Rory Burns leads England recovery as South Africa take upper hand on day 3

Centurion, Dec 29: South Africa took the upper hand on Day 3 of their first Test against England, who were, however, buoyed by a resilient 77 from Rory Burns as they ended the day on 121/1, needing 255 runs to win.

South Africa managed to smash 125 runs in the morning session thanks to some slack bowling from England which undid the good effort that was put in in the final session of the previous day. Rassie Van der Dussen scored a fifty on his Test debut and shared a 91-run stand with nightwatchman Anrich Nortje.

England fluffed their lines and length throughout the first session with the casualties of a virus epidemic that has caught the side claiming two more members in captain Joe Root and Jos Buttler. Root eventually took the field but could do little as South Africa inflated their lead to 376 runs by the end of their innings.

Jofra Archer was a positive for England on day 3. He finished his five-wicket haul, his first in overseas conditions. He had a torrid time during the New Zealand series that preceded this one, taking just two wickets over four innings.

England were far more efficient with the bat, however, with Burns ably anchoring the innings thus far. He shared a 92-run opening stand with Dom Sibley who was eventually dismissed on 29 by Keshav Maharaj. At stumps, Joe Denly was partnering him on 10.

Brief scores: South Africa 284 & 272 (Rassie Van der Dussen 51, Vernon Philander 46; Jofra Archer 5/102) vs England 181 & 121/1 (Rory Burns 77 n.o., Dom Sibley 29; Keshav Maharaj 1/16)