Broad took six wickets in South Africa’s second innings as England bowled the Proteas out for just 83 runs and chased down the target of 74 runs in 22.4 overs to register a seven-wicket victory.
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Broad ripped through five of South Africa’s top six, including AB de Villiers for a duck and Hashim Amla for five, and England was set for victory in the third test for a winning 2-0 series lead in the four-match contest.
The hosts limped to the interval on 71 for eight after Broad returned figures of five for 14 from 10 overs on a lively wicket to leave the Proteas with a meagre 61-run lead.
To complete a singular triumph for captain Alastair Cook he also made his first batting contribution of the series with 43 (70 balls, 7 fours).
The 29-year-old was third in the ranking ahead of the third Test, but his sublime displays – including 2-82 during South Africa’s first innings – have seen him displace India’s Ravichandran Ashwin at the top of the leaderboard.
In that time Broad conceded just one run and even that was off a drop when James Anderson spared Van Zyl on nine.
South Africa is rebuilding all through its team: A new opening pair, a young middle order, and three quick bowlers that boasted five test appearances between them coming into this week’s game in Johannesburg. Broad got brilliant help from fielder James Taylor at short leg with a stunning low catch off a sweet Amla clip off his legs.
“I got a bit lucky with the conditions”, said Broad.
“I think the clouds came in and the lights came on”, he said. The wicket just offered a little bit off the seam and in the air, and for a 6ft 6in bowler there was a bit of bounce there as well.
“We had a chat with the coaches and the bowling group and we talked about bringing the batsman forward a lot more and trying to get the edges from a fuller length”.
There was no let-up for the home side when Broad was rested, Steven Finn removing Dane Vilas (8) thanks to another sensational one-handed catch by Taylor diving to his right.
De Villiers acknowledged: “It was some of the best bowling I have faced, from the whole unit”.
“It’s unfortunate, because I thought he bowled with good pace and bounce and was probably our most risky bowler in the first two Tests”.
“That’s where we missed a trick”. There was a great opportunity to get 400-plus and we didn’t take that.
“There are lots of different players”. On the other hand, England will finish fifth, above New Zealand, irrespective of how the Centurion Test pans out.
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“They’ll learn a lot. I just have to try and find a balance to keep my fight going and keep that skill level up”.
