Driven by Faf Du Plessis, it's straight back to the bowler Stokes and it's in the air - falling just short.

Four from the over.

Joe Root is off the field, no idea why, which means Ben Stokes is bowling and is captain. Man of many talents.

And we have a break for drinks.

Piers Morgan (not that one!): Amla is great to watch when he's on form, he didn't score from his first 30 balls or so and has eased to a fine 50.

Image source, PA

There you go, Ryan. It's back in the key points, just for you. I've also put it in this entry. Happy? I hope so.

Better over from Stuart Broad, nothing to trouble the batsmen but he gets some lift from back of a length deliveries, with a tight line. Maiden.

Remember, the forecast for tomorrow isn't meant to be great. If these two are still there at tea, will South Africa have that in mind and really step on the gas? I don't know, I'm just pondering different scenarios.

Ryan Knight: At what point do you start putting 'SA need ...runs to win' back in the header?

England are struggling for consistency with their line, with Stokes sending another one down leg. This time, Amla can't get any bat on it.

South Africa fans, and the neutrals, wanted some fight from the tourists in this innings. After losing three early wickets, these two have definitely batted with intent and steadied the ship a tad. Intriguing.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Curious day at OT. Hot enough to need the suncream when the sun is out, cool enough to need a jacket when it dips behind a cloud. In the middle, Hashim Amla looks like a man intent on leaving a lasting impression from what is likely to be his last Test innings in England.

Image source, Reuters

Stuart Broad drifts down the leg side, Du Plessis very kindly helping it on its way with a clip off the pads for four.

More signs of dodgy bounce as one keeps low, Du Plessis digs it out.

Lots of superheroes in the crowd today. If Amla can somehow guide South Africa to a win in this match, I'm sure he'll be deserving of superhero status.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Keep bowling at the off stump, Ben. Stay patient.

If you can keep it there for 10 balls, see what happens.

50 for Amlapublished at 34 overs

34 overs

SA 102-3

Another change as Ben Stokes is brought into the attack for his first go of the day.

Hashim Amla brings up his 50 with two fours. The first is whipped through square leg and the second is pulled very fine.

An important innings, he acknowledges the dressing room but has the look of a man who knows that there is a massive job to do here.

South Africa have been going along nicely since the interval.

Oh no, I was wrong. It will be Broad. He's a veteran, he doesn't need to do this warming-up malarky. Overpitched, Amla drives straight back to the bowler who does well to get down low and get a hand of it.

Lovely from Du Plessis, straight bat and punched back down for a glorious four.

The 50 partnership is up from 83 balls.

Amla's best score in a fourth innings of a Test, one which South Africa ended up winning, is 112 against Australia in 2011. His side could do with a score like that now!

Image source, Getty Images

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Amla is beginning to be positive, his footwork is going, he is playing shots.

The better batsman get their confidence up when they get going.

Moeen bowls short and, oh my, that turned and bounced! It ends up a foot or so down the leg side, past Bairstow and down to the fine leg boundary for four byes.

Slog-sweep from Du Plessis, it goes high but it falls safely at deep square leg.

No sign of Broad or Anderson warming up, will we see another TBJ over?

Mr Fizz: If we had AB and Steyn playing we wouldn't be in this mess. England are just plain lucky they've caught us minus two key players.

We're discussing South Africa's chances in this match, a live text colleague just rightly said "if anyone can do it, Hashim Amla can".

The tall Toby Roland-Jones continues with his sixth over of this innings. Nicely clipped off the legs by Amla and South Africa run two.

Jones goes full and wide(ish) and Amla steers the ball through the covers for four.

Six from the over.

Image source, Getty Images

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

You've probably got their best two batsman at the crease. In terms of stickability, they are the best so it will be harder to get them out.

I would have just bowled James Anderson and Stuart Broad after lunch. You have to have your best two bowlers at the start of a session. They were in rhythm and have got the most wickets.

Don't give them a pokey spinner, get a few zipping past their earhole.

Moeen Ali races through another over. The England spinner was causing a bit of trouble straight after lunch but South Africa playing him with control now. Three singles from the over. Time to bring Broad back?

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Toby Roland-Jones has got his own song, to the tune of Give It Up by KC and the Sunshine Band. Try it yourself. His name fits perfectly, as a small group in the sparsely populated Party Stand have found out.

TRJ contines and Du Plessis welcomes him with a glance down to third man for two easy runs.

Oooh, the South Africa captain doesn't quite read the bounce and nearly chips one to mid-off, just short.

Ouch!! This time the ball absolutely zips off turf and hits Du Plessis on the elbow. That hurt, I know it did. Du Plessis takes a moment. Little sympathy from the England fielders, especially Ben Stokes. He is literally standing at point, looking straight at Du Plessis and laughing.

The South African has the last laugh with a streaky cut for four.

Entertaining over.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Hashim Amla is an experienced batsman at the crease. This is the game now, a couple of wickets for England and you would think it is all over.

I have had enough of this, I want a change and bring Stuart Broad back on.

England need something to happen, they need a spark to get the crowd going.