England have levelled the series against South Africa after bouncing back from a thrashing at Lord's to deliver one of their own at Old Trafford.
Ben Stokes ' side virtually dominated the Test match from start to finish after Proteas captain Dean Elgar decided to bat after winning the toss and, despite some excellent rear-guard batting from Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen, England wrapped up a stunning victory by an innings and 85 runs on day three.
England began like a house on fire when they picked up three quick wickets for just 21 runs as James Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad made breakthroughs.
Anderson picked up the first wicket of Elgar for 11, uprooting his off stump after some excellent bowling, before Robinson nicked off Sarel Erwee for 25 and Broad removed Aiden Markram for six.
Petersen and Van der Dussen then battled hard, blocking out an entire session as they lasted 159 and 132 balls respectively. However, they were unable to add many runs, with their partnership worth 87, and when they were both dismissed by Stokes after tea the Proteas were still trailing England by over 100 runs.
It was a brilliant spell of bowling from Stokes to dismiss both Petersen and Van der Dussen and once England got hold of the second new ball it was game over as Anderson and Robinson picked up the final five wickets for just seven runs.
Here are five talking points from the day's play...
Anderson makes more history
After yet another brilliant performance for England, Anderson has broken another impressive record as the 40-year-old overtook Australia legend Glenn McGrath to become highest wicket-taking seamer in the history of international cricket.
Anderson has now taken 451 wickets across all three formats for England after picking up 3-30 in South Africa's second innings. He dismissed Elgar with an absolute beauty to go level with McGrath on 949 international wickets and then surpassed him with the wicket of Harmer.
His dismissal of Elgar was an absolute masterclass, as Anderson worked him over expertly before producing a delivery that sent his off stump cartwheeling. Of the Elgar dismissal, former England bowler Jonathan Agnew said on BBC Test Match Special: "What a sight that is. Jimmy Anderson is 40 years old but he'll still absolutely love that. You dream of uprooting stumps like that as a boy and he's still at it now."
Petersen and Van der Dussen battle
After England picked up three quick wickets in the morning session to reduce South Africa from 33-0 to 54-3, Petersen and Van der Dussen stood firm and frustrated the hosts as they shared an excellent 87-run partnership.
Van der Dussen in particular was very impressive as he toughed it out for 132 balls with a metal splint on his left index finger after sustaining an injury while fielding. "The one thing I've said about South Africa is that they'll always show fight and character," South Africa legend Shaun Pollock said on Sky Sports.
"They might not have played their best cricket in this Test match so far, but this partnership has been so impressive. They've stuck to their game plan."
Van der Dussen's lifeline
Van der Dussen was afforded a lifeline when he edged one through to the wicketkeeper off Stokes. However, none of the England players heard the faint nick and Van der Dussen survived.
"It wasn't even a half-hearted appeal," former Australia star Mel Jones said on Sky Sports. "There was definitely a nick as it goes through. A false shot from him. He'd been playing so well - it was kind of wide and he threw his hands at it."
Luckily for England it did not prove too costly as Van der Dussen only lasted a further four balls, with Stokes dismissing him in the first over after the tea break.
Stokes' impact with the ball
After Petersen and Van der Dussen frustrated England in the afternoon session with their excellent partnership, it was Stokes who made the all-important breakthroughs after tea as he bowled 14 consecutive overs in a brilliant spell. In the first over after the break, he got Van der Dussen caught behind for 41.
He then dismissed Petersen for 42, producing a snorter that found the edge and was comfortably taken by Foakes. And Pollock pointed out on commentary that Stokes' burst after tea replicated his impact in the first innings where he removed Markram and Van der Dussen in successive overs.
"Ben Stokes was fantastic, absolutely fantastic in the first innings," Pollock said. "He had an impact when he came into the attack, picked up two quick wickets, and he's done a similar job for his team here today."
In fact, since becoming captain Stokes has been outstanding with the ball, picking up 15 wickets at an average of 28.20.
South Africa's decisions backfire
In hindsight, South Africa's decision to play an extra spinner with Simon Harmer replacing Marco Jansen and Elgar's decision to bat first after winning the toss have backfired. However, Elgar insisted after the match that he would not have done anything differently.
"It was a reality check for us and we lost it in the first innings," he admitted to BBC Test Match Special. "You need runs in Test cricket. We were way short.
"I had a feeling that the sun might come out on day one and it did but we were already five wickets down and behind the game. It was a massive ask for our middle and lower order but it was a good wicket, a good battle between bat and ball.
"I got a good ball but that happens against these bowlers who have been about for donkey's years. It's all set up for the third Test, two poud nations and a great stadium."
