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Lunch South Africa 419 and 123 for 1 (Smith 50*, Amla 1*) lead England 425 (Pietersen 149, Prior 68) by 117 runs
Jacques Rudolph scored his first half-century of the series before being dismissed by Kevin Pietersen again © PA Photos
Graeme Smith looked embattled. The look suited him, as it always does. It was a grouchy morning at Headingley, with showers scudding across the outfield at regular intervals, his knee was strapped to try to combat a dicey cartilage and he had a Test match to save.
By lunch, South Africa, to all intents and purposes, had saved it. Smith, accompanied for all but the last few moments by his stand-in opening partner, Jacques Rudolph, during a 120-run stand survived a two-and-a-half hour morning session that was interrupted by two stoppages for rain.
South Africa led by 115 at lunch and Smith rounded off the session neatly by reaching a battling half-century against the last ball of the morning. Irrespective of South Africa's trio of injured batsmen, Headingley is heading for its first draw in 13 Tests.
Rudolph fell in the last over before lunch - and to his frustration he was again immediately overcome by the lightly-regarded off spin of Kevin Pietersen. Pietersen had Rudolph stumped in his first over on the second day, and he had him lbw in his first over on the final day. On both occasions, the ball turned sharply.
Meanwhile, Graeme Swann, whose offspin was omitted at Headingley as England opted for an all-pace attack, was packing to join Nottinghamshire in a Championship match against Somerset at Taunton.
Smith had a let-off in the penultimate over before lunch when he edged Tim Bresnan, but was dropped one-handed by James Anderson, diving to his right at second slip, a low catch that bounced out and left Anderson beating the turf in frustration. England's slip catching is not what it was.
That escape apart, Smith was in his element. He has built a formidable Test record - more than 8,000 runs at an average over 50 - by grimacing and deflecting, working the leg side with an angled blade and putting his considerable bulk on the line to great effect. His record against England is a special one. His inelegance communicates a special breed of cricketer.
England, 1-0 down in the three-Test series and trailing by 33 runs at start of play, had much in their favour. South Africa had three injured batsmen, Smith the fittest of a list completed by Jacques Kallis and Alviro Petersen, and a morose morning gave the bowlers ample encouragement.
But the pitch remained docile and Smith, defending his wicket with the resolve of a centurion defending the gates of Rome, resisted all that was sent down at him. He should properly bat in Roman armour, rather than a lightweight sweater of dubious man-made materials adorned with sponsor's motif.
England attacked him predictably, with their routine two-slips-and-a-gully. With quick wickets imperative, especially considering a brighter forecast in the afternoon, on this occasion at least the lack of a leg side catcher verged on the negligent. But England are committed to their disciplines and, having become aware that the Great And The Good in the TV commentary box were calling for more adventure, they briefly and playfully signalled for a host of close fielders after one stoppage before resorting to type.
Only in the final half hour did England show any inclination to gamble, demanding more aggression from Steven Finn, but although he unsettled Rudolph he did not dismiss him with one top-edged pull dropping safely at fine leg.
Rudolph was more skittish, releasing a few neat off side drives but never looking content against the short ball. Several deliveries, against Anderson in particular, scudded through the slips, and he also took another blow on the shoulder as a short ball from Anderson forced him into evasive action.
But he spent several happy seasons at Yorkshire, where his batting at Headingley was consistently productive, and as much as England's bowlers cursed their misfortunes his survival mechanisms were back in place; against all but Pietersen at any rate.
Jacques Rudolph scored his first half-century of the series before being dismissed by Kevin Pietersen again © PA Photos
Graeme Smith looked embattled. The look suited him, as it always does. It was a grouchy morning at Headingley, with showers scudding across the outfield at regular intervals, his knee was strapped to try to combat a dicey cartilage and he had a Test match to save.
By lunch, South Africa, to all intents and purposes, had saved it. Smith, accompanied for all but the last few moments by his stand-in opening partner, Jacques Rudolph, during a 120-run stand survived a two-and-a-half hour morning session that was interrupted by two stoppages for rain.
South Africa led by 115 at lunch and Smith rounded off the session neatly by reaching a battling half-century against the last ball of the morning. Irrespective of South Africa's trio of injured batsmen, Headingley is heading for its first draw in 13 Tests.
Rudolph fell in the last over before lunch - and to his frustration he was again immediately overcome by the lightly-regarded off spin of Kevin Pietersen. Pietersen had Rudolph stumped in his first over on the second day, and he had him lbw in his first over on the final day. On both occasions, the ball turned sharply.
Meanwhile, Graeme Swann, whose offspin was omitted at Headingley as England opted for an all-pace attack, was packing to join Nottinghamshire in a Championship match against Somerset at Taunton.
Smith had a let-off in the penultimate over before lunch when he edged Tim Bresnan, but was dropped one-handed by James Anderson, diving to his right at second slip, a low catch that bounced out and left Anderson beating the turf in frustration. England's slip catching is not what it was.
That escape apart, Smith was in his element. He has built a formidable Test record - more than 8,000 runs at an average over 50 - by grimacing and deflecting, working the leg side with an angled blade and putting his considerable bulk on the line to great effect. His record against England is a special one. His inelegance communicates a special breed of cricketer.
England, 1-0 down in the three-Test series and trailing by 33 runs at start of play, had much in their favour. South Africa had three injured batsmen, Smith the fittest of a list completed by Jacques Kallis and Alviro Petersen, and a morose morning gave the bowlers ample encouragement.
But the pitch remained docile and Smith, defending his wicket with the resolve of a centurion defending the gates of Rome, resisted all that was sent down at him. He should properly bat in Roman armour, rather than a lightweight sweater of dubious man-made materials adorned with sponsor's motif.
England attacked him predictably, with their routine two-slips-and-a-gully. With quick wickets imperative, especially considering a brighter forecast in the afternoon, on this occasion at least the lack of a leg side catcher verged on the negligent. But England are committed to their disciplines and, having become aware that the Great And The Good in the TV commentary box were calling for more adventure, they briefly and playfully signalled for a host of close fielders after one stoppage before resorting to type.
Only in the final half hour did England show any inclination to gamble, demanding more aggression from Steven Finn, but although he unsettled Rudolph he did not dismiss him with one top-edged pull dropping safely at fine leg.
Rudolph was more skittish, releasing a few neat off side drives but never looking content against the short ball. Several deliveries, against Anderson in particular, scudded through the slips, and he also took another blow on the shoulder as a short ball from Anderson forced him into evasive action.
But he spent several happy seasons at Yorkshire, where his batting at Headingley was consistently productive, and as much as England's bowlers cursed their misfortunes his survival mechanisms were back in place; against all but Pietersen at any rate.