South Africa battle hard against England on rain-hit Day 3
South Africa fought hard on a rain-hit Day 3 of the third Test against England to reduce their first-innings deficit to 291 runs at St George’s Park here on Saturday. Quinton de Kock will start Day 4 on an overnight score of 63 off 134 balls and has Vernon Philander (27 off 55) to keep company. South Africa are 208/6 at stumps in reply to England’s first innings total of 499/9 decl.
The highlight of the day was a resilient knock by nightwatchman Anrich Nortje, who was sent in after the dismissal of Zubayr Hamza on Day 2 and occupied the crease for most of Day 3. He absorbed 136 balls for his 18 before edging to England captain Joe Root at slips off Ben Stokes.
