ENGLAND FACES UPHILL TASK TO SAVE TEST
Amla, Elgar and du Plessis help South Africa set a victory target of 474
Nottingham, UK - Hashim Amla (87) helped South Africa pile on the runs to leave England facing what would be a record-breaking chase in the second Test at Trent Bridge on Sunday.
South Africa set England 474 to win after declaring its second innings on 343 for nine late on the third day. The most made by any side to win in the fourth innings of a Test is the West Indies' 418 for seven against Australia at St John's, Antigua, in 2002-03.
England was left with a tricky four overs to bat before stumps. South Africa nearly had a wicket with the very first ball when Alastair Cook was given out lbw to Morne Morkel.
But Cook immediately reviewed umpire Paul Reiffel's decision and, with replays indicating the ball would have gone over the stumps, the former Australia paceman's verdict was overturned.
Cook and fellow left-handed opener Keaton Jennings both survived at the close, with England one for none courtesy of a lone leg bye.
Earlier Amla, so often a thorn in England's side, hit 87 - his second fifty of the match.
Opener Dean Elgar (80) and returning captain Faf du Plessis (63) also among the runs as the Proteas, 0-1 behind in the four-match series, cemented its already strong position in the Test. South Africa resumed on 75 for one with Elgar (38 not out) and Amla (23 not out).
Stuart Broad, on his Nottinghamshire home ground, then produced an excellent delivery to Amla, on 25, which carried to wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow. England appealed half-heartedly and then decided against reviewing Australian umpire Simon Fry's not out decision, only for replays to indicate there had been an edge.
Elgar had a reprieve on 55 when a thick edge off Broad flew high to gully where James Anderson, diving to his left, so nearly held a spectacular catch.
England eventually had a breakthrough when the painstaking Elgar took his eye off a Ben Stokes bouncer and tamely mis-hooked to Anderson at backward square leg.
Amla closing in on what would have been his 27th Test century and seventh against England fell 13 short.
Trying to whip left-arm spinner Liam Dawson, whom he had earlier hit for a straight six to complete his 50, Amla was struck on the pad. Reiffel rejected the lbw appeal but England's review was successful. Amla's knock of 180 balls included 14 fours and one six.
Du Plessis saw his patient vigil of 128 balls, including nine fours, end when he was lbw to Stokes with the new ball.
But with early cloud cover having given way to sunny blue skies, Vernon Philander (42) kept the runs coming with two slog-sweep sixes off successive deliveries from Moeen Ali during his entertaining knock.
The off-spinner, who took four for 78, eventually caught and bowled Philander to prompt du Plessis' declaration.