England are just 33 runs away from completing a memorable series victory over South Africa after bad light unfortunately denied the hosts the chance to complete a brilliant Test match inside just two days.
After play resumed, South Africa quickly ran through England's tail as they picked up the final three wickets for just four runs, bowling out the hosts for 158. It meant England's lead was just 40 runs after dismissing South Africa for just 118.
Marco Jansen was the star for South Africa as he picked up his first five-wicket haul in international cricket, wrapping up the innings with the wicket of Ben Foakes haven already removed Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Joe Root and Harry Brook on day three. Kagiso Rabada also ended with figures of 4-81, having taken four of the last five wickets after looking off the pace with the new ball.
In response, South Africa's openers battled hard and survived a few close shouts as they successfully overturned the deficit without losing a wicket. England captain Ben Stokes ultimately broke their 58-run partnership shortly before lunch, with Sarel Erwee getting caught at first slip for 26.
Stuart Broad then worked over Dean Elgar after the break, having two lbw appeals turned down before finally dismissing the Proteas skipper for 36. However, Hawk-Eye showed that the ball was actually missing leg-stump and Elgar was left ruing his decision not to go for a review.
England then began to pick up regular wickets as they found some prodigious swing, with South Africa falling from 83-1 to 158 all out, with Broad, Stokes, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson all starring. With 130 runs needed to win the match and the series, England came out to try and chase them down before the end of play.
Lees and Crawley batted with real intent and, after surviving a few close calls, England raced to 97-0 off just 17 overs. However, play was brought to a premature end by the umpires due to bad light, much to the chagrin of Stokes, with England just 33 runs away from victory.
Here are six talking points from the day's play...
Jansen stars
The 22-year-old is a real star in the making for South Africa and has enjoyed an excellent series, which he capped off with his first ever five-wicket haul in international cricket. Jansen was bizarrely dropped for the second Test despite impressing in the win at Lord's with match figures of 4-43 and a crucial 48.
And having been recalled at the Oval, Jansen top scored for South Africa in the first innings with 30, before leading the way with the ball. With Rabada uncharacteristically poor with the new ball, Jansen picked up the first four England wickets to keep his side in the game.
He then took his fifth wicket early on day four by removing Foakes to get his name up on the honours board. It was a brilliant display of skill from 6ft 7in left-armer, who picked up wickets bowling full and straight, short and wide of the crease.
Stokes' impact with the ball
After England failed to pick up early wickets with the new ball, captain Stokes introduced himself into the attack for a short burst before lunch. And the skipper made an immediate impact as he removed Erwee with just his third delivery.
Stokes has been impressive with the ball since becoming captain, having picked up 18 wickets at an average of 25.66 this summer. "Ben Stokes must think, 'what have the rest of you been doing?!'," Marks said on BBC Test Match Special. "An important catch by Joe Root - England were desperate to get a wicket."
After making the breakthrough, England were able to bowl South Africa out for just 169, with Stokes taking 3-39 from an excellent 13 over spell.
Elgar's missed opportunity
As the most experienced member of South Africa's batting line-up by far, Elgar was crucial to their hopes of getting a result from this Test. After falling for just one in the first innings, he battled hard in the second and shared a good opening partnership with Erwee.
However, he was masterfully worked over by Broad in the third over after lunch before being sent on his way. In a brilliant spell of bowling, Broad had two lbw appeals turned down for height, before finally getting his man with a full ball.
Elgar very quickly walked off, opting not to review the decision, only for Hawk-Eye to show the ball would have missed leg-stump. It was a massive wicket in the context of the game and a massive wicket for Broad, who overtook Australia legend Glenn McGrath in the all-time list of Test wicket takers.
"The thing that got me is Dean Elgar walked off before it was even given, he must have felt so out," former England spinner Alex Hartley said on BBC Test Match Special. "He will be furious with himself when he sees that back. That shows the importance of checking your guard, just to make sure you know where you are standing."
Robinson reaches 50
When Robinson bowled Wiaan Mulder for 14, it was the 28-year-old's 50th Test match wicket and, remarkably, those came at an average of just 19.96 in 11 appearances. In fact, the last Englishman to reach the landmark in less was Ian Botham, who took his 50th wicket in just his tenth Test.
Robinson has been excellent since getting recalled to the side this summer and revealed he has "worked harder than I ever have" to get back to his best, having last played international cricket in the Ashes this winter ahead of the South Africa series.
"When I got back from Australia and re-evaluated where I was, I felt like I was still a county cricketer," he told Sky Sports. "I spoke to Jimmy, Broad and Stokes about how they go about it and how they got to where they are.
"I had to have some honest conversations, but I've worked harder than I ever have in the last six months and I'm really proud it's paying off. It's nice to see my speeds up and that I'm maintaining them, but I'm not the end result yet."
Crawley's massive innings
The England opener has been under huge pressure this summer and came out to bat having averaged just 17.25 this summer in 12 innings. That run of poor form included seven single-figure scores and he had not made a fifty since his century against the West Indies in March.
Crawley's last two innings were uncharacteristic as well, with the stroke maker battling hard to score 38 off 101 balls at Old Trafford and then struggling terribly as he made five off 34 in the first innings at the Oval.
However, with a clear target to chase down, Crawley and Lees attacked from ball one, sharing an unbeaten 97-run partnership to leave England within touching distance of victory. And Crawley was the star as he struck a 36-ball half-century which will surely come as a massive confidence boost.
"Zak Crawley was five from 34 balls in the first innings," former England bowler Isa Guha said on BBC Test Match Special. "He now has a half-century from 36."
