Dean Elgar stayed patient for over four hours against England at Newlands, before being dismissed for 88 runs off 180 balls.
South Africa lost the toss and England chose to bat on what looked like a belter of a Cape Town wicket.
But, as has been the case for the batsmen from both teams, the visitors managed a rather underwhelming 269 in their first innings. Relentless as the Proteas were with their bowling on the first day, though, they were left ruing a few missed chances.
Nevertheless, the hosts? struggling batsmen have a point to prove, but it took until the fourth wicket for them to find stability.
Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen combined for a 117-run stand, before the opener needlessly holed out to Joe Root of Dom Bess’ bowling.
Regardless, their effort is still significant ? not just because South Africa desperately needs some batting stability, but because it’s the fifth-highest for the fourth-wicket at Newlands since South Africa’s readmission to international cricket AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis’ 192-run stand against Sri Lanka in 2012 remains is the highest.
The partnership between the two was only the tenth century stand for the fourth wicket since South Africa’s readmission.
It’s some way off the highest partnership at Newlands for South Africa – that honour belongs to Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith, who amassed 368 runs against Pakistan back in 2003.
The highest for any team or wicket is 399 set in 2016 when Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow put on a dizzying sixth-wicket effort in a drawn match that saw nearly 1500 runs scored between the two teams.
Highest fourth-wicket partnerships at Newlands
Figures since South Africa’s readmission in 1991.
