England secure comprehensive Oval Test win to clinch series against South Africa

Ben Stokes's team ease to nine-wicket victory on Monday for sixth Test success in seven outings

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: England opening batsman Zak Crawley (l) and Ollie Pope celebrate the winning runs during day five of the Third LV= Insurance Test Match between England and South Africa at The Kia Oval on September 12, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley / Getty Images)

England's Zak Crawley and South Africa captain Dean Elgar shake hands after the match. Reuters

England batsmen Zak Crawley, right, and Ollie Pope celebrate victory. Getty

England batsman Ollie Pope hits out. Getty

England's Ollie Pope pulls the ball. PA

England's Zak Crawley cover drives a ball to the boundary. Getty

England batsman Ollie Pope. Getty

England's Zak Crawley drives. Reuters

England opening batsman Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope touch gloves. Getty

South Africa bowler Kagiso Rabada celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England batsman Alex Lees after an lbw review. Getty

England batsman Alex Lees. Getty

South Africa's Kagiso Rabada fields. AFP

South Africa bowler Marco Jansen in his delivery stride. Getty

England batsman Alex Lees. Getty

England's Zak Crawley on strike. PA

England opening batsman Alex Lees, left, and Zak Crawley. Getty

England's Alex Lees hits the ball over the South African slip cordon for a boundary at The Oval. AFP

Ben Stokes's England rounded off a memorable summer of cricket with a comprehensive nine-wicket win in the third and final Test at the Oval against South Africa to complete a 2-1 series win on Monday.

Chasing a modest target of 130, England resumed the day needing just 33 for victory.

Openers Zak Crawley and Alex Lees had added 97 the previous day and victory seemed a formality.

Lees was dropped by Proteas wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne on the third ball of the morning and then survived another scare when a thick edge flew over Keegan Petersen at third slip to go for four.

South Africa made a breakthrough on the penultimate delivery of the third over of the day, with Lees's luck finally running out as a review showed he had been trapped lbw by Kagiso Rabada.

But Crawley completed the win. Ollie Pope contributed 11 after the loss of Lees, while Crawley, who resumed on 57, ended on 69 by sealing the match with a cover drive for four.

The Three Lions thus completed their fifth successful chase of the summer, further cementing the attacking philosophy of new Test coach Brendon McCullum.

England thus took their Test record for the summer to six wins from seven games. They had earlier defeated world Test champions New Zealand 3-0 and crushed India in a one-off Test.

This came after an awful run that brought one win from the previous 17 Tests and led to the arrival of Stokes as captain in place of Joe Root.

The series win against South Africa was especially significant as England had lost the first Test at Lord's by an innings before hitting back with an innings win in Manchester. The Oval Test was essentially a third straight three-day match in this series. The opening day was washed out and day two was called off as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.