England 158 (Pope 67, Root 23, Jansen 5-35, Rabada 4-81) and 130 for 1 (Crawley 69*, Lees 39) beat South Africa 118 (Jansen 30, Zondo 23, Robinson 5-49, Broad 4-41) and 169 (Elgar 36, Erwee 26, Stokes 3-39, Broad 3-45) by nine wickets

It was only a matter of time for both sides. But for England, it really was a matter of time. Needing just 33 runs for victory over South Africa and a 2-1 series triumph, they had to do it in 64 balls to make this third and final Test at The Oval the shortest since 1912.

But Rabada got what was very much a consolation wicket a short time later with a delivery that tailed in and rapped Lees on the thigh, barely drawing an appeal but prompting an understated call for the DRS, which showed the ball to be hitting the stumps.

Pope attempted a reverse sweep off Jansen with just five runs needed and was hit on the chin, prompting further delay to the inevitable as he underwent concussion checks.

Fittingly, given his rapid passage to a half-century the previous evening – his first time past fifty since scoring a century against West Indies in March, Crawley brought up the winning runs, steering Jansen to the boundary in front of square on the off side.

Crawley’s lean record this summer had raised questions over his place in a side that has re-invented itself as ultra-assertive. In cruising to a 36-ball fifty on Sunday, he looked more in the mould, and he carried on that way, confidently clipping Rabada to fine leg for a single on Monday’s first ball as England resumed on 97 without loss, Crawley with 57 and Lees on 32, after bad light stopped play the previous evening.

His knock had been almost flawless but for being dropped on 51 when he fired the ball hard at midwicket late on Sunday, so hard that it rocketed through Ryan Rickelton’s hands, onto his chest and to the ground.

South Africa had contained England’s first-innings lead to just 40 runs, thanks largely to Jansen’s maiden Test five-for, then comfortably moved back into the lead through Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee.

In a match that flip-flopped as part of a series that flip-flopped – the sides split the first two Tests which were each decided by an innings – England looked classier as South Africa’s batting line-up struggled for runs, despite making wholesale changes ahead of the final game.

“A good first innings helped us at Lord’s, first-innings runs are so big in the UK, and we’ve failed in that department,” Elgar, the South Africa captain, told Sky Sports. “I’ve got to give our bowlers credit, they ran in and did all that was asked of them, but it all boils down to our batting.”

Stokes was full of praise for England’s top-order of Crawley, Lees and Pope, as well as Broad and Anderson.

“Important to allow them enough time,” Stokes said before accepting the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy in a subdued celebration out of respect for the nation’s period of mourning for the Queen, who died on Thursday.

“The way Popey’s come out and played, he’s shown what he’s capable of, and Zak and Leesy, opening the batting in England is very hard. Don’t underestimate how they set the tone.

“It’s phenomenal to have two of the great seam bowlers in your team, two sporting greats, very blessed. They are a huge credit to themselves and this game, and a lot of young players who want to be fast bowlers look up to them.”