Stubborn South Africa stall England victory charge at Newlands
Cricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 England players appeal unsuccesfully for South Africa's Vernon Philander REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
England managed to remove dogged South Africa opener Pieter Malan but are still five wickets away from victory at tea on day five of the second test at Newlands on Tuesday.
South Africa went to the interval on 225 for five with thoughts of chasing down a test record 438 for victory long gone.
Cricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 South Africa's Vernon Philander in action REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
Instead, the hosts now face a final session in which a minimum of 31 overs will be bowled to save the test.
Rassie van der Dussen (17 not out) and Quinton de Kock (38 not out) will seek to keep England at bay on a wicket that is flat for the seamers, but taking prodigious turn, especially to the left-handers.
The pair have put on 54 for the sixth wicket after England finally ended the vigil at the crease of debutant opener Malan, who batted for 288 balls for his score of 84.
Cricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 England's Ben Stokes celebrates the wicket of South Africa's Quinton de Kock REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
He was the only wicket to fall in the afternoon session as seamer Sam Curran drew an edge that was gobbled up at second slip by Ben Stokes, his sixth catch of the match.
England had looked set for victory at lunch after grabbing the key wicket of South Africa captain Faf du Plessis (19), who will be disappointed with his shot selection as he tried to take on spinner Dom Bess with a powerful sweep, but succeeded only in picking out Joe Denly at square leg.
That poor judgement from the mainstay of the South African batting line-up provided England with a major boost in their search for a win to level the series.
Cricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 General view during the match REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
Nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj (2) was the other wicket to fall in the morning session. After James Anderson (2-23) had broken his bat, he was trapped leg before wicket by the experienced seamer.
England are seeking a first win at Newlands since 1957 and were involved in a great escape themselves in 2010 when they batted for 141 overs in the second innings to finish 296 for nine and earn a draw.
South Africa must bat for at least 146 overs to save this test, after they won the opening game of the four-match series by 107 runs in Pretoria.
Cricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 South Africa's Faf du Plessis looks dejected after losing his wicket as England players celebrate REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
(Reporting By Nick Said, editing by Pritha Sarkar and Christian Radnedge)
Cricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 England's Jos Buttler appeals unsucessfully for the wicket of South Africa's Faf du Plessis REUTERS/Mike HutchingsCricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 England's Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes appeals unsuccesfully for the wicket of South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen REUTERS/Mike HutchingsCricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 England's Ben Stokes attempts a catch from South Africa's Quinton de Kock REUTERS/Mike HutchingsCricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 South Africa's Quinton de Kock in action REUTERS/Mike HutchingsCricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen in action REUTERS/Mike HutchingsCricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 England's Sam Curran celebrates the wicket of South Africa's Pieter Malan REUTERS/Mike HutchingsCricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 England's Sam Curran celebrates the wicket of South Africa's Pieter Malan REUTERS/Mike HutchingsCricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 England's Sam Curran celebrates the wicket of South Africa's Pieter Malan with team mates REUTERS/Mike HutchingsCricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 South Africa's Pieter Malan in action REUTERS/Mike HutchingsCricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 England players appeal unsuccesfully for the wicket of South Africa's Pieter Malan REUTERS/Mike HutchingsFILE PHOTO: Cricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 6, 2020 England's Dom Sibley shakes hands with South Africa's Faf du Plessis after England declare REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
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