Ollie Robinson took five wickets as England bowled South Africa out for just 118 in the first innings in their decisive third Test today.
The hosts needed only 36.2 overs to tear through the South Africa batting lineup - the shortest opening innings ever seen in an Oval Test match and the third-shortest South Africa innings when batting first in the first innings.
While Robinson was the star of the show with 5-49 - a reward for relentlessly testing line and length - Stuart Broad also added four more wickets to his list of victims.
Jimmy Anderson took 1-16 as no South African batter managed to get more than 30 runs, Marco Jansen top-scoring for the Proteas having himself been dropped twice before being dismissed.
Ben Stokes's side came roaring out of the blocks following an impeccably-observed minute's silence and rousing rendition of 'God Save the King', sung by an international sporting team for the first time since The Queen's death on Thursday.
A standing ovation followed from the crowd inside The Oval as they paid tribute to the nation's longest-ever reigning monarch, and the players quickly set about making up for lost time after seeing the first day washed out and the second day postponed due to Thursday's news.
South Africa's refusal to add an extra day meant that the Test will now take place over three days instead of the usual five, raising concerns over whether it would come to a conclusion with the series locked at 1-1.
However, Robinson struck early to remove South Africa captain Dean Elgar (1) in the second over, and Anderson soon followed suit as Sarel Erwee was caught behind for a duck to leave the visitors 7-2.
The wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with England at one stage reducing South Africa to 36-6, before Khaya Zondo and Jansen temporarily steadied the ship.
The resistance would not last long, though, and Robinson's dismissal of Jansen brought him his fifth wicket before Broad mopped up the tail.
England will now look to build a commanding lead in search of a series-clinching win which would cap off a successful and captivating summer for Brendon McCullum's men.
Barney Corkhill
