Nat Sciver shines with an unbeaten 169

Having made a solid century on the previous day, Nat Sciver continued the rescue act on day three.

She began the proceedings by driving the first ball she faced straight down the ground for a four, making her intentions clear. Together with her partner, Sophie Ecclestone, they took England past the 350-mark.

Sciver struck two back-to-back fours off Anne Bosch, nearing her 150. Next over, she reached the mark, from 249 balls. Ecclestone from the other end also contributed with crucial runs, stitching together a solid 86-run stand. 

Nonkululeko Mlaba ended Ecclestone's innings on 35 (64 balls) and in the same over new batter Kate Cross was run out for one. A declaration came from the England dugout, with the score reading 417/8 and a lead of 133. 

Sciver remained unbeaten on 169, and her 263-ball innings was studded with 21 fours.

Rain tests both teams' mentality throughout the middle of the day 

Rain halted play shortly before the lunch break, allowing only 4.1 overs of South Africa's second outing with the bat. In that short period, Kate Cross claimed the wicket of opener Andrie Steyn, for the second time in this Test. South Africa went to lunch on 9/1, trailing England by 124 runs.

The start of the second session was delayed and after a long wait when play resumed, the play was halted once more with rain playing spoilsport. Only eight overs were bowled before the interruption, and an early tea was taken.

Wong beats Wolvaardt once more in late action

For all the deserved praise for Sciver's batting heroics, Issy Wong work in tightening the screws in both innings on the bowling side has also been well-acknowledged.

As day three threatened to peter out, Wong struck twice in consecutive overs of her spell, claiming Lara Goodall (26) and Laura Wolvaardt (16) for the second time in the Test at the end of the day. 

After beating Wolvaardt's defences on day one, Wong this time found the South African's outside edge, with Sciver taking a sharp catch in the gully region.

Wong will no doubt be a factor in England's attack on the final day to ensure victory.

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