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Just when it felt like South Africa will bat out an entire session without losing a wicket, the unpredictable nature of the pitch came into play. It was Stokes again who provided the English team with the impetus with a delivery that kept low and ricocheted off du Plessis’ bottom edge on its way to the stumps. Seven balls later, van der Dussen’s fight also came to an end when the right-hander mistimed a full delivery from Mark Wood from around-the-wicket angle to Stuart Broad at short extra cover. His dismissal killed the only consolation South Africa could have driven out of this game as the right-hander got out two runs short of his maiden Test hundred. 

But like every good side in an authoritative position in the series, England soon turned the tables. Pieter Malan was yet to switch on when he committed to a loose drive first ball after the break allowing Chris Woakes to draw first blood. It was almost a double whammy for South Africa when Rassie van der Dussen was hit on his pads in the same over by Woakes and the umpire lifted his finger. It would have been an embarrassing pair for South Africa’s new number three who was playing his first Test at his home venue.