ENGLAND clinched a 3-1 series victory against South Africa after a comprehensive Fourth Test win in Johannesburg.
Mark Wood and Stuart Broad starred with the ball on day four as the hosts ended their sub-par series with little more than a whimper.
Rassie van der Dussen played wonderfully for his 98 but wasn’t given any real support as England won by 191 runs, with the hosts ultimately 274 all out.
Chasing an unlikely 466 runs to win, South Africa slipped to 89-2 with both openers removed in the 20s.
But Van der Dussen and Faf du Plessis shared a near-100 run partnership as they showed real fight.
The wicket of Du Plessis – finally beginning to look in form for his gritty 35 – sparked a major collapse.
The hosts were reduced from 181-2 to 267-8 as batsmen came, attempted big shots and went just as quickly.
A horror run out and tame nick behind summed up the match for South Africa as England celebrated a confidence-boosting victory.
REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL
South Africa’s defeat means they have now lost three matches in a row after winning the First Test.
But even then, England’s resources were sorely depleted after illness ran rampant through the camp.
It is just England’s second Test series win away from home in four years – with a host of bright spots to focus on.
Wood – back in the Test set-up after so many injuries – finished the series with 12 wickets at an average of just 13.58 and a batting average of 47.5.
His Fourth Test figures of 9 for 100 are the best by an England bowler overseas since Monty Panesar picked up 11-210 in India in 2012-13.
They were the best figures by a pace bowler since 2007-08, when Ryan Sidebottom picked up ten in New Zealand.
Then there’s the youngsters, with Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Dom Bess all having their moments.
Injuries – and illness – to James Anderson, Rory Burns, Jack Leach and Jofra Archer were undoubted black marks on the tour.
But otherwise, it was a raging success for Joe Root‘s side.
