LEEDS. Aug 7: South Africa's I ail-end batsmen took their team to within 30 runs of England s'477 for nine Sunday as the second Test to Headingley looked set to end In a draw, reports AP.

Thanks to a second half-century of the match from lefthander Graham Thorpe. England ended the day at 144 for two — 174 ahead with only one day's play left.

At one stage in danger of heading for an innings defeat, South Africa, who won the first Test by 356 runs at Lord's, fought back from 31 for three and 105 for five. The last five wickets were worth 342 runs.

After Peter Kirsten's 104 on Saturday. Craig Matthews scored 62 not out Sunday and Brian McMillan was out for 78.

Allan Donald, batting with a runner because of a foot injury, contributed 27 before he was

When England batted again, the South Africans dismissed openers Michael Atherton (17) and Graham Gooch (27). But Thorpe (51 not out) and Graeme Hick (48 not out) pre vented a further South African breakthrough.

Matthews, chosen for his 1 bowling ability, was Sunday's batting star for South Africa.

The tall-ender started with four boundaries and also hit spinner Philip Tufnell for a straight six.

McMillan, who was not out 57 overnight, allowed Mat tlyws to dominate the eighthwicket partnership as the tw*o batsmen scored 42 runs in the opening half hour

When England finally took a widket it was a bizarre dismissal with the South Africans on 391 and only 86 behind

Tufnell got the ball to turn sharply and ft spun between McMillan s legs onto the stum

ps. The batsman, who did not offer a stroke, was bowled for 78. '

Fanie de Villiers hit Tufnell for six,but was out going for another big hit. Tufnell beat the bat and wicket-keeper Steven Rhodes stumped him for 13.

. Donald, with Gary Kirsten acting as his runner, limped out to bat with the score on 410 for pine and outscored Matthews in the early stages of ’ the last-wicket partnership

He was out soon after the lunch interval, spooning a catch to John Crawley off the bowling of Philip DeFreuas, who finished with four for 89.

Only 30 ahead from the first innings. England needed some fast scoring in the second but their batsmen were 'bogged down by accurate South African bowling.

The home team moved slowly to 39 before Atherton mistimed a cover-drive off de Villiers' bowling and substitute fielder Daryll Cullinan aived to take a spectacular catch.

Gooch rarely looked in trouble but was the victim of a ball from Matthews that cut away and found the outside edge, wicket-keeper David Richardson taking the catch.

Thorpe, who scored a first’ innings 72 on his return to the team, scored impressively while Hick was a slow starter, despite hitting Gary Kirsten's spin bowling for six.

England's chance of / victory that would square the series lies with these two scoring rapidly in the first session Monday followed by a rare

South African batting failure.