Sibley nears maiden Test century
Sibley 85* - adds 116 with Root (61)
Root 61, Denly 31, Crawley 25
Nightwatchman Bess falls to final ball
Two wickets for Nortje
SA 223 - deficit of 46: Anderson 5-40
Stokes five catches - England record
SA lead 1-0 in four-Test series
Second Test, day three, Cape Town
Lead by 264
Bess survives his first ball, and his second, which climbs from a length. Just at the very end of the day, the pitch has woken up. That's actually better news for England than it is South Africa.
Mark Ramprakash
Ex-England batsman on The Cricket Social
Some people will say, England are so much in the ascendancy, what is the point of sending in Dom Bess, who is on a king pair? You could argue they are showing a ruthless streak by sending in a nightwatchman so they can press on tomorrow.
Dom Bess is out there as nightwatchman. He got a first-baller in the first innings, so is on a king pair. The fall of the wicket means there probably won't be time for the new ball tonight.
Steven Finn
England bowler on The Cricket Social
It was a wobble-seam delivery. It didn't look like it moved significantly off the wicket.
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent in Cape Town
It looked utterly innocuous. Did it come off that crack, I wonder? Root is disappointed, but he won't be disappointed with the score.
Root c Du Plessis b Pretorius 61 (Eng 217-3)
Out of nowhere.
From making sedate, untroubled progress, Joe Root is gone. It looks like Dwaine Pretorius has finally hit that crack outside the off stump, finding some extra bounce.
Root is possibly guilty of not playing straight, trying to run the ball to third man, only succeeding in finding Faf du Plessis at first slip.
A glimmer of hope for South Africa. A glimmer. Nothing more.
Image source, Getty Images
Adam Mountford
BBC Test Match Special in Cape Town
Plenty of afternoon snacks available at Newlands. As we’re in South Africa biltong, a dry cured meat, is a favourite.
Image source, BBC SportLead by 263
Steve Finn makes moving a mattress sound simple, but it's anything but. Especially in a hotel. And if it's a double. The other guests must have been delighted to hear that kerfuffle late at night. Imagine opening the door to see a giant fast bowler wrestling with a mattress. The second new ball is available in three overs.
Steven Finn
England bowler on The Cricket Social
We were staying in a hotel in Kent once and we were told it was the most haunted hotel in England. So I took my mattress and went to stay in Sam Robson's room.
Sibley 85, Root 57
The Hadada bird, which has been a constant presence throughout this match, again gets involved and has to be ushered away by Vernon Philander. Mark Wood, sitting on the boundary edge, finds it all very amusing. As the sun makes an evening appearance, Sibley pushes Pretorius behind square for a single. I'm on the verge of officially stating that Sibley won't reach three figures tonight.
Adam Mountford
BBC Test Match Special in Cape Town
Some Rory Burns news. He’s seeing the specialist next week to determine if he needs surgery. Until then England say they don’t know how long he’ll be out for. But I understand he is likely to miss the Sri Lanka tour with Keaton Jennings the front runner to replace him for that tour. England still haven’t decided whether to replace Burns in South Africa. National selector Ed Smith has arrived in Cape Town and will discuss with Chris Silverwood.
Lead by 253
Nortje still round the wicket, kicking his heels and pumping his arms towards the upturned collar of Dom Sibley. He like a fidget between deliveries, does Sibley. An adjustment of the helmet, mainly. With Nortje continuing to pund the middle of the track, Sibley takes one off his hip, before Root hooks a single of his own.
Michael Carberry
Former England batsman on The Cricket Social
I don't see the need to score any quicker. They've done a great job - this is where the legwork had to be done, to make sure England set a platform going into tomorrow.
Eng 203-2
The travelling England fans salute Joe Root as he sweeps his way to a 46th Test half-century.
It's been a fluent knock from the skipper, who is starting to look something near his best with the bat.
If he can just get his team winning...
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent in Cape Town
You feel the game is beyond South Africa, but very few balls have misbehaved today.
Lead by 243
After this over from Nortje, there are seven more until the second new-ball is available. South Africa will probably get those in before the close, but they might want a tired attack to wait until tomorrow morning before they take it. Nortje comes round the wicket, looking to give this pair the hurry up. It's quick, so quick that it's over De Kock and away for four byes.
#bbccricket
Joe Flanagan: Surely an iron for the crease?
Faf du Plessis is off the field, talking with South Africa head coach Mark Boucher and spin-bowling coach Paul Harris. Looking for inspiration. He comes running back down the stairs as Maharaj completes his over to Sibley. Sibley does not look too worried about reaching a century tonight.
Steven Finn
England bowler on The Cricket Social
I hit Marnus Labuschagne for three fours in a row this season and then he bounced me!
Sibley 76, Root 44
Have I told you lately how much I like Anrich Nortje? Even in this situation he's cranking it up above 90mph. He'll be on a Kolpak if South Africa aren't careful. He hurries Sibley with a couple of bumpers, and when the opener plays around his front pad, he's in severe danger of being leg before. Good over, in the circumstances.