Amla gives South Africa a lifeline

De Villiers became only the third South African batsman to pass 8000 runs as he reached his half century, carefully picking his shots in a circumspect approach which contrasted starkly with England’s cavalier batting performance on the second day.

In the same over, Amla struck another boundary past backward point to get to his 24th Test century, his first since December 2014.

Stokes was the bowler who bowled towards the end as he just kept on steaming in regardless of how mentally and physically exhausted he was after the day which he had yesterday.

“We can’t fault the effort we put in, we’re still a long way ahead so who knows what might happen?”

The last two days of the Newlands test will thus be interesting with South Africa trying its hardest to eke out a draw and England striving to add to its domination in the series.

They could easily have been three wickets down with Amla dropped by Jimmy Anderson at slip off the bowling of Joe Root.

“I think there has only been one wicket in the game where someone has been got out by good bowling, the rest have been mistakes by batsmen”. De Villiers isn’t one to be bogged down or intimidated by such tactics, and it was only a matter of time before he took on both the bowler and the fielders who have been placed to catch him.

Their captain was fittingly the primary provider, although close lieutenant AB de Villiers played his part during a partnership of 183: this searing stroke-player was some way off his A-game but nevertheless batted two minutes short of five hours for his 88, and eating up time is what the hosts continue to need in their rearguard scrap.

Nick Compton and James Anderson both failed to take catches during the day, but Finn refused to put any blame on either man, claiming that picking out the ball has been hard at Newlands.

The partnership between Amla and de Villiers reached the 150-run mark in 339 balls.

If England want to return to the number one position in the Test rankings which South Africa usurped from them in 2012, they will have to field a lot better than they have here, and make a few more nips and tucks besides. Root illustrated the value of a change when he had Amla missed at slip, off the first ball of a spell.

When he came to the crease on day two with his side 7-1 following the run-out of Stiaan Van Zyl, Amla was under huge pressure.

South Africa went to tea on 290 for 3 soon after, and enjoyed an incident-free evening session, even if Faf du Plessis had a jittery start to his innings.

De Villiers hit 12 fours and a six, while Amla returned to form with a big century, hitting 21 fours. Finn was the lone wicket-taker in the day.

Among England’s bowlers, Finn had 1-82 and Stokes 1-67 after removing Dean Elgar late on Sunday.