England hold on yet again in Cape Town thriller

First Cardiff, then Centurion, and now Newlands. England have conquered all. And the common denominator? Paul Collingwood, or Brigadier Block as he has been aptly nicknamed by the Sky Sports commentary team.

Collingwood scrapped and fought to 40, scored off 188 balls, in a match-saving partnership with Ian Bell, who's silenced his many critics with a 213-ball 78. However, an England draw wouldn't be an England draw without the customary nailbiting last hour of play. At 272-5 entering the final 15 overs, England looked certain to bat out the rest of the day with comfort. Then, JP Duminy, far more threatening from South Africa's frontline spinner Paul Harris, removed Paul Collingwood with the help of Jacques Kallis at slip. Just minutes later Matt Prior fell thanks to a wonderful close catch by AB de Villiers. Two more wickets fell shortly afterwards. First Stuart Broad who reviewed in vain against one that hit his gloves and ballooned up for de Villers again, followed by Ian Bell who nicked a rising short delivery from Morne Morkel.

Welcome to the crease, Graham Onions. Onions was the hero at Centurion when he saw off the last over from Makhaya Ntini, and he did it again here, this time negotiating the far more threatening Morne Morkel. England saving another Test Match by the skin of their teeth.

12 months ago it was England who were on the receiving end of a superb rearguard action, on three occasions. Fidel Edwards was the hero for the West Indies as they saved 3 consecutive Tests to claim a 1-0 series win. Chances are, that feit will be repeated by England in Jo'burg in a week's time.