Despite losing early wickets in the morning, England recovered amazingly well as they bowled South Africa out for just 83, giving them a lead of just 74. A score that England chased down with ease to secure a seven wicket victory and their first away series win since the India tour in 2012.
Devastating Broad
He may have looked a shadow of his usual self in the first innings as he looked unfit and possibly unwell, but whatever problem Stuart Broad was suffering from soon became just a distant memory as he bowled with brutal pace and aggression, returning figures of 6-17 from just 12 overs, including a spell that saw him take five wickets for just one run.
Stuart Broad came out after lunch and from almost his first over it was clear that Broad was brewing something special, no-one however quite predicted what would happen next. What began with the wicket of Dean Elgar soon became an innings ruining collapse as Stian van Zyl fell soon after with the crucial wickets of Hashim Amla and AB De Villiers costing very few runs. He then finally ended the South African innings when he took a specatcular catch to dismiss Faf Du Plessis caught and bowled.
It wasn't all Broad however. The Notts paceman was ably backed up from the rest of England's seamers. Steven Finn continued his good form as he picked up the wicket of Dane Vilas, before Ben Stokes backed up his heroics with the bat by taking two wickets, including an absolute jaffa of an in-swinger to dismiss Chris Morris. Of course the ever-green James Anderson made sure he got his name in the wicket column, although he could only take the one.
Super short leg
He may have been unable to contribute with the bat, as he fell for just seven yesterday, but today James Taylor more than justifed his selection. It's always been said that shorter fielders are always more adept under the lid in the field, but even with Taylor's lack of height it isn't an easy place to field. With just half a second to take the catch and the eyes of the world watching on it's a position that when requested rarely recieves many volunteers.
Despite all this, Taylor made the position his own today. He took two absolutely fantastic catches in the position. Amla was the first victim of Taylor's reflexes. The Notts batsman took the catch diving forward as the South African batsmen tried to work Stuart Broad through the leg-side. It wasn't long before Taylor was back in the action again. Vilas was the victim this time, again he tried to work the ball into the leg side, Finn the bowler this time, but it was a much harder chance. Taylor diving to his left, throughout his left hand and the ball settled perfectly, drawing wild celebrations from his England team-mates.
Some credit must be given to the England captain however. Alastair Cook recognised early that the pace in this pitch meant Taylor would be ineffective at a regulation short leg, Cook chose therefore to push Taylor just slightly deeper in order to combat the extra pace.
England race to end the chase
Having bowled South Africa out just after tea on just the third day, England had plenty of time to chase down the measly total of 74. Cook resisted the calls of some to send out his more attacking batsmen out first, rather than his normal openers.
The skipper backed himself and Alex Hales, and it looked to have been a good choice. Cook, rather surprisingly, was the early aggressor, with Hales happy to simply take the singles to keep Cook on strike. Hales still couldn't muster a score however as an England opener, he fell for just 18 as he was trapped LBW by Elgar, when the tourists needed just 10 more to win. Nick Compton came in as usual at number three and played what can only be described as a stupid shot, as he tried to play the big shot, and was caught very well by Morne Morkel giving Elgar his second wicket. Compton only faced two balls, and failed to score.
Joe Root was the next man in and with just six runs to win, Root coming out was little more than a formality. Athough Cook was the star of the innings as he top scored with 43, he couldn't carry his bat as he was caught behind off the bowling of Morris. Taylor was next in as his replacement, and he, along with Root, made light work of the three runs needed. Taylor ended the innings on 2*, while Root scored 7*.
England will now be looking ahead to the final test in Centurion, which begins on 22nd January, where they will be looking to complete a 3-0 series win.