England look miles better than South Africa, according to Geoffrey.

They are certainly miles ahead. Either tomorrow or Wednesday they will probably take a 1-0 lead in this series. Join us then. Bye for now.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

"England did well but South Africa, number one side in the world? Are you kidding? Whatever problems we have in our team we still look miles better than them."

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"I don't think South Africa could have had a worse day. The batting was horrible, three catches went down, Steyn got injured and they have as much chance of winning this as I have of going to the moon. There's only half a chance that they can save this because their batsmen are so low in confidence."

England all-rounder Moeen Ali on Sky Sports: "Today was all about being patient and thankfully it went well.

"I've worked a lot harder since I've been here on my bowling. It's paying off, but there's still a long way to go.

"Maybe dropping down the order has helped. I know my role in the side quite well. I have to hold an end up or, if it's spinning, take some wickets.

"I've had to change my action quit a few times. Even when I've bowled well, I've had to change. It's not easy against quality players."

Image source, Getty Images

But Compton, Root and Taylor set up the assault that will surely come tomorrow. England will look to bash out a score, then unleash an attack on a pitch that is showing both uneven bounce and sharp turn.  

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"The one thing for England was disappointment with Hales. He looked to have taken heed how Compon played in the first innings. He did exactly that for 26 runs but then holed out at long-on looking to smash the ball out of the ground.

"Do not give it away when you get in. You have to get 70, 80, 100. I hope he learns from that."

The slight negatives for England? Alastair Cook failed to get a score for the second time in the match and, after a good start, Alex Hales threw his wicket away. 

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"What happened with Steyn was very odd. They can't do anything right, they dropped three catches off Morne Morkel, if you get your catches you might get somebody else out.  I'm sorry, I don't think they've got a cat in hell's chance."

For South Africa to get back into the game, they either needed something special with the ball, or some England stupidity with the bat. Neither came, and looked even less likely when Dale Steyn went off with a shoulder injury. He returned for three balls, then disappeared for a scan. We await the results. 

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"India have done England a wonderful service.  Psychologically they've done South Africa in the head.  When they're batting they're suspicious and unsure."

Ah yes, where would South Africa have been without Dean Elgar? The left-hander became the first South African to carry his bat since 1997 and only the second since readmission in 1991. His 118 not out got the home side to 214.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"You'd think England were bowling hand grenades, and that's not the case. If you graft and work and stay in, you can make runs and the only guy who did that was Elgar."

It's pretty much all gone England's way since the second ball of the day, when Stuart Broad got one to stay low for Temba Bavuma to chop on. That was the start of six wickets for 77 runs, with Moeen Ali spinning three and Steven Finn taking two with the second new ball.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"It's a pretty weary, rather dispirited South Africa team coming off. Hashim Amla's keeping a low profile, he's a very quiet, undemonstrative fellow.  South Africa may have needed more than that on a day like today."

England second innings: 172-3 (64 overs)

Not out batsmen: Root 60, Taylor 24

Fall of wickets: 13-1 (Cook 7), 48-2 (Hales 26), 119-3 (Compton 49)

Bowling figures: Steyn 3.5-0-10-0, Morkel 13.3-4-19-1, Abbott 13.4-2-36-0, Piedt 18-3-65-2, Elgar 7-0-19-0, Van Zyl 7-2-12-0, Duminy 1-0-5-0

South Africa first innings: 214 (Elgar 118 not out)

Bowling figures: Broad 15-6-25-4, Woakes 14-1-28-0, Moeen 25-3-69-4, Finn 15.4-1-49-2, Stokes 9-1-25-0, Root 3-1-11-0.

England first innings: 303 (Compton 85, Taylor 70, Steyn 4-70, Morkel 4-76)

Full scorecard

That's it for the day, England ending day three with their hands fully around the stem of the protea. 172-3 in their second innings, a lead of 261. Even with a collpase into a heap tomorrow morning, they would be well-placed to win this match.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Amla's too quiet.  You don't want someone shouting in your ear every ball, but you do want your captain to talk to you."

Maybe only two overs to go now, with Dean Elgar back to deliver the first of them. Root pulls a single, with Taylor, wearing a large helmet borrowed from his dad, then continuing to nudge his way towards the close.