England set 376 after Archer picks five

Jofra Archer bagged his third five-wicket haul but South Africa set England an improbable 376 to win the Boxing Day Test in Centurion. The hosts made 125 in the first session to take the lead to 300 and continued to score a brisk pace to add 75 more for the last three wickets before folding for 272.

England had struck late in the first session but struggled to clean up the tail as Vernon Philander frustrated the visitors with a 68-ball 46. After starting the session on 197 for 7, Ben Stokes removed Quinton de Kock, who took on Archer and managed to put the pacer under pressure. Philander collaborated with Keshav Maharaj to add 30 more before some more misery was unleashed on Joe Root's men by Kagiso Rabada. Maharaj was Archer's fifth wicket as he put his frustration behind after a tough New Zealand tour.

In the 20 minutes England had to bat before the break, Rory Burns survived an lbw call on the final ball of the first over. Given out, Burns sent the decision upstairs as replays showed the ball was missing the off stump. England, at Tea, were 24 for no loss with 352 still needed.

Earlier in the day, Rassie van der Dussen and Anrich Nortje frustrated England for close to 90 minutes to stitch the highest stand of the match. They made 91 for the fifth wicket and took the lead close to 300. There were a few close calls as both van der Dussen and Nortje made merry. In the 25th over, Nortje was given caught behind off Sam Curran but reviewed to get the decision reversed. In the 33rd over, van der Dussen was trapped in front but the decision went in his favour. England did go for the review but the ball was clipping leg stump.

With less than half an hour to go in the session, Archer finally managed to get one for England. Van der Dussen once again was trapped in front and given lbw but not before he had registered a half-century on debut. Quinton de Kock started his innings by pulling Archer for two consecutive sixes and take the lead past 270. Nortje too produced his best in Tests as he fell in the 41st over - caught at short leg off Archer - as he made 40 off 89.

England are also struggling with the illness bug with Jos Buttler the latest to go down. He didn't take the field with Jonny Bairstow taking the gloves. Root too left the field for a considerable amount of time after feeling unwell in the first session.

Brief scores: South Africa 284 & 272 (Rassie van der Dussen 51; Jofra Archer 5-102) lead England 181 & 24/0 by 352 runs.