SA struggle to stay afloat, England close in on series

All of England’s frontline pacemen took a wicket apiece as the hosts eyed a series win over South Africa in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

South Africa had slumped to 40 for three in their second innings at lunch on the fourth day, with the Proteas needing a further 340 runs to reach an imposing victory target of 380.

Hashim Amla was 11 not out after Temba Bavuma (12) fell to the last ball before lunch in a match South Africa needed to win if they were to end a fourmatch series all square at 2-2.

South Africa have not lost a Test series in England since 1998 and in their past 19 away Test series they have suffered just one campaign reverse -- against India in 2015/16.

But both of those records looked like taking a dent, with Joe Root in sight of victory in his first Test series as England captain.

The most yet made by any side to win in the fourth innings of a Test at Old Trafford is England’s 294 for four against New Zealand in 2008.

South Africa’s already difficult task was not helped when, after rain briefly delayed the start of their chase, they slumped to 18 for two. Dean Elgar, who made a gritty second-innings hundred in England’s 239-run victory in the third Test at The Oval, fell for five on Monday when caught behind off Stuart Broad.

Fellow opener Heino Kuhn (11), struggling to cement his Test place, repeatedly played and missed before edging James Anderson, again bowling from the newly-named James Anderson End, low to Alastair Cook at first slip. Yet again this series, Bavuma walked out to bat with South Africa in trouble.

The experienced Amla battled