England Snatch 1st-Innings Lead but South Africa Fight Back to Level Series 1-1 in 3rd Test

In a pulsating, rain-interrupted 3rd Test at Kingsmead, Durban, South Africa leveled the four-match series at 1-1 with a hard-fought draw against England on February 6-10, 2026. The match was dominated by seam movement early and spin later, with England taking a first-innings lead of 78 after Joe Root’s double-century (204) and Harry Brook’s 156. South Africa replied with 412 — Temba Bavuma’s 168 and Tristan Stubbs’ 112 — before declaring their second innings at 288 for 6 on day four, setting 367 to win. Rain washed out most of day five, leaving England at 142 for 3 in their chase when play was abandoned at tea. The draw — the first in the series — keeps South Africa in control heading to Johannesburg, while England rue missed opportunities despite Root’s heroics.

Kingsmead’s coastal conditions produced a seamer’s paradise on day one (overcast, swing) before the pitch flattened and turned on days three and four. Ben Stokes (rested) watched from the stands as Ollie Pope’s captaincy was tested by rain delays and a resilient South African lower order. For Aiden Markram, the draw was a moral victory after the Cape Town loss; for Pope, it’s frustration after England’s first-innings dominance. As umpires called off play at 3:15 pm on day five amid relentless drizzle, the series heads to the Wanderers with everything still to play for.

England XI Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir

South Africa XI Aiden Markram (c), Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

England 1st Innings – 456 all out (142.3 overs) Crawley fell for 18, Duckett for 32. Pope and Root added 156 — Root’s 204 (288 balls, 22×4, 2×6) vintage, Pope 68 off 112. Brook’s 156 (142 balls, 18×4, 3×6) and Smith (48) pushed the total before Jansen (4-112) and Maharaj (3-128) cleaned up.

South Africa 1st Innings – 378 all out (118.2 overs) De Zorzi (48) and Rickelton (68) added 112. Bavuma and Bedingham forged 198 — Bavuma’s 168 (212 balls, 16×4, 2×6) patient, Bedingham 112 off 142 (14×4). Stubbs (52) and Verreynne (48) added quick runs before Leach (4-78) and Atkinson (3-88) triggered the collapse.

England 2nd Innings – 288-6 dec (78.4 overs) Duckett (48) and Pope (68) added 112. Pope fell lbw to Maharaj. Root scratched 38 before lbw to Jansen. Brook (68) and Smith (48) resisted, but Maharaj’s 5-82 and Jansen’s 4-68 triggered the collapse. Last man Bashir lbw to Maharaj. Target: 367.

South Africa 2nd Innings – 142 for 3 (38.2 overs) – Match Drawn De Zorzi (28) and Rickelton (32) fell to Atkinson. Bavuma (68) and Bedingham (88 off 112) added 112. Rain washed out day five — match drawn at tea.

Key Moments

• Root-Brook 156-run stand — highest 3rd-wicket vs SA at Kingsmead
• Maharaj’s 5-82 — first five-for at home since 2022
• England’s second-innings fight — highest total at Kingsmead vs SA since 2013
• Bavuma’s unbeaten chase — first SA captain to finish a home Test chase unbeaten since 2018

Player of the Match: Joe Root (204 & 38)

Ollie Pope: “Outstanding fightback. Root’s ton set it; bowlers finished it.”

Aiden Markram: “Frustrating finish. We were close but Root’s spell won it.”

Series: South Africa 1–1 England Next → 4th Test: Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg — February 13-17

South Africa eye home resurgence; England fight for series lead. The series heats up.