IT would be foolish to start mentioning words like miracle and Headingley, wouldnt it? Wouldnt it?
Can England really produce a second sensation in less than six months?
Well, Rory Burns has so far scored 77 not out and England, having reached 121-1, will enter day four of the First Test needing 255 run with nine wickets standing.
South Africa are still favourites but there will be some in Englands illness-ravaged squad who believe another logic-defying win is possible.
And Ben Stokes is still to bat, of course.
Joe Roots men were challenged to score 376 to win – which would be the seventh-highest fourth innings chase by all teams in Test history.
To put it in context, England were set 359 at Leeds back in August.
Burns and Dom Sibley assembled 92 runs for the first wicket – which, incredibly, was Englands best opening stand for three years – before Sibley was out for 29.
But Burns and Joe Denly prevented further mishap and were looking reasonably comfortable on a pitch that has tested almost every batsman.
England certainly batted better than they bowled during a shambolic morning session in which South Africa extended their lead by 124 runs in just 24 overs.
Many of Englands problems came together in a grim cocktail during those shocking two hours. Bizarre tactics, bowling that lacked bite and a further strain of sickness were all evident.
But at least the batting showed signs of resilience and good sense.
Burns needed some fortune in the early part of his innings. He was given out in Kagiso Rabadas opening over but DRS insisted the ball was missing off stump.
Then, on 20, Burns was spilled at slip by Rassie van der Dussen off Vernon Philander, although the fielder might have been put off by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock diving in front of him.
Burns played some superbly-timed shots off his legs and the fact that his fifty took only 62 balls shows the fluency of his batting.
The Surrey left-hander could do with at least doubling his score tomorrow if England are to chase down their distant target.
Burns liaison with Sibley was Englands highest for the first wicket since Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings put on 103 against India in Chennai in 2016.
Sibley made his highest Test score, which isnt saying much considering his previous best was just 22. There were signs of more conviction in his play but then he popped a tame return catch to Keshav Maharaj.
Before play, Jos Buttler became the latest to contract the lurgy and he was forced into quarantine in a side room in the players changing area. Jonny Bairstow took over as wicketkeeper. Chris Woakes, Jack Leach and Mark Wood remained back at the hotel in their sick beds.
A total of ten of the 17 original selections for this tour have been hit by the illness epidemic at some stage.
Captain Root joined Buttler in quarantine for a couple of lengthy spells but made sure he was on the field long enough to be allowed to bat at his normal position of No.4 in Englands second innings.
Root devised some head-scratching tactics as England tried to take wickets and keep South Africas lead in check.
For a start, Jofra Archer was not unleashed at nightwatchman Anrich Nortje for almost 45 minutes, even though he didnt fancy the short ball once bit.
Weirdly, England seemed to bowl full to Nortje and frequently short at the proper batsmen on a pitch offering movement and some uneven bounce. It was surely the wrong way round.
Nortje was given out caught behind off Sam Curran 23 minutes into the day, from pretty much the first bouncer he received. But replays showed the ball brushed his bicep, not his glove.
Debutant Rassie van der Dussen was eventually lbw to Archer and Nortje snaffled at short leg by sub fielder Zak Crawley.
Quinton de Kock pulled his second and third balls for six off Archer, a clear example of the flawed bouncer strategy. When Ben Stokes pitched up to de Kock, he edged a catch. Earlier, Dwaine Pretorius also edged Stokes as he shaped to drive.
Maharaj gave Archer his fifth wicket with a catch to fine leg. Archer became only the second England bowler after Stuart Broad (6-109 off 17.1 overs against New Zealand at Headingley in 2015) to take a five-for at an economy rate of six-an-over or worse.
After another useful contribution of 46 runs, Philander was last man out, well caught above his head by a leaping Bairstow.
Over the next 41 overs, England managed to lose just one wicket, a heck of an improvement on most of their recent batting.
So, yes, we can all dare to dream.
