ENGLANDS grip on this series is now unbreakable after a day of total domination with bat and ball.
It started with a century partnership between Joe Root and Ollie Pope and next came a glorious thrash of a last-wicket stand involving Mark Wood and Stuart Broad.
Their swishes of the willow brought an incredible 82 runs from just 51 balls and broke the spirit and resistance of South Africa.
Englands bowlers then chimed in with six wickets – with Wood taking three of them – and this Fourth Test is surely going only one way. An England win and a 3-1 series triumph looks a near-certainty.
South Africa finished day two with 88-6 and still 312 runs behind Englands first innings total of 400.
As well as England bowled, the peak entertainment was Wood and Broad swinging, slogging and slicing the Proteas to every corner of the Wanderers.
They struck seven sixes between them – Wood three and Broad four – and Wood has taken his total of maximums in this series to eight in just two innings.
Wood is a cricketer who exudes fun and every appearance, every six, every wicket is savoured with special relish after all his injuries.
And it was good to see Broad connecting with plenty of lusty blows, rather than being the sitting-duck No.11 that he has morphed into after once being a proper all-rounder.
It was Wood who took England first wicket after the first 18.5 overs of South Africas innings produced just 29 runs.
And it was a record-breaker, too, if you believe the accuracy of the speedgun.
Wood coaxed an edge from Pieter Malan and the official velocity of the delivery was 94mph, which is the second-fastest ball by an England bowler to take a wicket in Test cricket since recording devices were introduced.
The fastest still belongs to Steve Harmison, who clocked 97mph dismissing Glenn McGrath at Perth in 2006.
Sam Curran took the second wicket when Rassie van der Dussen, No.3 in South Africas reshuffled batting order, was sharply held at second slip by Ben Stokes.
Stokes then snared a wicket for himself when Dean Elgar flashed a short and wide delivery straight to Chris Woakes at point.
Next, captain Faf du Plessis, who is likely to retire from Test cricket after this match, was lbw to Woakes. Wood took his second wicket when Temba Bavuma gave Stokes another catch in the slips.
Stokes was no doubt relieved to be fined only 15 per cent of his match fee – rather than a possible suspension – for his foul-mouth outburst towards a spectator on day one.
He apologised later that evening and the loudest noises emanating from his mouth yesterday were the best sort – wicket celebrations.
Wood claimed a third victim when nightwatchman Anrich Nortje was held by Joe Denly in the gully from the final ball of the day.
So Englands Test team are taking another impressive stride. There are young guns, energised older players and a collective spirit that will help when the going gets tough.
South Africa have been poor since the first Test and getting worse on almost a daily basis. But this tour is turning into a triumph for Root and head coach Chris Silverwood.
Play began 45 minutes late because of morning rain but Root and Pope made up for lost time with a dazzling array of shots.
South Africa dropped too short too often and were punished by hooks, cuts, pulls and uppercuts plus some sumptuous drives when the bowlers over-pitched.
Pope actually outshone his captain, which is saying something. He does look a fabulous young player.
The century partnership for the fifth wicket arrived from just 138 balls and it was a surprise when Pope, attempting to leave the first delivery after the morning drinks break, deflected onto his stumps.
Popes dismissal prompted a mini-collapse in which England lost three wickets for 11 runs.
Root was caught behind driving and, next ball, Curran suffered a similar fate.
Jos Buttler could do with some runs here otherwise he faces losing his place as Test wicketkeeper to Ben Foakes in the upcoming series in Sri Lanka.
He reached 20 before aiming a horrible slog against his personal foe Vernon Philander and skying a catch. It was a grim way to get out.
Woakes made 32 and then Wood and Broad launched their joyous jamboree of a last-wicket stand. Du Plessis frequently stationed eight fielders on the boundary, which seemed a bit daft for numbers 10 and 11.
A total of nine batsmen were dismissed in Englands innings between 20 and 66 and Zak Crawleys 66 is the lowest highest score in a Test innings of 400 or more.
