England leads by 252 after rain-hit day

Keaton Jennings made the most of some good fortune and Tom Westley played an innings that will boost his confidence to leave England well placed at the end of a rain-hit third day of the third of four Tests against South Africa at The Oval on Saturday (July 29), when only 32 of the scheduled 98 overs of play were possible.

England got to 74 for 1 in its second innings, a lead of 252, after more bad weather at The Oval meant only 16.2 overs were possible between lunch and tea, and no further play was possible in the third session.

Jennings, the South Africa-born opening batsman, was 34 not out and Westley, one of three debutants in England's XI for the match, was on 28.

Jennings, out for a duck in the first innings, nearly fell when on six to another slip catch by Dean Elgar off Vernon Philander but the sharp chance was spilt. Since then, he and Westley have looked composed and in control.

Earlier, South Africa avoided the follow-on thanks to Temba Bavuma, whose 52 was the high point of South Africa’s 175 all out, which left it 178 runs behind England's 353, highlighted by Ben Stokes's 112 and Alastair Cook's 88.

Toby Roland-Jones, who had removed all of South Africa's top four in a sparkling debut bowling effort on Friday, finally got Bavuma caught behind to end the innings and finish with excellent figures of 5 for 57 in 16.4 overs.

South Africa started the day on 126 for 8, still 28 runs away from avoiding the follow-on but boosted by the news that Philander was ready for action after a night on a hospital drip that followed a second day's play in which he was largely absent.

Bavuma had a reprieve on 40 when an edge off Stuart Broad flew low to gully where Stokes could not hold what would have been a stunning catch. Bavuma ensured South Africa avoided the follow-on by driving a Broad half-volley through the covers for four, but a valuable ninth-wicket stand of 47 ended when Morne Morkel (17) nicked Anderson to Cook at first slip.

Bavuma edged Roland-Jones to the third man boundary to complete a hard-earned half-century off 111 balls, including eight fours, but he was out soon after, edging Roland-Jones to Jonny Bairstow. Philander remained not out on 10.

England lost Cook shortly after lunch, which was taken early because of rain, when he was bowled by Morkel for just seven. Westley, who scored 25 in the first innings, twice drove Philander for fours and cover-drove Morkel for another boundary. And Jennings was on 33 when given out lbw to Kagiso Rabada but his review of the decision showed the ball had pitched just outside leg stump.