England have wrapped up a memorable series victory over South Africa, winning the deciding Test at the Oval after Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope guided them home with the bat.
With the first two Tests also lasting just three days to leave the series level at 1-1, everything was set up for a fascinating decider. However, after day one was lost to rain and day two was cancelled as a mark of respect following the death of the Queen, there were concerns the series would not get the grand finale it deserved.
Once it was confirmed that cricket would resume, the Test was played on fast-forward and ended in 151.3 overs, with only bad light denying a two-day finish as Crawley and Alex Lees looked to make light work of a 130-run chase.
The pair, who have been under pressure after a run of low scores, truly embodied the spirit of 'Bazball' as they took the attack to South Africa and pushed England within just 33 runs of victory before bad light stopped play.
Crawley looked much more fluent as he reached his first half-century since March off just 36 balls, having struggled in the first innings as he made a 34-ball five. Lees also showed great intent from ball one and, after riding his luck a little, grew in confidence as the crowd grew in belief when England struck 27 off the first three overs.
Though the pair were denied the chance to win the match late on Sunday, England wrapped things up very quickly on Monday. Lees did fall lbw to Kagiso Rabada for 39, but Crawley and Pope knocked off the remaining 22 runs in style to clinch the series victory, with this Test the shortest completed one in England in 110 years.
This summer, England have now won six Tests for the first time since 2004, doing so with largely the same personnel that managed just one win in their last 17. It is a real triumph for the new captain and coach combination of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum and the aggressive and positive brand of cricket they have got England playing.
It may not always work, as the innings defeat against South Africa at Lord's illustrated, but what a summer of Test cricket this has been for England fans. "It has been great fun to be a part of and great to play the style of cricket that we have," former captain Joe Root said.
"Obviously to get back to winning ways as well and be part of some brilliant Test match wins has been really fun. It is nice to see the side flourish and take some big steps forward and hopefully we can take that into the winter and beyond now."
