Amla quits as South Africa's captain

Hashim Amla has quit as South Africa skipper after bad light ended his side's push for an unlikely victory over England in the second Test in Cape Town.

Amla had decided to step down before the match at Newlands, but only informed his teammates after the match ended in a draw.

"I kind of felt someone else could do a better job. I made my decision two weeks before the first Test against England," said Amla, who led the Proteas to four wins, four losses and six draws in his time at the helm of the Test team.

View Scorecard: South Africa v England

"Naturally this decision is not an easy one but the more I think about it the more I believe I can be of greater value to the Proteas as a fully focused batsman and senior player at this time of rebuilding our team.

"I am deeply grateful and privileged to have been the Test captain and I wish to thank CSA for the honour of captaining my country. It was enjoyable and indeed a great learning experience."

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Amla leads his team off for the last time as captain

Vice captain AB de Villiers has agreed to take over the captaincy for the remainder of the series.

"We respect Hashim’s decision and the manner in which he thought about it and then communicated with me. It was consistent with his well respected personality," said Cricket South Africa Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat.

"He still has a huge role to play in shaping the success of our team without the need for a leadership title. He is just that type of a person and we are very fortunate to have him in our stable.

"I want to thank AB for readily accepting the challenge of rebuilding our Test team as we seek to remain the best team in the world."

De Villiers is looking forward to the challenge and wants to turn around his team's 0-1 Test series deficit in the remaining two matches against England.

"I’ve said this before that it is an incredible honour to captain South Africa in any format. The captaincy has obviously come at short notice and is the realisation of a lifelong dream," said De Villiers.

"At the moment my priority and focus is placed on leading this team to what can be a memorable series win against England. This Test squad is motivated and determined to turn our performances around and I’m looking forward to taking up that challenge as captain. Hashim is a good friend and close colleague and I am grateful for his support."

England were 6-159 fending off a late surge by the hosts on the last day of a high-scoring Test when rain and poor visibility stopped play early in the final session.

England led by 161 runs ahead and looked to have survived after South Africa had sensed an opportunity to roll out the tourists cheaply and attempt a thrilling run chase to level the series at 1-1.

The tourists lost six wickets in two sessions, starting with the exit of captain Alastair Cook in the second over of the day. Jonny Bairstow (30no) survived a close stumping appeal just before tea as he and Moeen Ali (10no) steadied the ship for Cook's side.

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Amla raises the bat after making a double century

England had been in complete command after posting 6-629 declared in their first innings but South Africa, inspired by Amla's double century, replied with a defiant 7-627dec, then turned the game completely through the success of its bowlers.

Read: Amla shows class with double ton

Using the early cloudy conditions to their advantage, South Africa quicks Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel removed openers Cook and Alex Hales swiftly, with neither adding to their overnight scores.

Cook (8) edged down the leg-side, while Hales (5) was out to a fine one-handed catch by Chris Morris in the slips.

Joe Root hit five fours in his 29, and survived being caught from a Morkel no ball. But Morris, with his first delivery of the day, crashed an unplayable in-swinging ball into Root's stumps.

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When the normally-patient Nick Compton fell just before lunch to a careless shot off spinner Dane Piedt England was in trouble and South Africa sensed an opportunity for an unlikely win.

Ben Stokes, the hero of England's first innings with his stunning 258, then fell to Piedt trying for a big shot after lunch with James Taylor caught bat-pad off the offspinner.

But Bairstow and Ali guided their side home before the weather intervened.