England skipper Joe Root led from the front on Day 4 of the third Test against South Africa. 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 game, and he was well assisted by Mark 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 #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/CqSxLVNvqY
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 19, 2020
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:
https://twitter.com/AllanDonald33/status/1218815824602988544
Two tests in a row going to the fifth day fantastically poised! #YouLoveToSeeIt #SAvENG
— Eddie Ballard (@ballarde232) January 19, 2020
19-11-31-4 by Root in the second innings against South Africa. #SAvENG
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 19, 2020
Joe Root today #SAvsENG pic.twitter.com/cq81E8Gwrv
— Jed (@SFCJed23) January 19, 2020
🏴 It's fair to say Ollie Pope is having a Test to remember!#SAvENG pic.twitter.com/CInS34GXpb
— ICC (@ICC) January 19, 2020
We are being destroyed by Joe Root 🤣🤣🤣🤣 #SAvENG @GuerillaSA
— Mpho Mutloane (@MphoMoreki) January 19, 2020
Woah woah woah! Who’s gonna explain to me how Joe Root ran through our top 6 💀 pic.twitter.com/kZaIxpJxHG
— Thala Msutu (@ThalaMsutu77) January 19, 2020
South Africa are being torn apart by *checks notes* Joe Root!#SAvENG pic.twitter.com/yepSaOldVO
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 19, 2020
Gotta take ya hat off to Joe Root ripping thru the South African middle order 🏏👍🏻 well played @englandcricket @TheBarmyArmy
— Ferryhill Mags ⚫️⚪️🏁🏁 (@FERRYHILL_MAGS) January 19, 2020
How South African batsmen see Joe Root #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/3hTpzxEhWi
— sid (@SidKSchrute) January 19, 2020
Joe Root (25 at 51.12) nudges past Graeme Hick (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 was *that* ball to Tendulkar) trailing
— Huw Turbervill (@huwzat) January 19, 2020
