Broad, whose magic spells are fast becoming one of the grandest sights in British sport, finished with 6-17 to roll the punch-drunk Proteas for 83.
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England reached their modest victory target of 74 with relative ease as captain Alastair Cook (43) top-scored in guiding them to 77 for three from 22,4 overs under gloomy skies.
Every run was important in the psychological battle, none more so than Bairstow’s top-edged four that took England past South Africa’s 313. Broad’s run sent South Africa from 23-0 to 35-5. South Africa were 16 for no wicket in their second innings at lunch.
Less than six months ago at Trent Bridge, his career-best bowling knocked the Australian batting to pieces, sending them packing for 60, and setting up the Ashes win.
Kagiso Rabada made a quick 16 before he was caught behind off Stokes, leaving Faf du Plessis and Hardus Viljoen to try to take South Africa to respectability.
His return set up England’s seven-wicket win and gave the tourists an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series ahead of the fourth and final Test. This was not the first time that Broad, 29, had decided the destiny of a Test match and below AFP Sport looks back at some of the Nottinghamshire paceman’s most impressive returns. It could yet have been tricky.
They were two behind when Finn gloved Morne Morkel behind.
Thanks to his efforts, which seemed hampered either by long-standing back problems or some new strain, England are harbouring genuine hopes of a vital first-innings lead.
Root hailed the influence of Stokes, who followed up his spectacular 258 in the second Test with another pugnacious, if somewhat briefer, contribution from number six.
The early wicket of Dean Elgar was a sign of things to come… It became processional. First Elgar nibbled and edged to Jonny Bairstow.
Viljoen’s dismissal of Cook came as both England openers fell cheaply and in familiar circumstances.
His first catch, to remove Amla, was impressive in that he managed to stay low to hold the ball inches off the turf after it had been turned off the middle of the bat. The wicket of Amla, for five, was a bonus.
Now there was no way that Broad, puffing in the rarified air, was going to concede the ball to anyone.
Steven Finn then joined the action, and in his first over he had Dane Vilas out for 8 – Taylor taking another blinder at short leg.
The sanction didn’t affect England adversely as Ben Stokes, replacing Anderson, took just one delivery to wrap up the South African innings.
Root added just four runs to his overnight total before getting a feint inside edge to an in-swinging delivery as the home side made an early breakthrough on a cloudy morning.
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That left Bairstow to make a crucial 45, dragging England to 323 and a slender lead.
