South Africa just need to hold out for one more session if they are to earn an unlikely draw against Australia in the third and final Test in Cape Town.
The hosts were put in to bat for their second innings just before tea yesterday and have made it to tea on day five with three wickets remaining.
AB de Villiers and Kyle Abbott began the day at the crease but the duo couldn't make it to lunch as nightwatchman Abbott (7) fell to the bowling of James Pattinson.
De Villiers's uncharacteristically stubborn innings was ended when he nicked a Ryan Harris delivery through to Brad Haddin after he had scored 43 runs from 228 balls, ending his run of 13 Tests where he had scored a 50.
Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy then took over the mantle of playing defensively.
Du Plessis got to 47 before his key wicket was taken by leg-spinner Steve Smith, whose delivery didn't turn as much as Du Plessis was expecting and hit him right in front of the stumps on the pad.
At tea, Duminy (22*) and Vurnon Philander (16*) are at the crease with South Africa on 201-7.
Pascal Lemesre
