I've heard a rumour that the close has been called. Not confirmed yet.

The umpires, three of them, are still out there. "There's no chance of playing again today. How long do you think we can string this out for. We get paid by the minute, don't we?"

Mark Boucher
Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"For England to realistically have a chance of winning they will have to rock up tomorrow and have the sort of session they had at the Wanderers. 

"I don't see them chasing anything over 300. There is a little bit of hope for them, but it's a big ask. South Africa's players will be sleeping a lot better tonight."

We have to be back on 16:18 to get any more play today. Some of the groundstaff think we are done, because they begin to bring the various apparatus needed for the close-of-play interviews on to the field, only to be told to clear off. Still the umpires are out there.

We said the light was coming and now it has arrived. The umpires decide it is too dark, even for the slow bowlers. The players are taken off, probably for the last time today. It's not the official close, because the umpires are still in the middle.

Still Moeen to Cook, with four catchers around the bat. It feels like the last knockings of the day, so England's thinking must be to nip a couple out as South Africa play for the close. Ooohhh, that's a bad leave. Big appeal... not out. They think about a review, but decide it's too high. A good call.   

Interesting. It's spin from both ends, so England have been told that the light is poor, yet they have opted to stay out there, otherwise they have an easy way out. Good spirit. Joe Root on, firing a lot down the leg side to Hashim Amla. In fairness, as soon as Alastair Cook has had enough, he brings one of his quick men back and they are off right away.

Mark Boucher
Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"I'd be licking my lips at the prospect of facing Moeen Ali rather than somebody like Ben Stokes now. Stokes has been the one danger so far from South Africa's perspective.

"There's a realisation we're not going to be playing for much longer, so there is an aggressive field to try and put on as much pressure as possible. England have almost made a square around Stephen Cook." 

Moeen Ali after drinks, bowling his off-breaks to fellow beard Amla. The lightmeter was out during drinks, so did Cook feel like he needed to bowl some slow stuff? It would be odd if that is the case, because you'd think England would actually want to get off and take some time out of this game. It could well be simply that Cook wasn't happy with Woakes. Moeen starts well, finding a hint of turn.

Bhavin Shah: I've just got one name for the @englandcricket, external selectors - Mark Footitt. Extra pace and bounce needed on this sort of wicket.

Mark Boucher
Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, AP

"The pitch is making for exciting Test cricket. We know that as the game gets on the pitch deteriorates - it tends to speed up towards the end of five days. I wouldn't like to be out there batting. It separates the men from the boys."

Ben Stokes is causing problems for Stephen Cook, who almost finds Nick Comtpon at point, then fences at one that flashes past the outside edge. In the sort of darkness that would usually requite a miner's lamp, we take drinks.

Chris Woakes still isn't quite on the money. If not too wide, then too straight. In frustration, Alastair Cook literally bears his teeth, like a man displacing his dentures. Woakes is bowling at an OK pace - mid 80s - but there are not enough balls in the right area.

Image source, Getty Images

The light and weather continues to hold past what should have been the close of play, but the floodlights reflect off the shades that sit atop of Alastair Cook's cap. Stokes lets out an audible groan when a short ball is turned off the hip for four by Stephen Cook. In the crowd, the trumpeter is full of puff.  

Jack Hettle: And how many legs of different sizes & shapes does a bowler have? Short, long, wide, fine?

Ollie Thorpe: What about the wrong 'un or the flipper... There seems to be nothing wrong with the wrong 'un in my opinion.

Debate. Is a double change a little bit of captaincy by numbers? "My openers have bowled four each, time to bring on the others." That's what Alastair Cook does here, introducing Chris Woakes immediately after Ben Stokes. It's too wide from Woakes, who is punished with a back-foot drive by Cook.