The Proteas have moved to 225-5 at tea time on the final day of the second Test at Newlands as England continue their fight for the final wickets to win the match.
Pieter Malan and Rassie van der Dussen resumed the Proteas’ score on 170-4 after lunch but were dealt an early blow when left-armer Sam Curran removed Pieter Malan for 84.
Curran was rewarded for a much better line and length to the right-handers as he made the very important breakthrough when he found the edge of Malan, caught at second slip by Ben Stokes for a hard-fought knock at the top of the order that provided South Africa with a glimmer of hope.
England spinner Joe Denly then caused Quinton de Kock a few nervy moments as he came around the wicket, trying to hit the rough outside of De Kock’s off-stump. The wicketkeeper found it difficult to play Denly at times with the uneven bounce, spinning in towards him.
Van der Dussen remained very firm in his approach, while De Kock began to play some shots as they brought up their 50-run partnership just before the break.
Earlier on in the morning session, England got off to good start when James Anderson trapped nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj in front, which brought captain Faf du Plessis out to the middle.
Du Plessis, who’s been in these type of situations a few times in the past, looked confident and solid from the start but in a moment of madness he went on the attack against spinner Dom Bess only to sweep it straight to Joe Denly at square leg as he departed for 19.
England will now be looking to wrap up the Proteas tail as quickly as possible to will level the four-match Test series at 1-1.
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South Africa: Pieter Malan, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Faf du Plessis (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock (wk), Dwaine Pretorius, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje.
England: Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Denly, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
