JON CARDINELLI reflects on the big moments that shaped day three of the first Test at Kingsmead.

BATSMAN OF THE DAY
Dean Elgar added 51 to his overnight score of 67. While he showed remarkable tenacity to survive the onslaught by Stuart Broad and company, Elgar also produced some beautiful strokes through the offside.

BOWLER OF THE DAY
Moeen Ali dismissed JP Duminy, Kyle Abbott, and Dale Steyn in the first session, and finished the innings with impressive figures of 4-69.

SHOT OF THE DAY
Late in the day, the depleted South African pace attack began to tire. Kyle Abbott over-pitched to Joe Root, and the England batsman caressed the ball to the cover boundary.

DELIVERY OF THE DAY
Moeen Ali hit the perfect line and length to confound JP Duminy. The left-handed batsman succeeded in edging the off-spinner to first slip.

CORDON OF CHAOS
In the period before tea, Dean Elgar dropped Nick Compton and AB de Villiers put down Joe Root. Unbelievably, De Villiers erred again when he dropped Compton late in the day. Morné Morkel was the unfortunate bowler on all three occasions.

STEYN PAIN
Dale Steyn has a shoulder injury. Two balls into the fourth over of his initial spell, Steyn clutched at the problem area, and then left the field for treatment. He returned later and bowled the 21st over. Sadly, his effort lasted three deliveries before he was forced to leave the field again. The absence of Steyn will heap the pressure on the other South African seamers.

DUMINY’S SLIDE CONTINUES
JP Duminy contributed two runs to the South African cause. He has averaged 10.28 in 2015 (six Tests and seven innings), and has been dismissed for two or less on four occasions during that period.

STAT OF CONCERN
South Africa passed the 200-mark for only the third time in the past 11 innings. Worryingly, they have not managed to post 250 or more during this period.

DRS REDEMPTION
England failed to use the DRS to their advantage on days one and two. However, they got it right on day three. Moeen Ali appealed for a bat-pad decision when Kyle Abbott was batting this morning, which was given not out by the on-field umpire. England asked for a review, and were vindicated when replays showed the ball brushing the bat. Later on, a decision to give Nick Compton out was overturned when England called for the review.