LONDON Aug 19 - England's hopes of clinching a series-levelling win in the third test were receding on the fourth morning as South Africa extended their lead to 210 runs at lunch on Sunday, with AB de Villiers crucially dropped before he had reached double figures.
The Proteas were 216 for four at Lord's with the ever-reliable Hashim Amla 94 not out, approaching a 16th test century, and de Villiers on 24.
England received scant reward for their efforts - and did not help their own cause by dropping a crucial catch - as Hashim Amla tilted the equation against them in the Lord's Test.
Amla was the main stumbling block for the hosts, adding an unbeaten 94 here to the triple century which underpinned South Africa's opening victory at The Oval - an outcome responsible for their 1-0 lead at the start of this third and final Investec Test.
The umpires took the players off five minutes before the scheduled lunch interval because of rain.
The second new ball will be due just after the interval, which is likely to be England's last chance of redemption in the series.
England must win to level the series after losing the first test by an innings and 12 runs and drawing the second match. South Africa will leapfrog England to the top of the world rankings if they can avoid defeat.
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