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All 3 results 'still possible' as Proteas seek a hero

Cape Town - Proteas batting coach Jacques Kallis believes that all three results are still possible in the second Test against England at Newlands.

When play on the fifth and final day gets underway on Tuesday, South Africa will need another 312 runs for victory to go 2-0 up in the four-match series while England are in search of a further eight wickets with the hosts 126/2 overnight. 

If South Africa are to avoid defeat, they will need their batsmen to show the application and patience that debutant Pieter Malan (63* off 193) did on Monday. 

Whichever way you look at it, it is a tall order for the South Africans and a draw would be a stellar result for them. 

Speaking after Monday's play, Kallis said there was a feeling of belief in the squad that anything was possible.

"I've seen some strange, crazy things happen in this game," he said.

"All three results are probably still possible, but it's going to be a tough ask for us to chase that down. It's certainly not something that we're ruling out.

"I guess we've just got to at normally and then we'll see at tea where we are and if we're able to have a go at it. Our plan tomorrow is to just try and face as many balls as we can and then let's have a look at tea if we have that opportunity."

Kallis also believed that the Newland strip had played well over the course of the Test and that it was possible for batsmen to stay in on it. 

"I think the wicket has flattened out and it's become quite a good wicket. There is no reason why we can't bat the day out ... it's very much battable," he said.

"If we bat really well, I think we can get close. Things obviously have to go our way and someone has to play a special knock, but it is certainly not unachievable to bat the whole day tomorrow. It's still a good wicket."

While Malan is well set and many will be looking to the experience of captain Faf du Plessis to play a match-saving innings, Kallis emphasised that it would require a team effort. 

"I think everybody has to chip in," he said.

"The team knows that it can be done and they are confident that we can pull off whatever we need to do tomorrow because the wicket is still playing well.

"As long as we keep making England fight for our wickets and we don't give away soft ones, who knows what can happen.

"The way you've got to do it is take it ball by ball, fight that ball that you're taking and try and be there for the next.

"It's an opportunity for guys to put their hands up and become heroes. It's in situations like this where you see what guys are made of, how good they are and how far we can go.

"Whatever happens tomorrow, I think the team will learn a lot from this."

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