Summary

  • Cook & Hales survive six overs

  • Bavuma 102* - maiden Test century

  • First black African to score Test ton for SA

  • Amla 201, Du Plessis 88, Morris 69

  • England drop eight catches in innings

  • England lead 1-0 in four-match series

Live Reporting

Stephan Shemilt

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

    James AndersonGetty Images

    "The pitch has had no lateral movment in the whole three days. Jimmy Anderson, one of the best swing bowlers in the world, has not swung one or found any reverse swing at all. That puts the pitch into context, how difficult it is to get wickets."

  2. Which brings us to this fourth morning, where South Africa will resume on 353-3 in reply to England's 629-6 declared.

    The reprieved Amla is on 157, in the company of Faf du Plessis, who has 51.

    England, you feel, need seven wickets in the first session and a bit to have a chance of going 2-0 up.

    Possible, but a big ask. 

  3. You know where I'm going with this, don't you?

    Yep, it's catches that win matches. An old cricketing cliche, but a cliche because it's true.

    England have shelled three - Hashim Amla is still there having been put down twice.

    For that reason, winning this second Test is looking like a big ask.

    Nick ComptonGetty Images

  4. Or the bowling...

    Steven FinnGetty Images

  5. Because, for all of Ben Stokes' brutality, it's often not the batting that wins matches...

    Ben StokesGetty Images

  6. “It is a cliche that most cliches are true, but then like most cliches, that cliche is untrue.”

    Those are the words of Stephen Fry - a clever man who likes his cricket.

    And when it comes to cricketing cliches, there is one that disproves Mr Fry's theory...