And that's how it ended, with South Africa on 117-4, chasing an unlikely, improbable, nay impossible victory target of 492.
They will have 98 overs tomorrow to negotiate if they want to become the fourth team to bat out the last day of a Test starting with four wickets down. And we'll tell you how they succeed - or fail to do so tomorrow morning from 10:30 BST.
Until then, have a good read of Stephan's match report and make sure you join us on the morrow. Bye for now.
Post update
However, the tourists were indebted to Dean Elgar for taking on the sheet anchor role. Battered but unbowed, he needed a visit from the physio at one point, but grafted his way to a half century.
Post update
South Africa then lost three wickets in the space of seven balls as Toby Roland-Jones snared Hashim Amla again, Quinton de Kock was bowled, and Faf du Plessis inexplicably offered no shot to his first ball and was out lbw.
Post update
After the declaration, opener Heino Kuhn hit a couple of early boundaries for South Africa, but was then bowled by Stuart Broad:
Post update
Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
On Dawid Malan:
We haven't seen much but what we do know is that ball coming into him is going to be an issue, he has to open that foot and if he can do that he is going to have a chance.
Post update
With a declaration in the offing, England had the right men at the crease in the shape of Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow.
Here's some of their best bits:
Post update
Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
Will Keaton Jennings open in Australia?
At the minute no but I do think England will stick with him for Old Trafford, they rarely change a winning side and I think they will win here. At times he looked better but I still think he's struggling and I think he needs more energy in those legs, a little more oomph. At the minute he looks like a sitting duck. It's good he fought for his 48 but it was a great opportunity to get a hundred and he will know he will need more than 48 at Old Trafford.
Post update
Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
Tom Westley was very good, I like players that don't seem to try to hit the ball hard, but time it very well to the boundary. On debut, in these conditions, he's faced a good bowling attack and gets a big tick from me. He's got a good temperament about him. and he should be around for a while
Post update
Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
On Faf du Plessis being out lbw, for the second time in this game, offering no shot:
It's a little brain freeze when you're out in the middle. Faf's had that horrible moment twice. You know Stokes always angles the ball into the stumps so you've got to be thinking it is going to come in to you.
Post update
Dawid Malan, though, got another good ball when he was trapped lbw by Chris Morris:
Post update
More from Ben Stokes on TMS: "We always knew the target we wanted to be ahead when they started, there wasn't really a massive plan until me and Jonny started to play some more aggressive shots. There was a hint we might get 15 minutes before tea but we took the decision. Jimmy and Broady wanted to get into a rhythm rather than having to start again after a break."
What was your plan for the hat-trick ball?
"I tried to bowl the same ball I got Faf with and it's amazing how often the hat-trick ball can be a bit rubbish. I think we've left ourselves enough time and hopefully we can go on to win."
Post update
Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
On England's declaration timing:
While it's sometimes difficult for a bowler to bowl two or three overs, it's much more difficult for a batsman, so perhaps it was a trick missed.
Hashim Amla came with a low backlift today, that was the key wicket for me but England have really had an edge about them. I want to see them with that edge at Old Trafford.
Post update
There was also a maiden Test fifty for Tom Westley:
Post update
Joe Root forged his way to another Test fifty before he was caught off a top edge while sweeping, attempting to step on the gas.
Post update
England all-rounder Ben Stokes on Sky Sports: "I think we were ahead of the game - we didn't really have a chat, we just carried on playing. Me and Jonny knew we had to put the foot down. Amla and De Kock are probably the two players we look at as the main ones so it's nice to get rid of them, but we have two fighters at the crease so hopefully we can get rid of them."
Post update
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special
Well done to England, I thought they were very good, bar a declaration that maybe should have come 45 minutes earlier. If it wasn't for the late fight from Elgar and Bavuma it would have been very sorry for South Africa but those two have given them a glimmer of hope going into day five.
Post update
Keaton Jennings took plenty of stick earlier this summer, but he made his way to 48 today before getting out.
Post update
So, while many questioned England's decision to bat on until they set South Africa a mammoth 492 to win, they bounced back with four wickets before Elgar and Bavuma dug in for their lives.
Stand by on TMS for Aggers and Vaughan's review of the day - in the meantime, we'll bring you some of the best video clips of day four.
Close of play
SA 117-4
Now the spotlight falls on Temba Bavuma, but he shows Anderson a straight bat, just knocking the last ball for a single, and South Africa will attempt tomorrow to become the fourth side to bat out the last day of a Test for a draw, having been four wickets down.
Post update
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special
Anderson has looked a lot better in this game, he has looked more intense in his run-up with more zip on the ball.
Live Reporting
Mark Mitchener and Jamie Lillywhite
All times stated are UK
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Latest PostPost update
And that's how it ended, with South Africa on 117-4, chasing an unlikely, improbable, nay impossible victory target of 492.
They will have 98 overs tomorrow to negotiate if they want to become the fourth team to bat out the last day of a Test starting with four wickets down. And we'll tell you how they succeed - or fail to do so tomorrow morning from 10:30 BST.
Until then, have a good read of Stephan's match report and make sure you join us on the morrow. Bye for now.
Post update
However, the tourists were indebted to Dean Elgar for taking on the sheet anchor role. Battered but unbowed, he needed a visit from the physio at one point, but grafted his way to a half century.
Post update
South Africa then lost three wickets in the space of seven balls as Toby Roland-Jones snared Hashim Amla again, Quinton de Kock was bowled, and Faf du Plessis inexplicably offered no shot to his first ball and was out lbw.
Post update
After the declaration, opener Heino Kuhn hit a couple of early boundaries for South Africa, but was then bowled by Stuart Broad:
Post update
Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
On Dawid Malan:
We haven't seen much but what we do know is that ball coming into him is going to be an issue, he has to open that foot and if he can do that he is going to have a chance.
Post update
With a declaration in the offing, England had the right men at the crease in the shape of Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow.
Here's some of their best bits:
Post update
Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
Will Keaton Jennings open in Australia?
At the minute no but I do think England will stick with him for Old Trafford, they rarely change a winning side and I think they will win here. At times he looked better but I still think he's struggling and I think he needs more energy in those legs, a little more oomph. At the minute he looks like a sitting duck. It's good he fought for his 48 but it was a great opportunity to get a hundred and he will know he will need more than 48 at Old Trafford.
Post update
Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
Tom Westley was very good, I like players that don't seem to try to hit the ball hard, but time it very well to the boundary. On debut, in these conditions, he's faced a good bowling attack and gets a big tick from me. He's got a good temperament about him. and he should be around for a while
Post update
Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
On Faf du Plessis being out lbw, for the second time in this game, offering no shot:
It's a little brain freeze when you're out in the middle. Faf's had that horrible moment twice. You know Stokes always angles the ball into the stumps so you've got to be thinking it is going to come in to you.
Post update
Dawid Malan, though, got another good ball when he was trapped lbw by Chris Morris:
Post update
More from Ben Stokes on TMS: "We always knew the target we wanted to be ahead when they started, there wasn't really a massive plan until me and Jonny started to play some more aggressive shots. There was a hint we might get 15 minutes before tea but we took the decision. Jimmy and Broady wanted to get into a rhythm rather than having to start again after a break."
What was your plan for the hat-trick ball?
"I tried to bowl the same ball I got Faf with and it's amazing how often the hat-trick ball can be a bit rubbish. I think we've left ourselves enough time and hopefully we can go on to win."
Post update
Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
On England's declaration timing:
While it's sometimes difficult for a bowler to bowl two or three overs, it's much more difficult for a batsman, so perhaps it was a trick missed.
Hashim Amla came with a low backlift today, that was the key wicket for me but England have really had an edge about them. I want to see them with that edge at Old Trafford.
Post update
There was also a maiden Test fifty for Tom Westley:
Post update
Joe Root forged his way to another Test fifty before he was caught off a top edge while sweeping, attempting to step on the gas.
Post update
England all-rounder Ben Stokes on Sky Sports: "I think we were ahead of the game - we didn't really have a chat, we just carried on playing. Me and Jonny knew we had to put the foot down. Amla and De Kock are probably the two players we look at as the main ones so it's nice to get rid of them, but we have two fighters at the crease so hopefully we can get rid of them."
Post update
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special
Well done to England, I thought they were very good, bar a declaration that maybe should have come 45 minutes earlier. If it wasn't for the late fight from Elgar and Bavuma it would have been very sorry for South Africa but those two have given them a glimmer of hope going into day five.
Post update
Keaton Jennings took plenty of stick earlier this summer, but he made his way to 48 today before getting out.
Post update
So, while many questioned England's decision to bat on until they set South Africa a mammoth 492 to win, they bounced back with four wickets before Elgar and Bavuma dug in for their lives.
Stand by on TMS for Aggers and Vaughan's review of the day - in the meantime, we'll bring you some of the best video clips of day four.
Close of play
SA 117-4
Now the spotlight falls on Temba Bavuma, but he shows Anderson a straight bat, just knocking the last ball for a single, and South Africa will attempt tomorrow to become the fourth side to bat out the last day of a Test for a draw, having been four wickets down.
Post update
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special
Anderson has looked a lot better in this game, he has looked more intense in his run-up with more zip on the ball.