England skipper Joe Root led from the front on Day 4 of 🍷the third Test against South ꦍAfrica. Out of nowhere, Root scalped four wickets for 31 in his 19 overs and took England to the brink of a second win in the four-match series.
Root claimed best figures (4-31) in the longest format of the ga༒me, and he was well assisted by Markꦇ Wood, who went on to dismiss two Proteas batsmen as the Faf du Plessis-led side ended the fourth day on 102-6 (second innings) trailing by 188 runs.
Joe Root's Test-best 4-31 and Mark Wood's two scalps leave England four wickets away from a 2-1 lead
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket)
Earlier, in the day, South Africa were bundled out for 209 in their first innings, giving England an opportunity to enforce the follow-on.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to England’s dominant performance:
//twitter.c☂om/Alla✱nDonald33/status/1218815824602988544
Two tests in a row going to the fifth day fan😼tastically poised!
— Eddie Ballard (@ballarde232)
19-11-31-4 by Root in the second🅘 innings against South Africa.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Joe Root today
— Jed (@SFCJed23)
🏴 It's fair to say Ollie Pope is having a Test to remember!
— ICC (@ICC)
We are being destroyed by Joe Root 🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Mpho Mutloane (@MphoMoreki)
Woah woah woah! Who’s gonna explain to me h🍃ow Joe Root ran through our top 6 💀
— Thala Msutu (@ThalaMsutu77)
South Africa are ꦛbeing torn apart by *checks notes* Joe Root!
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket)
Gotta take ya hat off to Joe Root ripping thru the South A🌊frican middle order 🏏👍🏻 well playeꦚd
— Ferryh✃ill Mags ⚫️⚪️🏁🏁 (@FERRYHILL_MAGS)
How South African batsmen see Joe Root
— sid (@SidKSchrute)
Joe Root (25 at 51.12) nudges past Graeme Hic⛄k (23 at 56) in the ‘best off-spinner among England No4s in the last 30 years’ list, with Michael Vaughan (6 at 93.50, but there wa𝕴s *that* ball to Tendulkar) trailing
— Huw Turbervill (@huwzat)
