Elgar completed a superbly defiant century. It is his eighth and he is still there at the interval on 113 from 189 balls.

Toby Roland-Jones made it two in two balls when he claimed his eighth wicket of the match. Remarkably, poor old Vernon Philander, who has had all manner of trouble with his stomach virus, "did a Faf" and offered no shot. Plumb lbw for a goldie.

Elgar might have been dismissed when he was on 72 and a leg glance appeared to show a faint murmur on UltraEdge. England chose not to review, much to bowler Stuart Broad's chagrin. It took until the 13th over to find a breakthrough and this time it was an inspired review. It was by no means certain that an lbw was going to go England's way after umpire Aleem Dar gave it not out originally, but it did and the obdurate Temba Bavuma was on his way for 32 from 97 balls.

South Africa resumed this morning on 117-4, a remote 375 runs from a world record chase. Someone very close to me was very upset with Joe about the target he set. "492? why not make it a round 500? doesn't he know that's offending my OCD sensibilities?!" she protested.

The granite-like Dean Elgar's fingers will be a few different shades after numerous blows to the gloves, but he dug in again and picked up a few runs along the way.

My thanks to Mitch. Now hashtag sorry not sorry or whatever the young people say, but I have to mention Bognor Regis Town FC's Dan Lincoln again. Not content with being one of the finest semi-professional goalkeepers, SuperDan has hit another swashbuckling century, so has now made 333 runs in his last two innings without being dismissed.

I'm not sure how big the boundaries are in the Berkshire League but he has smashed 28 sixes in those two innings. Wouldn't it be great if there could be another professional cricketer and footballer at the same time? SuperDan is unavailable for cricket this weekend though, the Rocks need him to keep a clean sheet against Bath in the opening Vanarama South fixture at Nyewood Lane. Well done Dan, now let's look at the highlights of the morning.

Aggers has convened a journalists' panel to talk you through the interval on TMS - Wisden editor Lawrence Booth, Cricinfo's Mel Farrell and South African writer Telford Vice.

Meanwhile, on the live text front, it's time to hand to Jamie Lillywhite to see if England can wrap up proceedings between now and tea.

And that's lunch - with England three wickets away from taking a 2-1 lead in the series. There are a minimum of 70 overs left for them to remove those last three batsmen, and they'll have a new ball in 14 overs' time, about midway through the afternoon session - if they get that far.

In the realms of fantasy, South Africa need 287 more runs to win.

Image source, Reuters

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Beautifully bowled, Joe Root and I are on the same wavelength. Moeen can bowl, he gets wickets. When we all first saw him we thought he wasn't Jim Laker or Graeme Swann but the lad gets wickets and you have got to have confidence in him. I'm glad Joe brought him back. He has a fantastic knack of getting wickets. I said straightaway he was drifting the ball and caught at slip - beautiful.

Image source, Getty Images

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

With the ball not swinging, Elgar knows anything 12 inches or more outside the off stump he can be leaving and then when Jimmy has to bowl straighter he is just picking him off.

SA 205-6published at 12:59 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

12:59 BST 31 July 2017

England need four wickets to win

Probably time for two more overs before the interval - South Africa earn four byes when Bairstow spills a regulation Anderson delivery through his gloves, pushing the Proteas' score past 200. Elgar squeezes a two through the unguarded mid-wicket region - but is then hit on the hand for the umpteenth time in the innings. He rips the gloves off and tries to soothe his fingers, which are already taped up.

Here's another boundary from South Africa's innings anchor Dean Elgar:

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Joe Root to bowl a few overs before lunch? A few lollipops to see what happens? Broad hasn't moved the ball much.

Should I be worried that I'm thinking along the same lines as Geoffrey?

There's 10 minutes until lunch - I wonder if it's the opportunity for Root to try an over of part-time spin (whether himself, Westley or Malan who are all part-time bowlers) - toss a couple up above the eyeline and see if Chris Morris takes the bait and holes out? Having slogged a couple when Moeen was bowling, Morris takes the orthodox approach against Broad, defending before straight-driving him for four, and guiding a couple through the covers.

David Fletcher: Treating my son, 10, to his first live cricket at The Oval and it's my first Test in 26 years!

Image source, David Fletcher

The sun's out at The Oval - I'd recommend that spectators break out the sun cream, particularly a man dressed in an England Test shirt of 2008 vintage, who goes to the same hairdressers as Tim Ambrose who was England's wicketkeeper in that era. Slip, slop, slap, as that Aussie slogan went. Or at the very least, put a hat on.

Elgar has a broad grin on his face as Anderson fires one in on his legs and the opener gratefully guides it through the leg side for four to move to 111.

Kudzai‏: I'm at The Oval and I wish someone just kept a camera on Moeen Ali. He just strolls around he field like a lost five-year-old.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

I liked Moeen bowling, he hasn't bowled much in the match, he didn't quite get his length right but there is a big patch of rough and I'd have tempted Morris with that because he likes to hit the ball.

Barmy Army trumpeter Billy Cooper plays the "Rocky" theme as Root rotates his seamers, giving Stuart Broad another go before lunch.

But after that burst of two wickets in two balls, it's as though the game is drawing breath. Morris drills a two back down the ground, and Keaton Jennings makes a good stop in front of the rope to save four.

Ben Pathe‏: With both Du Plessis and Philander getting out LBW padding up without playing a shot, is Mike Gatting SA's new batting coach?

Pierre Zec: Roland-Jones' pace is up by a couple of mph since the wickets.