Glorious Smith Puts Tourists In The Box Seat

The South Africa skipper scored a brilliant 277, eclipsing South Africa's previous highest individual Test score of 275 jointly held by Gary Kirsten and Daryll Cullinan.

Smith declared with the tourists having reached an imposing 594 for five declared. England, needing 395 to avoid the follow-on, then survived a tricky eight overs before tea to reach 25 for no wicket.

Rain, which had already washed out the second day's play, then intervened and play was abandoned at 5.50pm.

The weather could still have an impact on whether South Africa can translate their advantage into a tangible success with further rain forecast for the fourth day, but Smith's brilliant display has established him as a leader of note whatever the outcome.

His marathon innings lasting nearly 10 hours included 35 boundaries and established his dominance almost throughout his stay at the crease apart from a brief period when his nerves forced him into his shell as the record approached.

"It's a proud moment for South African cricket," enthused Smith. "I looked up at the scoreboard when I was on 262 and realised how close I was to the record.

"I got very nervous in the 270s because I remember Gary Kirsten getting out for 275 against England in Durban which was the record at that stage and I didn't want that to happen to me."

Smith had resumed his innings on 178 - and he overcame the loss of two partners before tiredness finally got the better of him and he was caught on the midwicket boundary slog-sweeping Ashley Giles.

South Africa suffered an early setback when Kirsten fell in the 11th over of the day, gloving behind to wicketkeeper Alec Stewart in Giles' opening over of the day.

Boeta Dippenaar kept Smith company for a further 21 overs before becoming Darren Gough's 229th Test victim when he pulled straight to Mark Butcher at midwicket.

Smith claimed a single in the next over from Giles to bring up the record, but holed out two balls later and was given a standing ovation on his way back to the dressing room.

Boucher and Shaun Pollock added a further 38 runs before the declaration came to give England's openers a tricky 40 minutes to negotiate before tea.

Marcus Trescothick, nursing a dislocated right index finger, survived a scare from the fourth ball of the innings when he edged Shaun Pollock to Dippenaar at first slip who dropped a regulation catch only to see umpire Venkat signal a no-ball for overstepping.

Trescothick overcame that early reprieve and had hit four boundaries, including two in one over off Makhaya Ntini, to progress to 17 while Michael Vaughan was unbeaten on four - but steady rain after tea prevented any further play.

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