England wrap up victory and series against South African as wickets tumble at the Oval

England completed a comfortable nine wicket victory over South African in the deciding test to take the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy and series 2-1.

Requiring the simple task of just 33 runs to win on the final morning, England lost Alex Lees early on for 39, but an unbeaten 69 from Zak Crawley saw England home inside 28 minutes of the final morning.

The match itself was over in two days and almost six overs with the first days play washed out and no play on the second day in respect of Her Majesty the Queen.

On Saturday morning, England won a crucial toss and decided to put South Africa in to bat. The visitors slumped to 7 for 2 with captain Dean Elgar going for a single and Sarel Erwee edging Anderson behind for a duck.

South Africa kept on losing wickets at regular intervals before eventually being dismissed for just 118 with Ollie Robinson taking 5 for 49 and Stuart Broad 4 for 41.

England lost Lees to Marco Jansen for 13 who also trapped Crawley (5) leg before to leave England 43 for 2. South Africa kept plugging away on a pitch offering considerable help to the bowlers.

An inspired innings of 67 from Ollie Pope helped England to a total of 158 and a useful lead of 40 runs with Jansen finishing up with 5 for 35 and Kagiso Rabada with 4 for 81.

The South African openers of Elgar and Erwee put on 58 for the first wicket before Erwee(26) was snapped up at first slip by Joe Root. Broad then trapped Elgar(36) leg before and with wickets also falling on a regular basis South Africa struggled to leave England a stiff target on the final day.

The visitors were dismissed for 169 with Anderson, Robinson, Broad and Ben Stokes all taking wickets, to leave England 130 for victory.

They reached the penultimate day unscathed on 97 without loss, poised to wrap up victory early on in the final day, which they duly did within half an hour of play.

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