South Africa keeper AB De Villiers is noisy behind the stumps, shouting encouragement to Dane Piedt. Nick Compton, as he does, pats back a maiden with the minimum of fuss.

Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"I would have liked to have seen more aggression from the South Africa attack - the seamers could have used the short ball a bit more. It has been a day of attrition so far."

Image source, Getty Images

Football Fragmento: It's easy to forget that this is James Taylor's 4th Test match. Feels like he's been in the team for ages.

Morne Morkel stands at the top of his mark, beside a pile of sand which resembles a molehill. He's going round the wicket and targeting the ribs of Nick Compton, who pulls a single. Another good, challenging over.

Statto (Ken): Not sure why you think Amla will be worried? Always add two wickets to the score... 121-5 and Moeen Ali, not for the first time, will be under pressure to rescue a match. A good last session needed by England.

Our thoughts are with all of those affected by the flooding in the UK today...

James Patrick: After Compton and Taylor, Woakes will take a 5-for now to complete the hat trick of 'England players unfairly written off'.

It's time to get the evening session under way. The locals reckon we've got an hour of play left before it goes dark. England will want to be 40-0 better off. If South Africa take a couple of cheap wickets, they take control of the match.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Graeme Smith - every time he went out to bat - would say to the umpire 'Good afternoon, sir. Middle stump please'. It was a very nice, gentlemanly touch."

This next entry from Graeme Swann is pretty random... but an interesting insight.

Neil Manthorp
BBC Test Match Special

"This wicket won't deteriorate. It will get quicker over the next couple of days and will actually get better to bat on."

James Vigar: Compton is proof that timing is everything. Victim of a regime with ideas above its station and now seen as a key player.

Jim: Always liked Compton. Thought he was unfairly dropped after the New Zealand series.

Nick Compton brings a real steel to this England middle order. James Taylor, for me, is just a very special cricketer. He's brilliant. There's no other way to describe it.

Thanks Justin! It's all looking good for England now, isn't it?

And how ironic that the two men leading the fightback are the two who the selectors seemed ignore for long periods. Not any more.

Marc Higginsonwill take the reins for the final session, which is scheduled to finish at 16:00 GMT. Enjoy.

Neil Manthorp
BBC Test Match Special

"Compton and Taylor have worked hard, had some real success and just before the tea break the scoreboard was really starting to tick along."

This has been an admirable fightback from England, who were 7-1, 12-2 and then 49-3, with Alastair Cook and Joe Root back in the hutch. Nick Compton, defiance personified, has 40 on his return to the Test side, while the resourceful James Taylor has moved stealthily to 41.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"There's an announcement in the ground that the bars will be closed 'for a cooling off period', on orders of the local police. Have they not met the Barmy Army before?"

A boundary, England's first for 10 overs, as Taylor gets down on one knee to sweep Piedt powerfully. And another one, making room to cut through point. A scarcely believable 10 off the over and the worry lines on Hashim Amla's face grow a tad more pronounced. And that will be tea.