South Africa vs England 2017, 3rd Test, Day 4: 5 talking points

England nailed down their position as the dominant team in the Test with a resounding performance on Day 4 that was in line with their spirited show on Day 3. Joe Root and his men set up a mammoth 492 for South Africa to win in the second session of the day trusting their bowlers to finish off the visitors in four sessions.

South Africa started solidly but lost Heino Kuhn to Stuart Broad before David Elgar and Hashim Amla evoked memories of a 'blockathon'. However, that didn't last for long as Roland-Jones picked out Amla for the second time in the Test to break South Africa's resistance while Stokes unleashed himself upon the helpless Proteas from the other end.

De Kock was undone by a terrific yorker from around the wicket while Faf du Plessis was trapped plumb in front next ball as Stokes further enhanced his reputation as England's most important player. Elgar and Bavuma then put up a defiant show, putting together a 65 run stand, with the former compiling a half-century to raise South Africa's hopes going into the final day.

Brief Scores: England 353 & 313/8decl (Bairstow 63, Westley 59, Maharaj 3/50). South Africa 175 & 117/4 (Elgar 72, Bavuma 16)

Take a glance at the talking points from day 4 at The Oval.

#5 Rabada thwarts Jennings' redemption innings

Jennings had little clue to this snorter from Kagiso Rabada

Keaton Jennings needed a good knock to nail down his spot for the final Test and looked set for a decent half-century when Kagiso Rabada produced another outrageous delivery to get rid of the southpaw.

Known for his searing pace and fabulous yorkers, Rabada surprised Jennings with a rising delivery, that found the edge off the shoulder of his bat and looped up for Morris to take a simple catch at Gully. Jennings was quite upset with himself but given the bounce and lift Rabada generated, it was a tough nut for even a man in form.

#4 Tom Westley gathers maiden half-century

Westley played some pleasing shots en route his maiden half-century

Westley has impressed in his two outings at The Oval, looking less fidgety and more defiant at the crease than Gary Ballance, and was rewarded with a maiden half-century as England looked to set up a difficult target for the visitors. There was little pressure for Westley given the game situation and the pitch had also eased out to aid batting.

He made complete use of these conditions and his 6ft 2in frame produced some audacious shots, especially on the leg side where he is extremely strong. The Proteas bowlers, aware of his craft on the leg side were careful to pitch the ball in and around the off-stump but Westley showed sound temperament and neat skills to complete a half-century before Maharaj forced him to venture out of the crease to effect a stumping.

#3 Root slams ninth consecutive Test half-century

Root rarely looked perturbed in yet another easy peasy half-century

Joe Root is a prodigy and he further enhanced his reputation with a ninth consecutive half-century in Test cricket today, although he is still three more fifties away from the World record held by AB de Villiers.

The class of Joe Root can be understood from the manner in which he has effortlessly knocked down runs in the series. While most other batsmen have struggled at one time or the other against the domineering Proteas attack, Root's dismissals have mostly been brought about by his own mistakes, except probably the time Morris cleaned him up with a yorker.

In the second innings, Root once again looked in sublime touch right from the beginning of the innings. He has reeked intent everytime he has come out to bat, much akin to Quinton de Kock, and the free flowing strokes off his bat have delighted cricket fans.

He slammed yet another half-century before top edging a sweep off Maharaj while in search of quick runs.

#2 England push home advantage with early wickets

Stokes took back to back wickets to dent South Africa's blockathon hopes

While there is little South Africa could have done to win this game with a target of 492 on the board, this Proteas side has a knack of pulling off 'blockathons' in the recent past even though England did not seem too concerned by that. And with the new ball in hand, the hosts showed just why.

Broad sent back Heino Kuhn with a beauty while three fell in quick succession after the 15th over. Hashim Amla was first to go, edging Toby Roland-Jones to the slips.

Ben Stokes then pushed the game further in England's favour with wickets off of consecutive balls, sending back Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis off consecutive balls. De Kock was undone by a pinpoint yorker while Du Plessis, the architect of South Africa's resistance game, was caught in front for a golden duck.

#1 Elgar fights back with resilience

Let off by a dropped catch from Jennings, Elgar made a solid half-century

Dean Elgar is in many ways a replica of Graeme Smith. Defiant, with a technique that fits his game perfectly, Elgar has been an underrated force at the top of the order for South Africa since their former beloved skipper retired. With Amla and Du Plessis dismissed, South Africa had little hopes of churning out a draw.

But Dean Elgar re-enforced that belief with a composed half-century, fighting away a terrific Ben Stokes and an immaculate Toby Roland-Jones to emerge out unbeaten at stumps. Much of South Africa's hopes of salvaging a draw from here would rest on rain and Elgar.