After declaring at 423 for seven in 119 overs in their first innings, the Proteas reduced England to 48 for three in their second essay, leaving them 195 runs behind, at close of play on day three. Earlier, Mark Boucher cut loose after lunch to lift South Africa to a healthy 382 for six at tea.
Boucher had reached 79 at tea before play was again halted due to bad light. Boucher’s innings of 95 runs came to an end when he fell to Graeme Swann.
The South Africa wicketkeeper had spanked nine fours in his 118-ball innings and celebrated becoming only the second specialist wicketkeeper to score 5,000 Test runs after Australian Adam Gilchrist when he reached 66.
South Africa had resumed after lunch on 324 for five and Boucher and AB de Villiers took their sixth-wicket stand to 120 before Stuart Broad ended De Villiers' innings.
De Villiers had scored 58, his 20th Test half-century, when he whipped a shortish delivery from Broad to Paul Collingwood at wide mid-on. Debutant Ryan McLaren, on 12 not out, ended the session with Boucher.
South Africa had begun the third day on 215 for two in reply to England's 180, with Hashim Amla on 73 and Jacques Kallis on seven. Kallis was out without adding to his overnight score and Amla added just two more.
Score Board
ENGLAND (I Innings): 180
SOUTH AFRICA (I Innings, O/n: 215/2 in 63.2 overs):
Amla c Prior b Broa 75
Kallis c Anderson b Sidebotto 7
De Villiers c Collingwood b Broad 58
Duminy c Collingwood b Swann 7
Boucher c Trott b Swann 95
McLaren (not out) 33
Steyn (not out) 1
Extras (B- 8, LB-9, W-5, NB-1) 23
Total (for 7 wkts decl, 119 overs) 423
Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-201, 3-217, 4-217, 5-235, 6-355, 7-419.
Bowling: Anderson 30-4-111-0, Sidebottom 31-6-98-2, Broad 29-4-83-3, Swann 23-0-93-2, Collingwood 6-1-21-0.
ENGLAND (II Innings)
Strauss lbw b Parnell 22
Cook c Smith b Morkel 1
Trott c de Villiers b Steyn 8
Pietersen (batting) 9
Collingwood (batting) 0
Extras (LB-4, W-1, NB-3) 8
Total (for 3 wkts, 13.2 overs) 48
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-21, 3-48.
Bowling: Dale Steyn 5.2-0-18-1, Morne Morkel 6-2-21-1, Wayne Parnell 2-0-5-1.
