. We just have to get it done," said the all-rounder.

"Runs on the board is always nice, scoreboard pressure. It's nice for the bowlers to bowl with runs on the board. If it takes us until day five that is fine as long as we stick to it but there are balls in that wicket, a few keeping low, a few bouncing up, and their batters will be a lot more reluctant and less confident than we are with the ball."

Curran will be hoping his left-arm swing can play a part in finishing things off but there is no secret about the main danger man at present. Mark Wood has taken eight wickets at 13.62 since returning to the side last week, regularly bowling over 90mph and getting under the skin of the South African batsmen.

"Any team that has a guy who can bowl over 90-mph consistently is always going to put fear into the opposition batters. Woody has filled his boots," said Curran.

"Woody has come back and the way he is hitting 90mph is great to watch, it gives us a lot of confidence. The batsmen have a reluctance to move and are getting into bad positions, especially on a wicket like the Wanderers which has more pace.

"It's very exciting even for me who is not as quick to nick someone off and see it carry to the slips. It's exciting and I'm confident myself going into tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be the one sitting here with a few wickets."

After bowling South Africa out for 183, England turned down the chance to enforce the following-on having taken the opposite decision in Port Elizabeth.

England made a quick 248 all out instead, Joe Root top-scoring with 58 and Curran adding a handy 37 to bolster the nominal chase.

Assistant coach Paul Collingwood said sending the South Africans back in was never part of the game plan.

"The thing we've got to be as a team is very, very ruthless. When there's so much time left in the match, you just want to drive it home," he told Test Match Special.

"When you're on top of the opposition, make it as difficult as possible for them physically and mentally. There was never any thought of following on."

Collingwood also spoke up for Jos Buttler, whose second-innings score of eight lowered his average for the series to 16.42 amid questions over his Test future.

"He's an X factor player. Players like that you've got to back to the hilt, simple as that," he said.

"If our batting lineup does the job, which it has in this series, then he can go out there and be positive. Sometimes that's not going to come off but we know what a world-class player he is. He can adapt to Test cricket and he will win games for us."

South Africa head coach Mark Boucher suggested his deflated side could still emerge with a famous victory, despite his team needing a world-record mark.

"With time we've got in the game, we still have to look at going for the win," he said.

"Quite a few of our batters are due, it's going to be tough but we'll give it a go. Confidence has been low but we've got to try and keep talking positively."

PA