Summary

  • Intelligent batting from Beaumont & Jones steers England to series win - match report

  • England chase DLS-revised 153 with four overs to spare

  • Wolvaardt top-scores for SA with 61 off 68

  • Capsey, Dean & Ecclestone all take two wickets each

  • Cross suffers back spasm in first over

  • Four-day Test starts on Sunday

Live Reporting

by Tom Mallows, Ffion Wynne & Sam Drury

  1. wicket

    WICKET

    Sciver-Brunt c Bosch b Kapp 0 (Eng 4-2)

    Disaster.

    England promote Nat Sciver-Brunt up the order but she falls for a two-ball duck!

    Another soft dismissal from a rather poor ball, slicing it straight to Anneke Bosch at point.

    England are in a pickle.

  2. Tash Farrant
    England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Maia Bouchier could have hit that anywhere and she managed to find the one fielder in the mid-wicket.

  3. wicket

    WICKET

    Bouchier c De Klerk b Kapp 4 (Eng 4-1)

    BouchierGetty Images

    Four and out! South Africa with a crucial early breakthrough.

    Having pulled the previous ball firmly to the ropes, Maia Bouchier chips the next one straight to mid-wicket.

    Nadine de Klerk takes a sharp catch and that ball seemed to stick in the pitch a bit, suggesting that this chase may not be particularly straightforward.

  4. Eng 0-0

    Target 152

    Thanks, Tom.

    Well, I didn't see this coming and I'm sure it's been a very sudden wake-up call for the players as well. It's pitch black but the floodlights are hanging in there after their dip earlier on.

    Maia Bouchier solidly defends her first ball from Marizanne Kapp.

  5. Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier are ready to go. Have to admit I did not think we would be here an hour or so ago.

    Here to take you through the start of England's reply is Ffion Wynne.

  6. The South Africa players are just on the boundary ready to head out to the middle. They do not seem too concerned by the lightning in the distance.

  7. Potchefstroom is about 74 miles from Johannesburg by the way.

    Every day is indeed a school day.

  8. LightningGetty Images

    The same esteemed colleague has been checking out National Geographic:

    South Africa has about 500 deaths and thousands of injuries from lightning strikes each year.

    Johannesburg's subtropical climate means almost daily rain showers during the summer that, combined with its high elevation, makes the city particularly vulnerable to lightning.

    South Africa is the "lightning capital of the world"—and a laboratory for scientists trying to understand the effects of lightning on the body.

  9. One of my esteemed colleagues has been checking the rules around lightning. There is nothing specific, only this:

    If at any time the umpires together agree that the conditions of ground, weather or light, or any other circumstances are dangerous or unreasonable, they shall immediately suspend play, or not allow play to start or to recommence. The decision as to whether conditions are so bad as to warrant such action is one for the umpires alone to make, following consultation with the ICC Match Referee.

    It is solely for the umpires together to decide whether either conditions of ground, weather or light or exceptional circumstances mean that it would be dangerous or unreasonable for play to take place. Conditions shall not be regarded as either dangerous or unreasonable merely because they are not ideal.

  10. England need 152 in 23 overs

    England have been set a target of 152 runs in 23 overs.

    That won't be easy in those conditions.

  11. Play to restart at 18:45

    Obviously not, because we are going to have a restart!

    Play is scheduled to begin at 20:45 local time (18:45 GMT).

    We are awaiting confirmation about the number of overs.

  12. I've just seen some more lightning in the distance. Is that close enough to threaten the ground?

    I'm not sure I would fancy going out there.

  13. The super soppers are doing their thing. Looks like we are going to get some play. Given the lengthy delay it will almost certainly be 20 overs.

  14. The umpires are deep in conversation on the boundary. In the background I can see ground staff running about animatedly. Looks like some of the super soppers are being deployed.

  15. The umpires out to the middle having look around. Some of the ground staff have joined them and are moving some of the tyres that were pinning the covers down.

    Could we get some play after all?

  16. The players need to be back out in the middle within 41 minutes of the 18:15 GMT inspection to get a game in.

    Feels optimistic.

  17. The South African TV broadcaster is reporting that there will be another inspection at 20:15 local time, which is 18:15 GMT.

    I thought no-one could go out into the middle within 30 minutes of a lightning strike, but what do I know...

  18. Hold up. There has just been another bolt of lightning in the distance. That should mean the the 30-minute clock is reset.

    The outfield is completely empty again.

    Sigh.

  19. A rather animated discussion is now taking place between the three umpires and a guy who looks to be the head groundsman.

    There is plenty of pointing going on, before the umpires start making their way back to the pavilion.

    That's not the most riveting thing I have written but it is all I have, sorry.

  20. It is a fairly leisurely stroll. Occasionally they feel the grass with their hands or poke it with an umbrella.

    They are joined by some of the groundstaff who appear to signal that the clean-up can begin.

    Nothing confirmed yet though.