How Bavuma made history for South Africa

England assistant coach Paul Farbrace on Sky Sports: "The bowlers have worked incredibly hard - to be out there for 200 overs...

"We've done pretty well and created chances on a flat pitch. But obviously we're disappointed we've missed chances. We'll rue them."

Rachel T: Excellent. England have been in the lead for the entire Test so far.

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More from South Africa's Temba Bavuma, who made 102 not out, on being padded up for 70 overs: "That was tough. I slept for some of those hours.

"Pressure is always there. As a young guy there is always pressure. I just tried to keep calm and use my opportunity. I want to make a mark on international level."

On the sledging from England's bowlers: "It was words of encouragement, if I could put in politely. It was almost like being back at school cricket with guys going hard at me for being small. But it enabled me to knuckle down and concentrate a bit harder."

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"England just have to bat sensibly. There is the opportunity now Amla has declared for the early batsmen to get a hundred and then they would go to Jo'burg with wonderful confidence. We know Cook is a big hundred man. Hales will be thinking he can get his first one."

South Africa's Temba Bavuma, who became the first black African to score a Test century for South Africa, on Sky Sports: "It's a moment of cherish forever, especially here at Newlands, my favourite ground.

"I can't tell you what was going through my mind but there was a lot of emotion and relief. I've been wanting to cross that first Test hundred off.

"It's a special moment for my family too - they flew in from their holiday to be here in time."

"All the confidence came back to South Africa cricket this afternoon. They have been down but Bavuma has done wonders for South African cricket. They have had bowlers who have been black - Ntini was a wonderful bowler - but I think it's better a player is picked on ability and Bavuma has proved he has talent."

Bavuma's century was a wonderful moment, a lot of emotion from the man himself, the Newlands crowd and his parents watching on.

Soon after, South Africa declared, but the late wickets they were looking for didn't come. 

Tattz: If England had opened with Barstow and Stokes, we'd have a 150-run lead by now.

"If England had caught most of those chances they would have won the match. As a coach, sometimes say nothing. They're not bad catchers but they've had a bad day at the office - a really bad day. It's madness. You can't understand why; the players don't know why. It's best not to dwell on it. Move on."

It seemed like England would never part Amla - who moved to an 11-hour 200 - and Faf du Plessis, until three wickets fell for 10 runs. Bang, bang, bang.

Mop up the tail? Not with the obstacle of Temba Bavuma  and some very dodgy catching. 

"It was a wonderful day for South Africa. Yesterday was slow - they were grinding out runs and trying to make sure they didn't lose - but today was different. By the middle of the day everyone was cheering South Africa and Bavuma put the icing on the cake."

A thrilling day? Not really, but memorable for a couple of reasons.

Hashim Amla's redemption, England's drops and Temba Bavuma's little bit of history.

"Sometimes when you draw you think who has got the better of the draw. The way South Africa have fought back, with all their engine room back in the runs, it should serve them well going into the rest of the series." 

England get to the close unscathed. We might not have moved any nearer to a result, but it's been special for Temba Bavuma and South Africa cricket.

As for tomorrow, the Proteas will hope that a couple of wickets can put the wind up the tourists.

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A veteran move from the rookie Hales. A cheeky single on the leg side. "You face the last two balls, skipper..."

Last over of the day, Kagiso Rabada to bowl it...

Charlie Watson: For my birthday last year, I organised a Monopoly pub crawl, which involved having an alcoholic drink in a pub at each of the 26 named properties on the Monopoly board. We started at Old Kent Road at 10am and finished the 26th drink at Bond Street at half past midnight – 14.5 hours later!

Morkel gets his knees high as he pumps in towards Cook, the speedo pushing 90, the keeper's gloves getting battered. We have our answer to the nightwatchman question. Steven Finn is padded up, waiting with his helmet on. That is a rough gig, having to sleep on the square after bowling 39 overs.

"I wonder if Amla is thinking about putting the off-spinner on to Alastair Cook, there is a hint of rough outside the left-hander's off-stump."

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If Bavuma had caught this, I'd have been asking him to walk on water. Under the lid at short leg, off the face of Hales' bat, flying past Bavuma's dive quicker than a hiccup. When Rabada gets too short, Cook swivels on a hook for four. Two, maybe three overs left in the day.

"I will say that England generally do it the hard way. They have for many, many years, including in my day."

Morkel, the giraffe, slants the ball across Cook, who shows good judgement of where the off stump is. There's some lengthy shadows lying across the Newlands turf, showing us that evening is drawing in. Ooohhh, that's good, Cook's grope beaten. Testing times for England. 

"We are only two overs into this innings but there is nothing through the air. There has been no swing throughout the match and I can't imagine it is going to suddenly start now. It would certainly be very bad luck for England if it did."

I wonder if England have nightwatchman padded up? I wonder who it would be? Let's say Nick Compton wants one and Steven Finn gets asked. Might he reply with "remember when you dropped Amla when I was bowling? Do your own batting, Compo." Compton actually has got his pads on, watching as Cook defends Kagiso Rabada.

"Alastair Cook has not a score yet in this series but this is particularly important for Alex Hales in only his second Test match - this is a whole new mental test for him."

Cook is away with a nudge on the leg side, then Alex Hales does the same to pick up a couple. Despite this match being a runfest for four days, it feels different now. The evening, the shadow, the new ball, the fresh bowlers. It's a time to be bowling.

Mark Simmerson: England gain a valuable first-innings lead.

Sam Greenway: Who declares when they still behind? Crazy decision.

Right then, a tricky period for England starts now. They have 23 minutes to survive. Morne Morkel, who has had his feet up for three days, has the ball. Alastair Cook is surrounded by catchers.

"When you've got players like De Villiers in your side who can chase anything down quickly, South Africa just have to find a way of taking 10 wickets. Unless England really panic and are completely frazzled mentally, there shouldn't be enough in the pitch. But at least South Africa have got back in the series and shown fight - and all their batsmen are in form."

Are you slightly fearful about how it could go for England tonight? Imagine if they lose a couple before the close. Could set up a wobbly final day.

"England bowled 11 wides, the most they have conceded in a Test innings."

"It's a really good move. The England openers Hales and Cook would been watching that deficit reducing thinking, 'Do we want 25 minutes tonight? No, not really.' Now they have got 25 minutes facing Morne Morkel, who has been resting for what feels like about five weeks. Now it's all about the minds of the England players who have been fielding for such a long time."

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Thunderous applause for Temba Bavuma as he leaves the field, raising his bat to all corners of the ground. He is no doubt taking some pats on the back in the South Africa dressing room right now.

Down the hall, there's chaos in the England changing room. Kit being thrown everywhere. Alex Hales: "Where's my thigh pad?!" Probably.

Hashim Amla has seen enough. He gives a wave to bring his batsmen in, the Proteas two runs behind. The home side fancy a little bash at this tired England team tonight. After an eternity in the field, the pressure will be on the tourists for 20 minutes or so tonight.

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"If I am an opening batsman for England I want South Africa to keep batting here!"

At time this Test match has meandered, but it's provided us with some wonderful moments. Stokes' brutality, Bairstow's emotion, Amla's redemption and Bavuma's little piece of history.

Hello, what's this....

Lovely pictures of Bavuma's father show him on the phone, no doubt telling all and sundry what his lad has done. In the background, a lady that I think is his mother is getting a big hug. Looking again at the celebrations, Bavuma almost took himself off his feet with the swoosh of his bat. Makhaya Ntini was there, applauding over the balcony.

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"In size Bavuma is a small man but in stature as a cricketer it's a huge step and will do wonders, one hopes, for cricket in this country."

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That's it! A maiden Test century for Temba Bavuma, a hugely important one for South African cricket. Bavuma, the first black African specialist batsman to play for the Proteas, edges Steven Finn for four and punches the air. Newlands erupts, his father is on his feet and the crowd sings his name. A wonderful moment.

Manc Vs Food: 14.5 hours. It took The Beatles 12 to record 'Please Please Me'. Ooh the irony.

The Albion Roar: Since SA started their innings, you could have watched the NYD episode of Sherlock nearly 10 times - and still not get it.

How does Bavuma play now? He's in the 90s, facing Joe Root. He squints, looks around the field, then calmly works a single on the leg side to move to 96. Kagiso Rabada hold up his end of the bargain, watching two go past the off stump. Bavuma has the strike, looking for a boundary... 

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"It has been quite noticeable watching the South Africans in the crowd that they have been starting to enjoy the cricket. Yesterday they were quiet and weren't necessary enjoying it but today they have seen runs coming quickly."

Looking again, it was actually a sharp snaffle from Root. It was one he should have held, but it still went quickly to his right. That's a nice reward for Finn, who deserves more than his two wickets. England will hope they can wrap up the tail, but new man Kagiso Rabada is no mug. How do South Africa play now? Get Bavuma to a ton then declare? Or bat to tomorrow?

"It was muted celebrations. Morris should be very pleased with his performance. South Africa's tail does look long when Steyn and Morkel are playing, so Morris will have given the selectors quite a little bit of thinking to do for Johannesburg."

Chris Devany: In 14.5 hours I could get to Manchester Airport, stop off in the UAE and be hurtling over the Kalahari towards Cape Town

Ed Henderson-Howat: In 14.5 hours of SA batting you could get so fed up with the cricket you actually start revising for January exams

Temba Bavuma is a small chap, competing with James Taylor for the title of shortest man in the match. He's obviously watched Sachin Tendulkar play. He's compact, quite wristy, but also with a flowing cover drive. Both he and Morris can play the reverse sweep - both belt Moeen for four. Are South Africa putting the foot down? Thoughts of a declaration?

Charlie Watson: Stuart Broad could have bowled his 8-15 spell 9-and-a-bit times.

Allan Flowers: On 1st innings form we could watch Ben Stokes make 670 runs in fourteen and a half hours. 

John Brierly: Pranav Dhanawade would have scored 2,222 runs!

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The Barmies sing "stand up if you're 1-0 up". I admire their enthusiasm, I'd be more thinking about having a lie down. Root spears one down the leg side, a wide, which Stuart Broad has to chase to the boundary. Root has not only dropped a catch off Broad, but is now making the pacer run like a man after the bus.

"They'll never get them out! But if you're going to have a bad time, best to get them all out in one go."

Moeen Ali, a man who has already bowled 50 overs, is asked to have another roll. There's no close catchers - probably because they wouldn't catch it. Round the wicket, a lot down the leg side. Bavuma doesn't get bat on many. Didn't Ben Stokes bowl an over of off-breaks in the UAE? Get them out again...

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Joe Baker: In this innings you could have listened to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody 157 times

Max Braddick: In the fourteen and a half hours that South Africa have been batting, you could have watched 6 episodes of the Star Wars saga

Imagine how the bowlers must be feeling. They've bowled more than 200 overs and seen 10 catches shelled. That's one every 20 overs. England have made enough chance to take 16 wickets. They'd have been on the way to an innings victory. Has someone replaced their shower gel with butter? Did you ever see that episode of Friends where they played catch for hours on end? This England team is full of Chandlers. He was a dropper.

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"Stuart Broad does a lap of the pitch to calm down after that latest dropped catch."

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And another goes down! It's Joe Root, that man a short slip. The thing is, it goes so high to him, it would have been better if he was further back. Morris the batsman, Broad again the bowler, thick edge to Root's right. A dive, but tipped around the post. I think that's 10 drops. 10!

Another edge! Bairstow hangs on this time, but it's dropped short. Broad the bowler, Bavuma the batsman. Next to Bairstow is Joe Root, so close at slip that he needs a helmet. Guess what... 

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The Halftime Pundit: In 14 1/2 hours you could watch 174 Shane Watson innings. Each lasting no more than the customary 5 mins. All LBW.

PtheP: What can you do in 14 1/2 hours? Get Stuart Broad to bowl Australia out 8.7 times!

I've just a replay of all of England's dropped catches. It's like watching Animal from the Muppets play the drums. Arms and legs everywhere.

Matt Dolan: With 14.5 hours you could be nearly finished 15-hour slow-cooking your pork ribs for dinner.

Jimmy Smallwood: In Salford, where BBC Cricket is based, the 14-hour Ring Cycle is on in its entirety in June.

Biker: 14.5 hours-more than enough time for Tim Peake to reach the ISS and have his bacon sarnie.

"This is the first time England have fielded for more than 200 overs since Brian Lara made his 400 in the Antigua Test of 2004 when they were in the field for 202 overs."

Shall we have a non-uniform day tomorrow? Or maybe all bring some board games in? Either that, or order a rather small, very localised earthquake at Newlands to see if we can spice up the pitch? And what about that bear we ordered? There's no sign of that. Root still round the wicket, frying-panned for four by Morris. Time for drinks. I'll have a scotch.

"I'd try and get as close to England's total as I could and then have a go at England tonight. I think it would be nice for South Africa to declare, it sends a message. England have looked ragged and the South African team needs a strong message at the moment."

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Well batted, Chris Morris. He took a frightful battering from Ben Stokes when he was bowling, but the debutant has now moved to 50 in his first Test innings. He gets there with a lovely cover drive off Stuart Broad. Looking at his bowling figures, he's just 100 in debt now.

"England were quite aggressive to this pair early on, listening to the stump mics they were trying to get under Bavuma's skin, but the two batsmen have just gone about their business."

Joe Root is recalled to the attack. You know it's been a slog when a non-bowler is sending down it's 15th over. He's round the wicket - I can't remember him bowling over the wicket much in this innings. Nothing happening. Four from the over. 

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"Morris took an absolute battering from Ben Stokes when he bowled on his Test debut, a little welcome to Test cricket, but this knock will have done his confidence a lot of good."

There are 21 overs after this Stuart Broad set remaining in the day. Morris, hunting a half-century on debut, drives Broad down the ground for four. I'm told that South Africa have been batting for 14 and a half hours. If you'd boarded a flight from Heathrow at the start of this innings, you'd have reached Cape Town in time to watch the end. What else can you do in 14 and a half hours? Entertain me.

"England have kept going but in the last couple of hours it looks like the wheels have come off a bit, with all these dropped catches." 

Just imagine what it must be like to field for two and a half days. If South Africa bat to tomorrow, they will have had the same innings across four days of this match. Granted, playing cricket isn't like having a real job, but the bowling and fielding must become a bit of a grind after a while. Anderson as the sun pops behind a cloud, Bavuma slashing and missing.

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"This is a new seventh-wicket partnership record for South Africa against England, beating Nummy Deane and Buster Nupen's 123 at Durban in 1928."

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Hmmm. It's all getting a little bit village now. Bairstow, standing back, rolls the ball at the stumps in an attempt to catch Bavuma out of his ground. If you want to stump someone, stand up, Jonathan. On the boundary, Steven Finn signs some autographs. A much better idea than bowling.

Calz McGlynn: How people can moan about this pitch is beyond me. England have thrown this game away with poor fielding.

Francis Edwards: Dropped catches have pushed England out of the game, not the pitch, not the ball. Fielding has been absolutely woeful!

James Anderson somehow summons the energy to kick in to Bavuma once more. England are hoping to frustrate the error out of Bavuma - just like they did in the last over - with a 7-2 off-side field. The problem is when Anderson gets too straight, Bavuma can work fine to nudge nearer to a maiden Test match century.

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"Stuart Broad is in trouble here. He's booted the pitch after that dropped catch. It's not on a length but I am sure they will be having a word with him. You can't kick lumps out of the pitch. Maybe a bowler should be allowed to have one big hoof a day on pitches like this!"

For all the chat of declarations and a flat pitch, England might have had sniff in this match if they'd held their catches. How many runs have they put on the turf? 200? More?

"Bavuma tries to guide it down to third man, it goes sharp and Bairstow is slow to that. He just doesn't react and move quickly enough. It's a chance you would expect to take." 

Dropped another! Stuart Broad is wound up for another spell - ball in hand at this point is about as welcome as a visit from the taxman. Broad, with a little leg-cutter, finds the edge of Temba Bavuma but Jonny Bairstow, diving low to his right, can't cling on in one hand. Catchable. In frustration, Broad kicks the pitch and take a chunk out of it. The umpires even give him a warning. It never rains...

Since South Africa started batting, Chris Gayle has asked someone on a date and been fined for it, Rafa Benitez has lost his job and a world darts champion has been crowned. When Dean Elgar took strike, HSBC's online banking still worked and Guns N' Roses hadn't yet got back together. 

"Only one team can win from here. If South Africa keep going at this rate they will be leading overnight and then if England have to bat tomorrow with 70 or so before they are even past South Africa. The only thing is have the South Africa attack got enough? I'm not sure they have."

Thanks, Jack. It's funny how things turn around isn't it? A couple of days ago, England couldn't lose this match. Now it seems that they can't win. Can you remember a time when South Africa weren't batting? I mean, how many things in the world have happened since the Proteas began this innings?

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Jon Salinger: This Test match has gone from elation to deflation for England.

Andrew Neill: In hindsight maybe England should have just kept batting...  

And with things a little calm right now I'll pass you over to the estimable Stephan Shemilt to guide you through to the close...

Anderson winds up his shoulders for another go and gets Morris swiping outside off twice in quick succession. A touch of impatience from the number eight perhaps but he survives.

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"South Africa can't lose now. There just isn't enough time left for England to do anything about it."

Root on to fire down a few rapid off-spinners and Bavuma almost loses his footing to a ball down leg side. Bairstow whips off the bails but Bavuma's foot is planted. He then takes quick single to retain the strike.

Diccon Thornely: At what point do they shake hands and decide it with a boat race in the pub? Reckon Stokes would be rapid on the strawpedo.

Stokes looking ragged now as Bavuma calmly picks up another short ball with a well-directed pull shot for a couple. Stokes goes short again but Bavuma swerves out of the way. A single to end the over.

"That also brought up the hundred partnership off just 127 balls."

A rare bit of sharp turn for Mooen but a promising start is undone by an Alex Hales misfield followed by a reverse sweep to the fence by Morris. That brings up the 100 partnership between these two. Morris then lofts down the ground, with Joe Root interested but it evades the vice-captain's dive for another boundary.

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"Even the most optimistic England player is probably thinking they can't see a way of winning from here."

Oh Temba. The young batsman is playing at least one excellent shot per over at the moment - this one a superb pick up through backward square-leg. Stokes and England grumble.

Replays show the ball clearly hit Morris outside the line so Mo's woes go on.

Man of the match in Durban, it's fair to say Cape Town hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Moeen. The spinner is into his 49th over and has yet to claim a wicket. But what's this? Moeen wraps Morris' pads and Cook signals a review...

"Middle-order players play nice shots. You have to find a way to make it uncomfortable for them. The trouble is, on this pitch there is no margin for error."

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Now then, Stokes back on against pre-tea nemesis Bavuma. Any more aggro? Well, Stokes will be seething after Bavuma plays the shot of his impressive innings with a splendid cover drive for four. Another nice drive yields a single.

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Tom Ford: Have all these runs devalued Stokes' knock in any way??

Second ball after the break and Bavuma signals his intent, mistiming a pull shot just over the head of Alex Hales. Sensibly he rotates the strike and Morris picks up a couple off Moeen Ali to end the over. The Proteas inside 100 behind now.

Bavuma and Morris didn't hold back before tea so let's see if they follow Michael Vaughan's advice and free their arms again.

Brews drunk, snacks eaten and they're all back out on the pitch. Let's resume.

"South Africa should have a swing after tea and score as quickly as they can."

Duncan in Birmingham: As one of the problems in slowing a day's play down is the change between overs, is there an argument for reverting to 8-ball overs (perhaps reducing the overs to 75 in a day, 25 per session)?

"The South Africa engine room looks back in form, which could make for a competitive series. It is just going to be whether they can get Dale Steyn fit and if they can take 20 wickets."

Richard Haines: Love the doom-mongers. England facing tricky fifth-day chase, on this pitch? No chasing needed batting third.

"When he came out to bat Amla was a man under serious pressure and South Africa were a team under serious pressure but he led from the front and played a beautiful innings. It was nice to see the England fans show their appreciation also."

"I don't know why Nick Compton is shaking Bavuma's hand - he's only made 50!"

So the deficit isn't as low as the 75 Geoffrey Boycott predicted but Morris and Bavuma have made quick inroads. Their fluent partnership is worth 76 off 99 balls as the Proteas trail by 104 runs going into the final session.

Finn to give it one more blast as he gets a bit of movement away from Morris' tentative prod outside off. Bit of bounce too as Bairstow takes one at head height before Morris edges along the ground to the slips. A maiden but no wicket and this pair survive through to tea.

"This is the first time I have seen England with a defensive field."

Ali keeps on twirling away from around the wicket, trying to cramp Morris, but the South African is happy to defend before taking a single off the final ball."One more before tea fellas," bellows Bairstow. Well, they have only a few minutes left to go.

Ben Thurley: England are in real danger here of a first-innings deficit and tricky fifth-day chase.

"A fifty from 52 balls - that is Bavuma's fastest half-century in first-class cricket."

Bavuma's certainly solid in defence too, easily shutting down Finn as the England bowler tries to tease him outside off before guiding a couple down to third man. A dot ball to finish.

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"It's a really nice innings from Bavuma. There has been some short stuff where he has pulled and cut and he's played some nice drives."

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Bavuma's got plenty in his locker, playing a deft lap sweep off Ali to deflect the ball through fine leg for four. He follows up by pouncing on a over-pitched delivery to drive through the covers for four before tucking a single into the leg side to bring up his fifty off just 52 balls with 11 fours.

"When England do get to bat I think Cook still has to open with Hales and just play. You have to try and get the shine off the new ball. If you try and whack it and you're three down for nowt you won't know whether to stick or twist."

Finn bends his back trying to make immediate amends for his spill but Morris and Bavuma are equal to it. The caught-and-bowled chance beat Finn for pace but England could really have done with breaking this partnership. 

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England are getting very familiar with dropped catches in this Test. It's another tough chance in fairness but Finn fails to wrap his mitts around a Morris drive straight back at the bowler.

"Bavuma looks a decent little player but if you bowl a few dots he doesn't like it."

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This pair have scored freely to bring the deficit down quickly and Bavuma continues the trend with a square sweep off Ali to the fence after manoeuvring the field.

"If they can get to tea, the deficit is going to be 75 or less than that."

Finn's buffet service ceases business for the moment as he gets Morris defending and ducking for a maiden over.

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Dan Gee: Awesome from Bavuma but this is buffet bowling by Finn.

Stokes' sledging is clearly not paying dividends and he's also been removed from the attack with Moeen Ali resuming over the wicket. Bit of turn off the surface too, but not enough to trouble Bavuma. Just one off the over.

"Those wickets have spurred South Africa into action. They have to get that deficit down."

Silky stuff from Bavuma, effortlessly pushing Finn through the covers. And there's plenty more as he plays late to guide the ball behind point before pulling through mid-wicket for a third consecutive boundary. Only a diving stop from Compton prevents a fourth.

South Africa bring up the 500 and these two have raced to their 50 partnership.

"I wish umpires would take more control and just handle the game."

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Despite those three quick wickets, Bavuma has settled very quickly, easily dealing with Stokes' pace and line. And the ginger tyro is livid, making his thoughts known to the diminutive South African, which draws a warning from the umpires. 'Pick on someone your own size', perhaps.

"The game has moved forward and has been quite interesting since lunch but I still feel South Africa have done enough. England can still make it awkward for them but South Africa have taken up a lot of time and England still haven't got them out."

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Finn continues to probe outside off but Bavuma is picking up length expertly and rolls a shorter delivery through the vacant mid-wicket area for four. That's an unwanted century of runs conceded for Finn too. A single and a dot to finish.

Adam Tillsley: Oh I do love Test cricket, a day and a bit of pure tedium flipped on its head in half an hour.

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Not there Ben - a tame short ball is well struck up and over to the fence by Bavuma, who's canny enough to dab one and get off strike next up. Morris is no mug with the bat either, punching Stokes off the back foot for another couple.

"I fancy Finn to get Morris out around off stump."

And Finn is fizzing straight away as he narrowly misses Morris' off peg with a ball that just shapes away. Morris then has his revenge, guiding an over-pitched delivery through third man for four before Finn hits back as the South African edges just short of the slips. England on the up.

Thanks Justin. Drinks this time yesterday gave England renewed spirit. Any more this time round and we could be in for a thrilling finish to the day. Here's hoping...

I'm off for a cool beverage of my own. Jack Skelton will see you through the next hour until tea.

Matt Bone: Switch off @bbctms at your peril! Did so to get some work done and missed three wickets... Typical.

Jack Filose: WHAT?! I've been listening to TMS ALL MORNING. Get up to go get a drink and miss three wickets.

Ed O'Callaghan: Just come out of a two hour lesson having expected nothing to have happened... What is going on?!?

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Woweee! There's certainly bounce there. Stokes sends a rapid bouncer flying over Bavuma's head and a leaping Bairstow can only tip it over the crossbar for four byes. In withdrawing his bat off the last ball of the over, Bavuma inside edges for four - and gets a few choice words from Stokes in return. It's getting tasty. Let's have a drink and calm down.

"Amla's innings of 707 minutes was the third longest for South Africa, behind Gary Kirsten and Amla's own 311 not out against England in 2012. The only other players to bat over 700 minutes twice are Brian Lara for his two world records and England captain Alastair Cook."

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What a spell this has been for England. A match that looked like a nailed-on draw has been blown open in the space of four frantic overs. Morris edges (not convincing) then drives (much better) for successive fours off Broad.

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Ollie Greaves: Time for Hales to clean up the tail?   

The eagle-eyed TV cameremen have spotted umpire Aleem Dar warning James Anderson for running on to the pitch in his follow-through. We think that's his second transgression - one more and he's not allowed to bowl again in this innings. It doesn't matter for the time being because Ben Stokes is into the attack - and starts with a maiden.

"All of a sudden it is looking a different surface."

From 439-3, South Africa have lost three wickets for 10 runs and England sense blood, a lion on the prowl round in the Highveld. Chris Morris, the new man, takes another Broad bumper on the helmet. Welcome to the crease.

"De Kock plays the game on the front front, positive by nature. England are on a roll - they have caught two!"

Anderson on the money again - at least after having his first ball driven for four by the diminutive Bavuma. And what's that I hear? Alastair Cook's voice. The skipper speaks at long last.

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England celebrated Amla's departure in stony silence, firm handshakes all round rather than whooping and hollering. Very 1950s. A superstitious lot, they are still maintaining their silent tactics even after Du Plessis has gone, Joe Root miming at slip and Cook replying with nods and wry smiles. De Kock keeps out a Broad maiden.

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"Nice little period for England with the third new ball. Things will happen quickly with Quinton de Kock at the crease, he is not a guy known for hanging around."

For the record, Temba Bavuma was in at six and Quinton de Kock at seven. South Africa have lost two wickets for no runs in four balls and they have two new batsmen at the crease. A glimmer of an opening for England? We've seen how fragile this South Africa tail is...

"How often do you see after a stand like that one goes, the other goes?" 

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"Du Plessis played nicely. In Durban it looked like he was just trying to survive but here he came out with more intent. He pushed at the ball - that's what made it carry. It was a really good catch by Stokes - it went quickly."

"You've got to give Broad credit, it nipped back. You have young Bavuma in now so England have got a really good opportunity to get a double break." 

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Well done, Broad. But even greater credit goes to Hashim Amla, who has gone a long way to saving this game for his side. As markedly different a double century to Ben Stokes' as you could wish to see, but equally valuable.

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"What an effort by South Africa's captain, under so match pressure and having barely scored a run in recent matches, that's what these top-class sportsmen can do."

"I wonder how James Taylor feels getting a first-ball duck in this match? His parents came out to watch this Test too."

"That was a hard chance. Taylor just came up and then had to go down, it was just too quick for him."

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Are we adding that to the list of dropped catches? Why not? Amla works off his legs and James Taylor, who has spent countless overs under the lid at short leg in this match, can't quite cling on by his bootlaces. Tough. Very tough. Stuart Broad, the unlucky bowler, has his head in his hands.

Nick Pratt: Suddenly man of the match starts to look interesting. Which is best, fastest 200 or slowest 200? Context is everything  

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Now this has made me chuckle. It seems James Anderson has been given a telling-off by umpire Aleem Dar for saying something out of turn, and in protest England captain Alastair Cook is refusing to speak, giving his fielders instructions using only finger pointing and arm waving. When Anderson bowls a good ball, there's not a peep from the slips, just a clap of the hands.

Jonno in Nottingham: Gentle Ben was a black bear although some of the bears which were used were brown so they had to spray them black.

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If Anderson found sideways movement, Broad is getting extra lift. Amla does well to fend one behind square on the leg side before Du Plessis pulls with power and poise for four. The follow-on is avoided. Phew.

Russell Hayes: This pitch is simply not suitable for a pure test of bat AND ball. No spectacle. That's what the game is all about.

Rachel T: Can we get a couple of bears to bring the drinks on? That might liven things up a bit.

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Stuart Broad, Anderson's partner in crime, shares the new conker. After directing his fielders with some Madonna-style dance moves, he has Amla swaying out of the way of a well-directed bouncer first up.

Thomas Bolton: Running at top speed from the Carpathian mountains a bear could be in Cape Town in 452 hours, challenge set Amla?

What has it come to when a ball that deviates fractionally off the straight is a moment to rejoice? Given that England have managed only two wickets in five sessions, we'll take it. A maiden to get us under way after lunch.

"There's a crack down the middle of the pitch maybe another set of stumps outside the off stump. That one from Anderson just hit that and moved, not a great deal, but a bit."

Time for the third new ball. James Anderson has it. And, lo and behold, it swings! It's gentle, but it's a start.

Mike in Cheshire: Best survival advice if you have to go walking in bear country would be to go with Geoffrey. You'll never outrun the bear but that's OK, you only have to outrun Geoffrey...

Right, the players are back out. First things first - South Africa need two runs to avoid the follow-on, although the chances of them not making it are slimmer than the prospects of England enforcing it if they did.

Manc v Food: How can Boycs have this argument when he played like this every time he played the game? This is Test match cricket.

Harry O'Haye: Will this pitch be reported by the match referee? Three-and-a-half days - 9 wickets - over a 1,000 runs. Trent Bridge was reported for less.

We're a couple of minutes away from the resumption. Not much time for the players to digest lunch. Don't they say that you shouldn't exercise for two hours after you've eaten..?

Gabriel Fox in Cambs: My mother could see off a bear using a stick of rhubarb. No, really. Rhubarb contains oxalate which is toxic to bears. Last July a bear broke into a bakery in Colorado and ate 24 pies, leaving only one – which contained rhubarb. I wonder if bears are frightened of rolling pins and pinnies? 

Thanks Stephan. I am fond of a nice cagool, I must admit, but my experience of bears fits on the back of a postage stamp.

Right, I'm off for a little while. Justin Goulding, an experienced outdoorsman, is here to guide you through the post-lunch session. Hopefully there's lots more bear chat...

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Paul Hallett: A job I had whilst travelling was delivering leaflets East of Vancouver and you’d encounter lots of bears going through trash bins etc. Brown bears would move away from you, black bears would be the ones who came after you. Confusingly, some black bears are actually a little bit brown.

Best advice? Don’t get jobs where there are bears.

In other news, Australia have pulled out of the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh starting on 27 January because of safety concerns.

The Australia senior team withdrew from their tour of the country in October 2015, and Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said advice from the Australian government suggests the security threat to Australians travelling to Bangladesh remains as high now".

The International Cricket Council has invited Ireland, runners-up in the qualifying tournament, to replace Australia in the 16-team competition.

Read more here

Benjamin Copp: England have been punished for not taking chances but imagine if you dropped Dhanawade early in his innings, "sorry lads"

More from Rahul Tandon: "There was an attack on an army base in the news but you also had constant updates on this kid and whether he was going to go past 1,000 runs. This is a country obsessed with cricket records.

"Pranav comes from a very poor humble background but now he is going to have his education funded."

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BBC journalist Rahul Tandon: "The captain declared when he was on 1,009. Why didn't he let him get to 1,500?! This kid was playing in a Mumbai Cricket Association match that started on Monday and he was 652 overnight.

"Whenever we have a kid doing something special there is only one name that comes up. India is crying out for a new Tendulkar and today everyone is asking if Pranav is the new Sachin Tendulkar."

Have you noticed those bowling figures? One poor lad went for 142 from six overs.

Here's the scorecard from Pranav Dhanawade's record-breaking knock of 1009 not out.

Look away now if you're a member of the bowlers' union...

"I wish Alastair Cook had told Ben Stokes to get to 300 - you don't get many chances in your career where everything is going right like that. I never scored a 300.

"I don't know if Stokes would've broken Brian Lara's record but it was so easy for him that day it was silly."

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Michael Glasper: In the time it took for Dhanawade to get his 1009 not out, Sir Geoffrey would just be getting in.

Neil Burton: I hope the 1009 not out headline doesn't scare too many people this morning. Amla looks like he'll be there long enough. 

Don't forget that TMS is discussing the remarkable story of the Indian schoolboy who plundered 1009 in a single innings. I wonder if they've got the bowling figures...

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"Tremendous resistance from South Africa, doing their absolute best to save this game and I think they are 75% of the way there now."

That's more than enough for the morning session, which again belongs to South Africa and their captain Hashim Amla. His double century is going so far to saving this game from the Proteas.

Apart from that, has much happened? Well England have bowled 30 overs, which is a bonus. And we've had some excellent chat about bears...

"It's Amla's fourth double century, the second most by a South African behind Graeme Smith on five. It took 682 minutes, the third slowest in Test cricket history, behind Brendon Kuruppu and Gary Kirsten."

Probably only one more over before lunch now...

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"I wonder if there has been quite as important an innings in Hashim Amla's brilliant career. He was under so much pressure coming into this Test and has responded magnificently. Both personally and collectively he's halted the slide."

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Well batted, Hashim Amla. The captain, such a flat figure on the second morning, brings up a double century with a single to mid-on. Newlands erupts, former skipper Graeme Smith emerges from the commentary box to applaud and Amla soaks it all up. England dropped him twice and he has made them pay. 

"Neither fielder saw it, they were both looking at each other and in the end neither went for it.

"That's an absolute gaper - what a missed chance."

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Close! Amla skies the ball, Joe Root and Alastair Cook run back. Can they get there? It lands safe of Root, who I think might have first run in the wrong direction. Amla to 199...

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I'm thinking that even if the third new ball is available before lunch, England won't bother to take it before the break. Root sprints through another maiden. There are eight minutes before the break and two overs before the new conker is due. Our pre-lunch excitement will focus on Amla's hunt for 200. He'll take strike on 197...

Is that the real Hashim Amla, or a man wearing a fake beard? He dances to meet a Moeen full toss, miscuing it down the ground for four. Joe Root, the fielder, does a belly flop into the ground and head-butts the boundary rope. Amla turns round the corner for another four to close in on 200.

"It's not a bad pitch - if Ben Stokes hadn't done what he'd done then we wouldn't be watching this cricket.

"South Africa are having to be patient about accumulating runs to get up to England's total - they've got no option. What they've done is exemplary."

Geoffrey Boycott responds: "But it doesn't make it good for Test cricket's future."

All this talk of bears has got me thinking that the introduction of a couple of bears to this match might liven it up a little. Perhaps we could ask them to umpire? Imagine Joe Root trying to hand his cap to a crotchety grizzly before he starts his over. Then trying to run in as the beast paws at him. Hashim Amla wouldn't bat any differently. He just turns a single on the leg side. 

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Do either of these sides think they can win this match? If South Africa bat for the rest of the day, might they fancy bowling England out tomorrow? Like Shane Warne at Adelaide in the 06-07 Ashes? Still Moeen to Du Plessis, yet another maiden.

Email Message: Q: How do you tell the difference between a black bear and a brown bear when they chase you up a tree?

A: The black bear will climb up the tree after you whereas the brown bear will knock down the tree.

from Stephen Briggs

Q: How do you tell the difference between a black bear and a brown bear when they chase you up a tree?

A: The black bear will climb up the tree after you whereas the brown bear will knock down the tree.

In the crowd there are a group of people wearing hollowed out watermelons as hats. That can't be comfortable in this heat. Root to Du Plessis, who goes temporarily insane, turn around, kicks his stumps over and storms off the ground. Not really, he eases a drive through the covers for four. There are six overs before the third new ball is due.

"This is just a nightmare scenario. It's unfortunate that you get odd situations with a pitch like this where there's nothing for the bowler and there's no competition."

Mark, that is one of my all-time favourite tweets to #bbccricket. It is brilliant advice. It makes me wonder what other life rules we should all adhere to? Still Moeen, targeting the legs of Du Plessis, who could probably bat without pads at the moment.

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Mark Ellingham: If you're chased by a black bear, don't climb a tree. They are expert climbers and you'll just end up fighting a bear, in a tree.

The scoreboard warns the crowd of the heat and tells them to drink plenty of fluids. Not water, fluids. There's a brewery next door, remember. Some male England fans, topless, rub suncream into the big torsos as if they are basting the Christmas turkey. Root sprints through a maiden.

"A performance like this from South Africa, with the captain scoring runs, can help a feel good factor come back into the dressing room.

"They'll be looking to set up for the rest of the series - the cricket will be different up in Johannesburg though. Hopefully there will be more in it for the bowlers, it can swing up there."

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"Come on guys, it's still doing plenty!" Is Jonny Bairstow drunk? Or delirious from too much wicketkeeping? The ball is doing nothing. As Moeen sends it down, it is like Margaret Thatcher - not for turning. There's no noise from the crowd. They've probably gone off for an early lunch.

Andy Sykes: When is the last time two sides have only batted once in a five-day Test that's not been weather-affected?  

Hello, what's happened here? Du Plessis has temporarily lost his mind. A skip, a shovel, the ball lofted high into the cloudless sky, earning four down the ground. At the end of Root's set, the bowlers get together and take the applause of the crowd for sending down a collective total of 150 overs. Not really, but they should.

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England's bowlers deserve some credit here. They'be been at it for three days, but they have not lost their discipline. Their accuracy has contributed to the slow scoring, that and the Proteas' desire to play an attacking stroke only when absolutely necessary. Moeen to Amla. Another maiden.

"It's hard to see where any wickets are going to come from..."

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Spin from both ends as Joe Root comes round the wicket to this pair of right-handers. England could well use the slow men to hasten the arrival of the next new ball. Just a single from it. This stand has been in progress for 55 overs, but they are still only scoring at 2.4 an over. I'll be honest, it's not a great spectacle.

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The longest innings in Test history lasted 335.2 overs, when England made 903-7 declared against Australia in 1938. We're not even halfway there. We are, however, approaching the third new ball. If South Africa bat for the rest of the day, we might get to a fourth new ball tomorrow.

"You can't think there are going to be any fitness sessions after this Test for the bowlers."

Injured pace bowler Vernon Philander is in the South Africa dressing room, working the room with some elaborate handshakes. How long might South Africa want to bat for? At this scoring rate, they still won't be level tonight. England could end up fielding for four days. How long before Alex Hales bowls again? Alastair Cook has a Test wicket. According to Cricinfo, James Taylor bowls leg-breaks. 

"Anderson hasn't picked either of the two he has dropped, it is almost like he panics because it is coming so quickly. You can't catch by throwing your hands at it."

A chance? It's the closest thing we've come to a wicket today, so I'm going to say that it is. Du Plessis plays a big drive at Moeen, edging between keeper and slip. It goes so quickly to James Anderson that it almost takes his head off. He half throws out a hand, half gets out of the way. In the end, it's four runs.

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"For so long we have seen teams who have replied to a massive total fold but I am really enjoying the fight from South Africa."

Tom Burridge: I remember being at university in Nottingham and captaining my club in Frinton in Essex. Long train journeys back for games!

Peter: Once scored two in a 100-run partnership. The other guy was then out, and I doubled my score in hitting the winning runs.

Mike Bell: Dhanawade's innings? Not bad, but my late Dad once accumulated an undefeated 2454 against my bowling in back garden (I was 9).

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"I don't think Jonathan Agnew would like a bowl on this, because this is not fun. They keep messing about with the balls but I don't think it would make much difference - it ain't going to move!"

Thanks for that, David. The live text isn't just for cricket, we give advice that could save your life. England decide that trying to out-wait Hashim Amla will be as successful as shopping for tartan paint, so change the plan. Leg-side field stacked, Broad bowls at the stumps. Amla shows the maker's name to take us to drinks. You're unlikely to see a more uneventful hour of Test cricket. 

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David Wignall: Re: Geoffrey's comment on bear attacks. I lived in Western Canada for 10 years and heard a lot of advice on this topic. Always wear bear bells and carry pepper spray.

How you react to an attack depends on whether you are in black bear country or grizzly bear country. You can tell this by examining bear poo. Black bear poo is dark brown and contains berries. Grizzly bear poo contains bear bells and smells of pepper spray.    

Too short from Moeen, allowing Du Plessis to cut for a couple. It's hot out there, hot enough to make a praying mantis cry. In the South Africa dressing room, AB de Villiers looks ready for a nap. He's probably thinking of the double century that went begging. 

"All the edges seem to be going into the ground. That was a big drive from Amla and it went straight down."

An edge! Calm yourself, because it goes straight to ground. Amla, the zen master, has his shirt buttons undone and his beard folded neatly in his chin strap. He looks like a man who could bat for another 10 hours. If Broad keeps bowling wide of off stump, he won't have to hit the ball for 10 hours. 

Jonty Jenner: Dad and sister drove from Jersey to Perpignan (and back) 2,100 km to bring me back for a big game vs Guernsey.

Graeme Love: Fair play to Pranav Dhanawade, personally I think my 40 ball duck up at E&G 4 years ago is up there with the grittiest innings.

Rob Johnson: Five not out in 28 overs, hit a four second ball then played for the draw after losing wickets at the other end.

There is literally no news to bring you about that Moeen over to Du Plessis. Twirly, beardy, offies. Pokey, prodding defence. Little scream from slip. A maiden.

"Amla has batted for over 10 hours now, the third time he has done that. He's the first South African to do it and only six others in the world have done it."

Only a slip and gully for Amla, who waits for the blond Broad with a thousand-mile stare. England employing a seven-two off-side field, hanging the ball out there in the hope that Amla might make a mistake. It's quiet in Cape Town. Even the Barmy Army are struggling to rally.

"We are 45 minutes into the day and nine overs have been bowled. The game just accepts it - nothing seems to be penalised. It is almost an acceptance now that 90 overs cannot be bowled in a day."

A change. Stuart Broad on for Steven Finn. Nothing is happening quickly at the moment...

Ryan Walker: There's no way it can't be a draw now. Disappointing after Stokes' and Bairstow's heroics with the bat!

An unscheduled break as the umpires change the leather, dipping into the fourth umpire's ball bag. Is there a grenade in there please? 

"The best combination would have been Stokes and Finn - they were the ones that looked the most threatening yesterday."

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Strange things you hear on TMS, number 764. Geoffrey Boycott has been talking about how to survive an attack by a bear. Apparently you get into the foetal position. Really? Crawling into a ball is the last thing I'd be doing if I had one of Yogi's mates pawing at me. Amla twice turns Moeen on the leg side to pick up three from the over.

John Kilshaw: Imagine how many runs Pranav Dhanawade could get on this current pitch at Newlands?!

1,009 not out! Imagine that! I mean, getting 1,009 is pretty tricky when you're playing on the back garden with your grandad as bowler and the cat as a fielder. Even Hashim Amla would struggle for that sort of longevity. What are the other great feats of cricketing endurance? What are yours? Could be anything. A marathon innings, a long journey to get to a game, an epic session of Brian Lara Cricket. Back in reality, Amla cuts Finn for four.

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No, that's not a typo. Pranav Dhanawade, a 15-year-old Indian, has scored a scarcely believable 1,009 not out in what is thought to be the biggest individual total in an officially recorded match.

He struck 59 sixes and 127 fours in his 323-ball innings as KC Gandhi School racked up 1,465-2 declared in a Bhandari Trophy match against Arya Gurukul School in Mumbai.

"When I started I never thought about breaking the record. The focus was never that. I just played my natural game, which is to attack from the word go," Dhanawade said.

Don't believe us? Check this out.

Away from Cape Town, we've got a belting story for you... 

Lekker, Dale? What does that mean? Du Plessis gives his chewing gum a good hiding as he waits for Moeen, who tosses it up outside the off stump. He looks pretty mean, Du Plessis. All gum, stubble and scowl. Another maiden. Fair to say that we're not rattling along.

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Spin for the first time, Moeen Ali...

"It really is hard work fielding in the hot sun, it's mentally tiring as well."

At the end of the previous over, Anderson had a right old go at Faf du Plessis, a proper flea in the ear. Didn't they used to be team-mates at Lancashire? Perhaps is wasn't sledging. "I say Faf, when you fellas tour England next year, it would be splendid if you could join me for dinner." Finn to Amla, looking for a rare yorker. Slightly awry, clipped fine for a couple.

Dan Conway: How many times have two sides totalled a cumulative thousand runs or more in the first innings of a Test?

"Come on England, Come on Jimmy!" Not the cry of a fan, but the chirp of the ever-enthusiastic Joe Root. TV pics focus on Alex Hales, who bowled his first overs in Test cricket yesterday. It was some of the filthiest stuff you will ever see at the highest level. I'm not sure it would have cut the mustard in a club 3rd XI. Anderson to Du Plessis, off stump. A maiden. Nothing to see. 

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"South Africa didn't have a single hundred partnership in 2015 but we have had two in a row now, this one coming from 245 balls."

The opening overs tell us what we knew yesterday - Steven Finn is England's primary threat in this match. He's pushing 90mph, chanelling off stump, getting more lift than a Harley Street doctor. Amla, though, is a bearded butcher. Slightly too short, cut for four with a rapier thrust.

No play was possible on day three of the third Test between Australia and West Indies at a sodden Sydney Cricket Ground.

The visitors have shown a little more fight so far but remain in a perilous position at 248-7, having suffered consecutive heavy defeats in the series.

There was a little brightness, though, with plenty of the crowd pretty in pink on Jane McGrath Day to raise money for the McGrath foundation.  

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Amla, the sadistic surgeon, continues to torture England, slice by slice. When Anderson gets too straight, Amla eases through mid-wicket for four. Anderson already looks fed up, a mood not improved when Du Plessis drives back down the ground for four more. Jimmy might be wondering why he came back from that calf strain so quickly. 

It's just been pointed out to me that only nine wickets have fallen in three days - and two of those were run-outs. If this was in the UAE, we'd be slating the pitch. Speaking of the pitch, Finn gets one to spit at Du Plessis. Off a length, jamming the bat handle. Uneven bounce is a welcome sight for England. Oooofff, Finn follows up with a rozzer that somehow misses both the bat and the off stump. Fred Trueman would be telling Du Plessis "that were wasted on thee, lad".

Steven Finn shares morning duties. We might usually expect to see Stuart Broad given the gig, but Finn was England's most threatening bowler yesterday...

"I am trying to think about how England might win this. A 150-run lead and smack 250 today gives them 90 overs tomorrow. Maybe in the second innings it might be different and we quickly get them three down."

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What were you doing two days ago? Think of all the things that have happened in the last 48 hours. England have been fielding all that time - this is the 131st over. When England started fielding, Rafael Benitez still had a job. Jerusalem from the Barmies as the freshly laundered Anderson pushes in. No swing, Amla defending with minimal foot movement. A maiden. It's like we've never been away.

"If Anderson was fully fit yesterday then he was deliberately bowling within himself. He may be smart enough to just bowl line and length on this pitch, but it is rather gentle the way he has been bowling."

James Anderson is marking his run, doing some yoga-style stretches that would snap the hamstring of the average man.

Amla, with his regal beard, is on strike. Two slips and a gully. Play.

It's glorious in Cape Town, perfect sunshine in a picturesque setting.

Table Mountain looms as England appear on to the lush green. Those fielders certainly look much fresher than they did last night.

Hashim Amla, who has been batting since Christmas, follows on with Faf du Plessis.

"He's made himself look a fool. If he's trying to be jokey or if he's attracted to her, if he wants to ask her out, don't do it on air. He shouldn't be saying that on air. It's embarrassing."

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West Indies batsman Chris Gayle has been fined A$10,000 for "inappropriate conduct" after he asked a TV reporter on a date in a live interview.

Journalist Mel McLaughlin was reportedly left angry and upset after Gayle propositioned her during a pitch-side interview midway through Melbourne Renegades' Big Bash league game against Hobart Hurricanes in Hobart on Monday.

"To see your eyes for the first time is nice. Hopefully we can have a drink afterwards. Don't blush baby," he said.

Gayle said he was sorry, but that the reaction was "out of proportion".

He added: "There wasn't anything meant to be disrespectful or offensive to Mel. If she felt that way, I'm really sorry for that."

Watch Gayle apologise here

There's also some overnight news from Australia...

"I'd give England a one-in-20 chance of winning. It's a slim chance but it's better than nothing."

And while you're listening to TMS and reading this entertaining and informative live text, you may feel the urge to get involved.

You know the drill - text 81111, email tms@bbc.co.uk or tweet using the hashtag #bbccricket.

Can England push for a win? Or is this a nailed on draw? And do tell me where you're following from, particularly if you're easing the back-to-work/school blues with some soothing cricket.

Ah yes, the sage words of Geoffrey Boycott tell us that Test Match Special is on the air from Cape Town.

You can listen by hitting the live coverage tab at the top of this page, on digital radio, on Radio 4 Longwave, on digital TV, or via the various BBC apps.

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"The pitch has had no lateral movment in the whole three days. Jimmy Anderson, one of the best swing bowlers in the world, has not swung one or found any reverse swing at all. That puts the pitch into context, how difficult it is to get wickets."

Which brings us to this fourth morning, where South Africa will resume on 353-3 in reply to England's 629-6 declared.

The reprieved Amla is on 157, in the company of Faf du Plessis, who has 51.

England, you feel, need seven wickets in the first session and a bit to have a chance of going 2-0 up.

Possible, but a big ask. 

You know where I'm going with this, don't you?

Yep, it's catches that win matches. An old cricketing cliche, but a cliche because it's true.

England have shelled three - Hashim Amla is still there having been put down twice.

For that reason, winning this second Test is looking like a big ask.

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Or the bowling...

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Because, for all of Ben Stokes' brutality, it's often not the batting that wins matches...

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“It is a cliche that most cliches are true, but then like most cliches, that cliche is untrue.”

Those are the words of Stephen Fry - a clever man who likes his cricket.

And when it comes to cricketing cliches, there is one that disproves Mr Fry's theory...