Rain stops playpublished at 14:02

14:02

SA 248-5

I was just thinking that umpire Chris Gaffaney looked like a man who wasn't enjoying himself. No coat, cold and wet. Whether that has anything to do with the players going off, I don't know, but we have a break in play. England will be chuffed.

Timothy Revell: Are South Africa batting for a draw?

I said we remain dry, but there are drops falling into the swimming pool. Chris Woakes into the attack.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"There's licence for Quinton de Kock to whack the ball here, and he's gifted at doing so. In the one-day game he opens the batting and climbs into those first 20 overs. Anything in his arc he'll have a nice swing at."

The rain is like a loan shark. It's menacing and in the background, but you know it's there and could hurt you. We remain dry, though. Broad to De Kock, who almost swings himself off his feet. No bat involved. England must be delighted to still be fielding. 

DJ Tiller: WHY ARE YOU NOT DECLARING AB?!?!?

Ben Dalton: England have Stokes' explosive Cape Town batting to thank for De Villiers caution here. The memory of his strike rate won't fade.

Image source, Getty Images

Anderson bowling a mile outside off stump with only two fielders on the leg. Seven men lined up on the off, like a game on the table-top game Test Match. Still blustery, the gust matched by the whoosh of Bavuma's bat. It's a shot a ball, but not much getting through the field. Wouldn't South Africa be better off bowling in these conditions?

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

"It seems at the moment like the rain is holding off. Whether or not it's building up into something truly horrible..."

Kagiso Rabada waits with his pads on, so that at least suggests that South Africa have designs on batting longer. The rain could stop them, though. The groundstaff are ready, the cameramen pull covers over their equipment. I don't think England have taken the new nut.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Jonny Bairstow has taken 20 dismissals in the series, the first time an England wicketkeeper has done this in a four-match series."

New ball duepublished at 13:44

13:44

SA 233-5

80 overs done, new ball due. England might not take it, though. Wind getting up, arriving from the direction of those dark clouds.

SA 233-5published at 13:42

13:42

Fetch! Temba Bavuma might have been given the nod that he hasn't got long to get a hundred. James Anderson is pulled disdainfully over mid-wicket for six, with Bavuma then inside-edging for a four. 73 now for the little man. 

All sorts happening out there. Plotlines. Rain coming. A declaration too? The new ball is due in an over and Quinton de Kock is the new man. Also, Elton John's Circle of Life is being played. How random.

Mark Boucher
Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

"This innings has been better than Hashim Amla's first. He's taken deliveries into the body, the ball's left a lot on his hand... it's been a character-building one. Often those are the ones you look back on as the best." 

Drizzling now...

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"South Africa have got to get Hashim Amla's century and declare soon, because this rain is not going to miss us."

England may just have done that to waste some time before any rain. They will get the review back in nine balls' time. Not out, clear daylight between bat and ball.

Surely this isn't out? Amla cutting at Broad. An edge? There wasn't much of an appeal, because England don't have any catchers. Seems unlikely...

Is the rain coming? The clouds are dark, but there's also some blue. The floodlights are on. The Barmy Army trumpeter is playing Singing in the Rain and Hashim Amla is keen to get to a hundred...