LONDON: Toby Roland-Jones removed all of South Africa’s top four in a sensational debut display as England seized control of the third Test at The Oval yesterday.
The Proteas collapsed to 126 for eight at stumps on the second day, with Middlesex paceman Roland-Jones taking four wickets for 39 runs in 11 overs in what is the 100th Test at The Oval.
South Africa were now 227 runs adrift after all-rounder Ben Stokes’s century against an attack without the ill Vernon Philander propelled England to 353 in their first innings.
On as first change behind the vastly experienced new-ball duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, Roland-Jones struck with just his 10th ball in Test cricket when Dean Elgar was caught behind to force an early tea.
After the interval, Roland-Jones had Heino Kuhn leg-before and South Africa were 23 for two.
Hashim Amla had made 311 not out, South Africa’s highest individual score at this level, when the Proteas last played a Test at The Oval in 2012.
Five years on, however, it was a different story as Amla exited for just six, when he could do nothing other than glove a lifting Roland-Jones ball to wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow.
And when Quinton de Kock, aiming leg side, was caught at gully by Stokes, South Africa were 47 for four with Roland-Jones having taken four for 15 in 24 balls at that stage.
Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker, then had South Africa captain Faf du Plessis lbw for one playing no shot.
The Proteas were 51 for six when Anderson, who turns 35 tomorrow, gave himself another early birthday present when he caught and bowled Chris Morris.
One meagre consolation for South Africa came when, even with the floodlights on, the skies above The Oval were so dark that the only way to avoid play being halted for bad light was for England to bowl spin at both ends via captain Joe Root and Moeen Ali.
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