Summary

  • Amla 157*, Du Plessis 51*

  • Amla dropped on 76 & 120

  • De Villiers 88 - only wicket to fall in day

  • SA need 430 to avoid follow-on

  • England lead 1-0 in four-match series

Live Reporting

Marc Higginson, Justin Goulding and Jack Skelton

  1. Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    "There has not even been a review from England, I don't think they have hit the pads have they?!"

  2. SA 318-3 (trail by 311)

    Hashim AmlaAFP/GETTY

    Everything about Hashim Amla is pristine - from his shot selection, timing and placement to his crisp white shirt, lack of sweat and a well-trimmed beard. He strikes me as the type of guy who orders his kitchen spice rack in alphabetical order. These two continue to bat well, a single bringing up the 50 partnership.

  3. Embarrassing cricketing moments

    #bbccricket

    Andrew Neill: I once broke my toe trying to smash the ball out of the field at school. Needless to say I missed the ball.

    Lee Wales: I dropped an easy catch, fell over, chased after the ball, trousers fell down Team in stitches, umpire (our coach) not impressed.

    Len Morrison: Tried to catch a ball that was in direct sunlight. Ended up getting hit and falling in slow motion. Had to go off injured after.

  4. Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    "I have been amazed at how quick the outfield has been because it's quite furry you know, you could sleep on it."

  5. SA 316-3 (Du Plessis 25 off 46)

    Nice shot from Faf du Plessis, who gives himself room and punches Moeen to the cover boundary. The ball skips off the turf just enough to keep the fielder interested but it was always going to reach the rope. A teaser.

  6. Did England score enough?

    Highest total graphicBBC Sport

  7. Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    "I'm predicting a bumper year for Steve Finn. If he can stay fit he is going to have games where he is going to bowl teams out. With this amount of pace, and on pitches offering more, he is going to have some good times in 2016."

  8. SA 311-3 (Amla 147, Du Plessis 20)

    The modern batsman is particularly good at the back foot push into the off side, but Hashim Amla stands above all others when he gets on his toes and punches Steven Finn for two into the off side. He rides the bounce beautifully, almost hanging like Michael Jordan as he waits for the ball to reach the middle of his bat. Elegance personified.

  9. Embarrassing cricket moments

    #bbccricket

    Joe Harvey: Launching the bat (rather than the ball) at the square leg umpire wasn't my finest moment.

    Daniel Roberts: I made a heroic dive for a ball about 5 yards from the boundary and just fell over in a heap.Ball didn't even reach the ropes.

    Dean Richardson: Split my trousers while keeping wicket. Still managed to hang on to a difficult chance though.

  10. Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    "I'm surprised Anderson hasn't bowled for such a long time."

  11. Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    "You look at the great players over any era but in modern times Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, Joe Root, they just release the bottom hand so the edges go down."

  12. SA 309-3

    Moeen Ali induces a leading edge from Hashim Amla, but the ball is barely in the air long enough to shout 'catch'. England toiling again.

  13. Get Involved

    #bbccricket

    Can anybody top Andy for embarrassing cricketing moments?

    AndytheBear: Slipped and fell face first into the stumps when taking a quick single then got whacked in the face by the fielder's throw. Was sore.

  14. How's stat?!

    Andrew Samson
    BBC Test Match Special statistician

    "The first time South Africa have got to 300 in a Test match since the New Year Test at Cape Town last year, seven Test matches."

  15. SA 308-3 (Amla 144, du Plessis 20)

    Steve, I feel for you. If you're an opening batsman who doesn't bowl, it's a long, old day if you get out for a diamond.

    Bar a couple of slips, the field has spread as Alastair Cook tries to preserve his side's healthy lead should a collapse occur. In response, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis score some easy singles.

    Steven Finn finally finds the edge of Amla but the right-hander's soft hands see the cherry drop short and run away to the third man boundary.

    Steven Finn reactsGetty Images

  16. Get Involved

    #bbccricket

    What's your most embarrassing cricketing moment? Get in touch and let us know.

    Steve: I still get reminded I was out for a Diamond Duck during a school match. I'm now 34. My mates won't ever let it go.

  17. SA 299-3 (Moeen 26-8-72-0)

    Another chance is missed! It's a hard one, but we've seen them caught before now. Faf du Plessis gets in a big strike to Moeen Ali but the off-spinner gets a little more turn than the batsman expects and an inside edge flies off the pad and past James Taylor at short leg.

  18. Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    "Amla has footwork, timing and placement. He's in good form, he's got it back again."

  19. SA 298-3 (run-rate 2.92)

    In this sort of form, Hashim Amla is the equivalent of The Wall (also known as Rahul Dravid). He watches the stock deliveries through to the keeper and then pounces on a full toss from Stuart Broad to clatter four through the covers.

  20. Get Involved

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    Telkers: Tripped over my own feet and fell over backwards whilst trying to take a catch.