Good morning and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the final day of the first test between England and South Africa at the Kia Oval.
The hosts face a battle to save the match today after a dominant display by South Africa at the Oval.
Hashim Amla's unbeaten 311 put the tourists in complete control of the match and was provided with superb support by Jacques Kallis (182*) on a day where England's bowlers were made to suffer.
Graeme Smith's decision to declare on 637-2 meant that England faced a tough period in their second innings yesterday evening.
Four wickets before the close of play mean England will have to bat defiantly to avoid going 1-0 down in the series with Ian Bell (14*) being joined by Ravi Bopara (15*) at the crease.
Play is due to resume at 11am with England on 102-4.
ENG 240Hashim Amla surely earns the man of the match award for his treble hundred but it was a great team performance to give South Africa their first ever Test victory at the Oval. Thanks for joining me throughout the match and we'll have to wait until August 2 to see what will happen in the vital second Test at Headingley.
ENG 240It's all over and england couldn't produce the performance they needed for an unlikely draw. there's no doubting who the better team was in this match. The batting of Amla, Smith and Kallis provided the platform but a five wicket haul from Steyn ensured that the Proteas have gone 1-0 up in the series. Andrew Strauss will be bitterly disappointed with the loss but they must respond quickly to get back in this series.
ENG 240South Africa Win The First Test Tahir's last ball of the over keeps low and hits Anderson on the pads. The umpire gives it out and an Anderson review is quickly dismissed by the third umpire. South Africa win by an innings and 12 runs.
ENG 240-9Great shot from Bresnan as he opens his stance to drive through the off side for four runs against Tahir but the spinner responds well with a beauty that just misses the edge of the bat.
ENG 235-9Bresnan makes a rare mistake with a wild swing at a wide delivery but he doesn't edge the ball. It's lucky for England when South Africa miss a run out opportunity after the batsmen rush a single.
ENG 234-9Bresnan does well to deal with Tahir's variations and manages to get off strike on the fifth ball, leaving Anderson just one ball to defend. England need 18 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
ENG 233-9Morkel's new over starts with a shake of the head from the umpire after an lbw shout looks to be going past leg stump. Four runs for Bresnan with a flick to fine leg and there's a single for him with a loft on the off side.
ENG 228-9Bresnan is cautious against Tahir but is happy to take a single from the fourth ball. Anderson survives two more balls but surely the victory is close for South Africa.
ENG 227-9Morkel replaces Philander and there's a single from Bresnan to deep mid wicket. Amla is in at short leg so Anderson must be expecting some bouncers. It's a nice tactic from Morkel though when goes full to Anderson. Good over but Anderson survives.
ENG 226-9Tahir is given the chance to finish the match by starting a new spell. Bresnan gets a single with a drive to cover, giving the strike to Anderson. There's no picking Tahir's variations from Anderson and it's a single from the over.
ENG 225-9Tea can be delayed until 4:10pm due to England being nine wickets down.
ENG 225-9Philander is still searching for his second wicket but Bresnan has a single to fine leg from the fourth ball. There's an appeal for lbw but that won;t be given out.
ENG 224-9Dropped Catch Steyn almost finishes things off when Anderson cuts the ball but Duminy can't take the catch and the English fans are delighted with the resulting boundary. The length remains short throughout the over but a full pitched delivery is surely a better option against Anderson.
ENG 220-9Philander continues and Bresnan takes a single to leave Anderson with three balls to survive in the over. He's only on strike for one delivery with a leg bye to fine leg. There's no singles available to Bresnan and Anderson will be on strike for the start of Steyn's next over.
ENG 218-9It's close to being all over when Steyn delivers a fierce bouncer but Anderson gloves the ball to safety.
ENG 218-9Steyn really steaming in during this spell and he has his fifth wicket of the match. Swann has another drive but he can't pick the gap and Petersen takes a simple catch at cover. South Africa are one wicket away now with just James Anderson to come.
ENG 217-8There's a nice short ball at the start of the over from Philander that Swann lets hit him. Swann likes to play his shots and he proves that with a wild swing at another short ball but there's some movement and Swann can't get a touch on the ball. More excitement but Swann's drive sails safely through the air for a boundary and it's 1000 Test match runs for him.
ENG 213-8Graeme Swann's the new batsman and Steyn looks really fired up now. There's three runs for Swann when he pushes past wide mid on but it's South Africa's over.
ENG 210-8There's jeers around the Oval after Broad departs for a duck but it looked like the correct decision despite it taking the umpires over a minute to confirm the dismissal. Two wickets needed for victory for South Africa.
ENG 210-8Decision Review Steyn strangles Broad down the leg side and there's a sound before De Villiers takes the catch. Asad Rauf shakes his head but a replay shows the ball deflected off the glove and it's a Wicket for Steyn.
ENG 210-7We may see a counter attack from England soon with these players attempting their natural game. There's not much room for attacking shots in Philander's over though with a caught behind appeal being quickly dismissed by the umpire. It's a maiden over.
ENG 210-7Broad joins Bresnan at the crease and this a tough task against Steyn and the new ball. The Twenty20 skipper survives the over but Steyn is finding a dangerous line with the moving ball.
ENG 210-7Wicket Steyn is back for a new spell and the new ball does the job. The ball does just enough to take Bell's outside edge and it's a simple catch for Kallis. Bell goes after a defiant innings of 55 and it's the big wicket for the Proteas.
ENG 210-6The new ball is taken by Smith and he immediately throws the ball to Philander, who had a brilliant spell this morning. Bresnan does the correct thing and gives Bell the strike immediately and the set batsman is equal to Philander's threat, taking a single from the final ball.
ENG 208-6Smith decides to stick with Tahir rather than take the new ball and it's probably a wise decision to keep with the leg spinner. Bell's defence is looking perfect but how England play the new ball could decide the outcome of this game sooner rather than later. It's time for a drinks break.
ENG 208-6It's so close to a wicket for Kallis when Bresnan edges the ball inches short of Smith at first slip. Bresnan does better in the over though, producing some good defensive shots to keep out the accuracy of Kallis.
ENG 208-6Plenty of company around the bat for Bresnan against Tahir. It's a big challenge for the new man but he's off strike when flicking the googly to fine leg. Bell is happy to defend with one over left until the new ball can be taken.
ENG 207-6Tim Bresnan is the new batsman but Bell is on strike at the start of Kallis' new over. Beautiful shot from Bell as he leans on a full delivery to drive through extra cover for a boundary.
ENG 203-6Wicket South Africa can sense victory! Prior makes a mistake by attempting a sweep and the ball bounces enough to clip the top edge and go straight to the waiting Kallis at slip. Tahir gets the wicket he deserves and the Proteas need four wickets for the win.
ENG 203-5there's a big vacant area on the off side and Prior takes advantage of that fact to move to 40 with a couple of runs.
ENG 201-5The Oval crowd have cheered every run today and they do the same when Prior takes a single to square leg. It's another solid over from Kallis and this pairing are really digging in for England.
ENG 200-5bell's technique against spin is up there with the best of them but he can;t do anything about a Tahir beauty at the end of the over. The ball bounces and spins to beat the outside edge and that's a good sign for the leg spinner.
ENG 200-5Kallis is going to start a new spell to fill some time before the arrival of the second new ball. England reduce the deficit further when Bell gets a touch on a ball that sails to the boundary for four runs. Fifty Bell reaches his half century at the end of the over but his job is not finished yet.
ENG 195-5Tahir's having a good day and he deserves a bit of luck after the Bopara drop this morning. Another decent over only brings one run for England.
ENG 194-5There's more pleas for lbw but once again Steyn's delivery was heading past leg stump. Prior faces a real test throughout the over against Steyn with the South Africans sensing his weakness against the ball that comes back into him. Prior manages to survive though.
ENG 191-5Tahir begins a new over with two false starts but a quicker delivery nearly causes Prior a problem. A couple to deep square leg are the only runs in the over.
ENG 189-5Steyn appeals loudly for lbw against Prior but it looks as though the ball was going down leg. It's really aggressive bowling from Steyn despite the lack of pace offered by the Oval pitch and there's just a single.
ENG 188-5Duminy's spell only lasts one over with Tahir being thrown the ball by Smith. It's an awful ball to start the new spell but Bell can only pick out a fielder at mid wicket from the short delivery. There's two runs available to third man and superb fielding from Morkel stops a boundary at the end of the over.
ENG 182-5Steyn starts a new spell from the Pavilion End and some familiar defensive shots can be seen by Bell before the Warwickshire batsman flicks the ball to fine leg for four runs.
ENG 177-5Duminy does have a very nice action as a spinner and england should be wary of his threat. He doesn't turn the ball much in the over but his tight line means it's a maiden straight after lunch.
ENG 177-5JP Duminy will bow the first over after lunch with 14 overs before the new ball will be available.
ENG 177-5The players are making their way back out on to the field. Play is nearly ready to begin.
ENG 177-5Ian Bell has faced 166 balls for his 36 runs and England need him to stick around to save this match. One more wicket and South Africa will be in to England's bowlers.
ENG 177-5Welcome back everyone. Could this match end in this session? England are 75 runs away from making the tourists bat again with South Africa needing five more wickets to take the lead in the series.
ENG 177-5Lunch England make it to lunch with the loss of just one wicket but South Africa will feel that one more dismissal could cause this match to end quickly. The hosts need 75 runs to make the Proteas bat again with Bell at the crease on 36 joined by Prior on 29. Join me again in around 30 minutes for the start of the afternoon session.
ENG 177-5Tahir has had a good morning but he will still be disappointed by De Villiers drop from Bell's edge. In the final over before lunch it's more of the same with some good defensive play being followed by a push to mid on for four runs.
ENG 173-5Duminy is going to get a chance to bowl his off spin now before the lunch break. It's a good start from the part-timer with two by Bell to third man and a single to mid on the only runs in the over.
ENG 170-5Tahir continues and he bowls another no ball but he shouldn't be put off with the ball spinning a lot to go past De Villiers and travel for five runs in total. An edge from Prior for two at the end of the over means it's seven runs scored.
ENG 163-5Great delivery from Kallis that beats the outside edge to start the over, Prior nods his head in approval. Bell nearly gets himself into trouble with a quick single, Duminy can't hit the stumps with the batsman well short of his ground. Three from the over.
ENG 160-5Tahir's not looking as threatening at this end but he's being met by some good defensive strokes by Bell. A single is the only blemish to the over.
ENG 159-5Kallis getting some god movement even if the swing isn't very dramatic, it's giving Bell something to think about. There's just a single from the over.
ENG 158-5Tahir changes ends to replace Philander but he can't penetrate Bell's defence. It's an accurate over though and another maiden for Tahir.
ENG 158-5Jacques Kallis is into the bowling attack now and this will be a very different test for England. Prior is starting to look settled and there's a trademark shot through the covers for four runs. Kallis responds well though with a delivery that is agonisingly close to Prior's outside edge. It's a second boundary in the over for England when Prior flicks one to the rope at fine leg.
ENG 150-5Philander is able to find Bell's edge but there's four runs to third man rather than a catching opportunity. No more runs scored in the over and Philander is certainly a threat to this partnership.
ENG 146-5Bell continues his battle with Tahir and is moving his feet well to nullify the threat posed by the spin from round the wicket. A nudge from the final ball almost goes to Amla at short leg but Bell is safe.
ENG 145-5Probably the shot of the day from Prior when he drives Philander quickly to extra cover for four runs. Philander is back on form for the rest of the over though and manages to shape the ball back at Prior on two occasions. Good over again from the seamer.
ENG 141-5There's plenty of fielders close to Ian Bell now with a leg slip now being put in place. Four byes are awarded to England when a ball travels quickly to the rope after evading De Villiers. A short delivery brings Bell two runs to deep cover and there's six from the over.
ENG 135-5Philander is up to his old tricks by beating Prior's outside edge again and a hint of movement is enough to trouble the England wicket keeper. It's another maiden over.
ENG 135-5South Africa are starting to build pressure nicely now and he completes another maiden full of variations.
ENG 135-5Philander continues after the break with some more good bowling. Prior is no match for a ball that seams and beats the outside edge. Plenty of excitement from the South African fielders and it's a maiden over.
ENG 135-5Asad Rauf signals a no ball at the start of Tahir's over and he's already warned the spinner about his foot placement today. Prior earns a couple of runs with a sweep to fine leg and repeats the shot two balls later for a single. It's time for a drinks break.
ENG 131-5There's new bowlers at both ends with Philander beginning his first spell of the day. It's a good start too with Philander persisting with a nagging line outside off stump throughout the over.
ENG 131-5Smith agrees with me as he throws Tahir the ball to replace Steyn. It will be vital for England to play Tahir well if they are to stand any chance of saving this game. Chance Tahir produces a beauty of a delivery that catches Bell's edge but De Villiers can't keep the ball in his gloves. It's a big let off for Bell and De Villiers looks distraught with himself.
ENG 130-5Morkel continues and it's probably his best over today despite straying too wide on one occasion. Smith might be thinking about spin against Prior soon. One run from the over.
ENG 129-5Steyn is eager to bring the ball back into Prior but the England wicket keeper is staying strong. There's four runs for the right-hander with a shot to fine leg and another boundary at the end of the over with a well timed cut through the covers.
ENG 121-5Morkel continues and the inclusion of leg gully suggests that Bell will face some short balls. There's a boundary for England though when Bell flicks the ball to fine leg for four runs. It's another wayward over from Morkel and there's four from it.
ENG 117-5It's more unlucky for Bopara than a big mistake. England have to score runs but it's the widest ball Steyn has bowled this morning and he shouldn't have got his shot so wrong.
ENG 117-5Prior is the new batsman and Steyn makes life uncomfortable for him immediately. It's a great over for South Africa.
ENG 117-5Wicket It's a big moment in the match as Steyn removes Bopara. Steyn doesn't bowl a great delivery but Bopara tries a swing at a wide one and the ball catches the inside edge before crashing into the stumps. The first nail is in the coffin for England.
ENG 117-4Bell has his first run of the morning with a nudge to square leg. Morkel has a deep field for Bopara but there's no short balls and a single from the final ball moves this partnership to 50.
ENG 115-4Bopara's defence is looking good this morning but Steyn is doing the right thing by bowling the ball very full. There's a huge sigh of relief from Bopara when he leaves a delivery that swings back and is less than an inch away from knocking over his off stump. It's a maiden over.
ENG 115-4Morkel continues, he's getting some good bounce on this slow pitch. Bopara has a single to square leg with Morkel adding to the list of extras with a no ball in the over. There's a beauty from the final bell and Bell does well not to nick the ball to De Villiers.
ENG 113-4Steyn continues and he's persisting with the straight line. Bopara has his first boundary today with a well placed pull to square leg. The strike is then given to Bell but there's just five runs in the over.
ENG 108-4England are off the mark for the day with a leg bye to fine leg from Morne Morkel's first ball. There's four more extras when Morkel strays with the ball evading De Villiers to travel to the rope. It's slightly sloppy from Morkel with a wide ball, he looks surprised by the amount of swing.
ENG 102-4It's a good over from Steyn and he's started off bowling a very straight line to Bell. The defence from Bell is solid and it's a maiden. Expect plenty more of those.
ENG 102-4The players have made their way out of the dressing room and Dale Steyn will bowl the first over of this final day.
10:55Rain will not save England today, the forecast is perfect for today. It seems that Bell and Bopara need to be at the crease at lunch for England to have the best chance to earn a draw.
10:49Former Australian leg spinner Shane Warne has been discussing this game on Twitter this morning: "Whoever wins this test series between SA & Eng become number 1 in the world... SA have played with more intensity than England, simple !!!!!"
10:48Bell has 14 runs from 70 balls so far and Andrew Strauss will be desperate to see some more stubborn batting today. It will be important for England to score runs though and rotate the strike to avoid being put under pressure for too long.
10:44It looks like a career defining day for Ravi Bopara. His selection has been questioned by many but it's hard to question his quality and a match saving performance today could finally prove some critics wrong.
10:39Tahir wasn't really mentioned before the beginning of this series but the ball is turning and the leg spinner got some good bounce late yesterday evening.
10:37Despite England's troubles, if they manage to salvage a draw from this match then they will be encouraged heading into the rest of the series. It's a tough ask with South Africa's pace attack and the spin of Imran Tahir could be a key factory today.
10:35Good morning everyone, the match has made it to the final day and the result of this contest is by no means a foregone conclusion. It's another sunny day at the Oval with South Africa on the hunt for a victory in the series opener. England are still 150 runs behind and they need to bat through the day to earn a draw.
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
