South Africa's run-rate dropped to less than one an over as they bid to claim an unlikely draw from the fourth Test against India in Delhi.
Set a hefty victory target of 481 runs with five sessions remaining, the tourists reached the tea interval on 40-1 following the dismissal of opener Dean Elgar.
Elgar was joined in the dressing room soon after the restart by Temba Bavuma (34), who was clean bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin.
However, that was the end of the wicket-taking thanks to Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers as the duo put up some stern resistance to the home side's bowling attack.
Come the close of play South Africa were 72-2, having essentially seen out 72 overs for the loss of their opening batsmen.
Amla left the field with 23 runs to his name from 207 deliveries, while the 91 balls that De Villiers faced yielded a return of 11 runs.
They will return for the final day 409 runs short of their winning target with eight wickets in hand.
