James Vince withstood everything the South Africans could throw at him to score an unbeaten 152 and to secure a hard-earned draw for England Lions in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
The series ends 0-0 after a high-scoring draw in Paarl.
The Lions resumed the last day on 212 for four with a flimsy lead of only 61, and quickly lost Jonny Bairstow, caught behind off Rory Kleinveldt.
But Vince received excellent support from Adil Rashid for most of the morning session, but there was still work to do after lunch when Liam Plunkett was bowled with the Lions lead only 169 ahead.
But Mark Wood joined Vince to see the tourists to safety in an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 72, the Durham seamer ending unbeaten on an excellent 44.
The teams shook hands on a draw before tea with the Lions declaring their second innings on 402-7.
South African captain Justin Ontong felt they had let the game slip away. ‘We had them under pressure for long periods but it is important that you take every chance that comes your way,’ he said .
Lions skipper Jonathan Trott, who played a similar match-saving innings in the first game in Paarl, will now return home while two reshaped teams contest a five-match one-day series, starting Bloemfontein on Sunday.
