Amla scored his 34th Test fifty

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

England face a monumental task going into the penultimate day of second Test at Trent Bridge as South Africa set them a mammoth target of 474 to win.

Hashim Amla led the way with the bat as he scored 87, while Dean Elgar and South Africa captain Faf du Plessis made 80 and 63 respectively.

Starting off the day on 75/1, Elgar and Amla converted their 57-run partnership into a 135-run stand, during which both batsmen surpassed their half-centuries.

Elgar made his eighth Test fifty

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

With South Africa cruising, England were in desperate need of a wicket, and it was Ben Stokes who provided it as he dismissed Elgar for 80, which came off 136 balls and included 12 boundaries.

Even though Quinton de Kock fell shortly after for just one run, Amla and Du Plessis steadied the innings with a 62-run partnership.

Amla ended up making 87 off 180 balls, which included 14 boundaries and a six, before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Liam Dawson.

Temba Bavuma failed to have an impact with the bat as he was sent packing by Moeen Ali for 15 runs.

Du Plessis went on to make 63 off 128 deliveries, which included nine boundaries, before he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Stokes.

Du Plessis struck his 13th half-century in Test cricket

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

South Africa began to lose wickets in a hurry after Du Plessis was gone, but Vernon Philander scored a useful 42 to help the Proteas reach 343/9 before Du Plessis declared.

Moeen was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Stokes and Anderson snapped up two wickets apiece. Dawson, meanwhile, chipped in with one.

Set a target of 474 to win, England saw out their four overs without losing any wickets.

With their only run coming from a leg bye, both Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings have yet to get off the mark.

England ended day three on 1/0 and will continue batting on Monday at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.