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England were 94 for four in reply to South Africa's first innings 309, a deficit of 215 runs, at tea on the second day of the third Test at Lord's on Friday.
Ian Bell was 20 not out and Jonathan Bairstow 19 not out.
South Africa lead the three-match series 1-0 and only need to avoid defeat at Lord's to replace England as the world's top-ranked Test side.
Morne Morkel took his second wicket, removing James Taylor caught behind soon after Dale Steyn had struck twice in four balls to remove Alistair Cook and Jonathan Trott as England slumped.
Earlier, Morne Morkel bowled England captain Andrew Strauss off the last ball before lunch.
England were chasing 305 runs after Vernon Philander's maiden Test fifty helped South Africa further frustrate England with the bat.
The tourists collapsed to 54 for four after winning the toss on Thursday's first day but, by stumps, had rallied to 262 for seven thanks to several useful efforts by their lower order.
Philander's 61, the the innings' joint top score along with that of JP Duminy, then saw South Africa -- 1-0 up in this three-match series and needing only to avoid defeat to replace England at the top of the world Test rankings -- past the benchmark total of 300.
It was nowhere near the 637 for two declared they made in their innings victory in the first Test across London at The Oval but far more than looked likely when Middlesex fast bowler Steven Finn was running through their top order on Thursday.
Finn finished with figures of four for 75 from 18 overs.
South Africa resumed Friday with No 8 Philander 46 not out and Dale Steyn 21 not out.
However, Steyn added just five more runs to his overnight score before edging Stuart Broad to Graeme Swann at second slip.
Philander, though, completed a 75-ball fifty, including five fours, having already surpassed his previous Test best of 29 against New Zealand at Wellington in March.
Morkel, having made 25 and helped Philander add 37 for the ninth wicket, was out when he nicked a wide delivery from Finn and wicket-keeper Matt Prior, diving to his left, held a low, one-handed catch.
Duminy had said he and Philander were the "engine room" of the team if the top-order failed and both men made "tough" runs.
Philander's more than three hours of resistance ended when he was last man out, stumped slogging at off-spinner Swann to give Prior his sixth dismissal of the innings.
