Finn takes three wickets and Stokes one
Bairstow missed tough De Villiers stumping
South Africa need 416 to win
Bairstow 79 & Root 73 in England's 326
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Image source, Getty ImagesJohn ashenden: Time for Root to go now then ...far too many 70s and 80s!!!! Heard it all now.
Storey: I agree with Jay. If all of our batsmen averaged 62.77 this year we wouldn't be ranked 6 in the world.
Dean Mitchell: I cannot believe that people have the temerity to criticise Joe Root. A genuinely world class player that we're lucky to have.
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special
"I think Joe Root has had an outstanding year. Even watching him today, he looked so controlled at the crease. He has a lovely rhythm to his batting."
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Linden Greensitt: Boycs Zone
Will Thornton: D12th Man
Edward Dutton: Cricket boyband might be Bowledplay?
England second innings: 217-5 (79 overs)
Not out batsmen: Taylor 41, Bairstow 10
Fall of wickets: 13-1 (Cook 7), 48-2 (Hales 26), 119-3 (Compton 49), 192-4 (Root 73), 197-5 (Stokes 5)
Bowling figures: Steyn 3.5-0-10-0, Morkel 16.3-5-22-1, Abbott 18.4-3-47-1, Piedt 25-4-96-3, 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)
Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Jonny Bairstow has come out and shown real intent, and hopefully England are going to through the gears. I'd like to see them declare and have a go at South Africa before lunch. But they won't do that."
Eng 217-5
Still Kyle Abbott, so perhaps South Africa aren't thinking about the new ball. At mid-wicket, Temba Bavuma fields and somehow manage to lose his shoe. I think that's the second time that's happened in this match. How is it possible to lose your shoe once, let alone twice? Can he not tie his laces? On the boundary, sub fielders ready themselves not only with drinks but a plate of fruit and a fistful of sweets. It is Christmas, after all.
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Thomas DJH Stirk: Cricketing boyband: The Middle Order featuring Root, Stokes, Taylor and Bairstow.
Ian Bett: Boy band should be How'sThat? KP as Robbie Williams, Cookie as Howard, Root as Barlow, Taylor as Mark and Stokes the other one
Image source, Getty ImagesWallop! Jonny Bairstow isn't here to mess about, planting a foot down the track and slog-sweeping Dane Piedt on to the grass bank at mid-wicket. The previous ball, he might just have had a little let-off. Down the leg side, he possibly got a tickle on to one that AB de Villiers tipped around the post.
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special
"Pushing Abbott for an extra over tells me that Hashim Amla isn't going to take the new ball right away - unless he gives it to Piedt, which might not be a bad option..."
It's still Kyle Abbott, steaming in even though the new ball looms. Perhaps South Africa won't take the new nut right away. Bark-haired, zinc-faced and breathing hard, Abbott strains for more of that reverse wobble, with just a Taylor single coming from the over.
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The Bobcat Club: Re cricketing boyband; surely "Owzat" would be the name?
Dennis Hussey: Um... New Kids At The Crease?
Michael Keohane: Has to be Take Bat.
In selfishly losing wickets, England distracted us from the chat about a cricketing boy band. Some of your tweets to come. Actually, Root and Stokes were two names mentioned - I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it. Jonny Bairstow is in at number seven for England, getting off the mark with a single from Piedt.
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Jon Dunn: Getting out playing the reverse sweep in a Test match doesn't half make you look daft.
Image source, Getty ImagesStokes was angry with himself there, aiming a swipe at the stumps as he walked off. The nature of the rest of this England batting line-up suggests that the game will bump along from now on. Either quick runs, or quick wickets. James Taylor remains constant, though, clipping Kyle Abbott through square leg for four.
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special
"There is spin there but Stokes was trying to take the game forward."
Stokes c Elgar b Piedt 5 (Eng 197-5)
Image source, Getty ImagesHmmmm. You can see that Ben Stokes was trying to push the scoring along, but it doesn't look great. After reverse-sweeping Dane Piedt for four, Stokes looks for a repeat and can only glove a looping catch to Dean Elgar at slip. Right idea, but not the best execution.
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Image source, Getty ImagesColin Curryer: Joe Root is developing a habit of getting out cheaply after resuming an innings
Jay: Since when is too many 70s & 80s considered a problem for an English batsman?
The Joe Root wicket didn't give me the chance to reflect on that hideous image of Marge Simpson batting on a beach. Even typing those words feels quite surreal. And what is the annual Gentleman's Test? I'm not sure I want a part of it if it involves getting dressed in that get-up.
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"Joe Root finishes the year with 1,385 runs in 14 Tests, scoring three hundreds and 10 half centuries at an average of 62.77
"His is the second highest aggregate for England ever behind Michael Vaughan's 1,481 in 2002 and the second highest this year behind Australia's Steve Smith, who finished with 1,474."
Even when runs have been accumulated with relative ease, these conditions are still tricky for a new batsman. Not only does Stokes have to deliver with reverse swing, but also the sharp turn being found by Dave Piedt - harder for the left-hander, because the ball is turning away from him. Twice in the over, he almost comes a cropper.