Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers are no strangers to a stubborn approach.

The last time they batted together, in the fourth Test against India last month, external, they guided South Africa to 72-2 off 72 overs at the close of the fourth day, with the Proteas battling to save the game.

When Amla fell early on the fifth day, their remarkable partnership was worth 27 off 42.1 overs.

De Villiers continued the go-slow but was finally removed for 43 off 297 balls as India wrapped up a 3-0 series victory.

Alison Mitchell
BBC Test Match Special

"England have bowled with discipline this morning but there was a chance with Jimmy Anderson dropping Hashim Amla off the bowling of Joe Root.

"The runs haven't been easy for South Africa to come by but it's crucial they haven't lost a wicket."

Ben Stokes is busting a gut to try and dislodge AB de Villiers but it's just not running for him. The moment his line strays, the batsman turns a couple round the corner.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is lunch. England go wicketless for an entire session in which the Proteas advanced their score by 58 runs.

Theo Sheridan: They say one brings two but with this SA batting lineup I think one will bring eight. Crucial partnership.  

AB de Villiers always looks like he's having a great time whatever is happening. Even when blocking ball after ball, he still has a smile on his face. One of the game's good blokes. This game is meandering. Nothing's happening, I'll be honest. We need a wicket.

Rachel C: Back at work in Canary Wharf London and pondering the meaning of the word maiden in cricket. How is it that we use maiden to mean someone's first time eg Stokes maiden double hundred, but also to mean zero eg Jimmy bowled a maiden over.....?! Any ideas?

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"De Villiers is a cracking player and he'll see the pitch thinking there is a hundred for him but at the same time he knows if these two get out there is not so much to come. England have bowled tidily but there is nothing there, no movement."

Ben Stokes has taken the mantle from James Anderson and is hanging the ball outside off stump. When he angles one into AB de Villiers, the right hander is right behind it. Maiden over.

Image source, AFP/GETTY

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"If South Africa get out of this game with a draw, they will feel great getting on the flight to Johannesburg.

"Especially in a side that has be losing for a while, just getting a hard-earned draw is often the first step in becoming a real together side once again.

"But to really test this England side they're going to also need Dale Steyn back."

Hashim Amla blocks out another maiden to Moeen Ali.

Image source, AP

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"The South African bowlers will feel the pummeling yesterday was a hard few hours for them but they're also hoping their batsmen can keep proving just how good a pitch this is."

If you have a problem, if nobody else can solve it, maybe you should hire... Ben Stokes. Der, der, der, der, der, der....

England's man of the moment Stokes is chucked the cherry but Hashim Amla wastes little time in carving him through the off side for four. But hey... be patient. Mr T couldn't solve a problem like Hashim Amla in two balls.

Image source, Getty Images

Tim in Marlow: If I were you, spotten17 (09:57), I would take that pint back and get them to change the barrel. Looks as cloudy as a 'swinging day' at Headingley!

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"If England can get another wicket before the second new ball then Faf du Plessis is coming in under pressure, as is Quinton de Kock. With the hard new ball it can quickly turn in favour of England. So this pair have to bat deep and go beyond the new ball."

AB de Villiers is in one of those moods... but we all know how it will end. Like when you go out for a few drinks with your mates. You pace yourself through the first couple of hours and then something ignites inside you and the silliness starts. All the best laid plans fly out of the window quicker the clothes of a cheating partner. If AB manages to pace himself past lunch, I imagine he'll go big this afternoon. Maiden over.

Image source, AP

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"This is first time in nine Tests that South Africa have had a century partnership. They did not manage a single one in 2015."

Joe Root is bowling in shades. That's just how he rolls. Unfortunately, Hashim Amla appears to have his measure and guides back-to-back fours through the off side to bring up the 100 partnership off 247 balls.

Image source, AFP/GETTY

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

"The locals have come to watch De Villiers bat and bat and bat. That's the first milestone down."

Image source, Getty

Here's where AB de Villiers stands on the list of all-time South Africa Test run-scorers:

• 13,206: Jacques Kallis (above), 165 Tests, average 55.25
• 9,253: Graeme Smith, 116 Tests, average 48.70
• 8,002: AB de Villiers, 104 Tests, average 51.62
• 7,289: Gary Kirsten, 101 Tests, average 45.27
• 6,983:Hashim Amla, 90 Tests, average 50.60

Statistics correct at 180-2: Amla 76*, De Villiers 52*

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