England hold lead at innings close

South Africa’s 83 was their lowest total at Wanderers since 1956 and their lowest score at home since they returned to the Test arena in 1991. Apart from Rabada’s five-fer, Morkel picked three wickets while Morris and Hardus Viljoen (1-79) had a scalp apiece.

“It’s a pretty special feeling”, captain Alastair Cook said.

Broad, now up to third behind team-mate James Anderson and Ian Botham on England’s list of leading Test wicket-takers, has developed a welcome habit of producing devastating spells, with this latest effort coming only five months after he returned 8-15 in the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge. South Africa were 16 for no wicket in their second innings at lunch.

Before lunch, the match, incredibly, was in the balance.

Meanwhile, Stokes provided the turbo boost, relishing the chance to attack South Africa’s quartet of fast bowlers on a quick, bouncy track.

Captain AB de Villiers was full of praise for England’s bowlers after South Africa were blown away for just 83 in their second innings. England duly knocked off the 74 runs required to win by seven wickets and take an unassailable two-nil lead in the four-Test series.

The joy of reaching top spot for India can be shortlived if Australia win their home Test series against New Zealand by 1-0 margin as the Aussies will then displace Kohli and Co. from the numero uno position. The game was effectively all level.

Broad’s run sent South Africa from 23-0 to 35-5.

On a pitch offering bounce and seam movement, and under a grey sky, Broad’s hostility and accuracy was too much for a South Africa batting line-up that did little wrong, but had no answers.

The visitors slumped to 91 for four but were rescued by Root (106 not out) and Stokes (58) as the pair shared a swashbuckling stand of 111 for the fifth wicket in just under 16 overs.

Van Zyl was caught by Ben Stokes at gully while De Villiers went to an inside edge to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, as England’s fielders exploded in delight at that crucial wicket. Amla went in Broad’s next over, with James Taylor taking an unlikely catch at short leg as the batsman middled one off his legs.

It was not long before Broad completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing Temba Bavuma (0), who gloved a delivery onto his stumps.

Broad – who has become known for similarly destructive spells at opportune moments – stepped up to the plate to leave South Africa 46-7.

Taylor took a second stunner at short leg when he dived to catch Dane Vilas off Steven Finn. Faf du Plessis (14) had provided the sternest resistance, but was the last man to fall thanks to a brilliant return catch.

The extent of the achievement for the tourists was that they were heading for only their second series win on South African soil since the Proteas’ readmission to tests 25 years ago.