England were 16 without loss in their second innings at the close of play on the fourth day of the second Test at Newlands today.
Alastair Cook was eight not out and Alex Hales unbeaten on five to give England a lead of 18 runs going into the final day.
Earlier, South Africa had declared on 627 for seven after a memorable unbeaten 102 by Temba Bavuma and 201 from Hashim Amla to leave the match looking set to end in a draw.
The tourists won the first Test of the four-match series in Durban by 241 runs.
Cook, who has scored only 42 runs in four innings during
the series, was caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off Kagiso Rabada and Hales fell to an outstanding catch by Chris Morris at third slip, diving low to his right, off Morne Morkel.
Root made 29 off 29 balls before he was bowled by Morris' first ball of the innings, a full delivery which swung late to take out his off stump.
Root had an escape on 17 when he edged a catch to AB de Villiers at second slip off Morkel, only for a television review to show it was a no-ball.
Compton dug in and played a solid defensive innings in making 15 off 60 balls. It came as a surprise when he went on the drive against a full delivery from off-spinner Dane Piedt and hit a catch to Faf du Plessis at a short mid-on position.
England seemed to be heading to safety after lunch as Taylor and Stokes added 30 for the fifth wicket, with Stokes following up his first innings of 258 with some more solidly-hit strokes.
But he went for a big hit against Piedt and was caught by Morkel on the midwicket boundary for 26.
Taylor followed in Piedt's next over, gloving a catch to Temba Bavuma at short leg after making 27. At 116 for six, less than midway through the day, England were in trouble when Bairstow and Ali came together.
