Inspired England Have Victory In Sight

England had built on Andrew Flintoff's early-morning blitz with the bat, which helped add 102 runs with the tail, by claiming South Africa six wickets.

Flintoff (95) smashed four sixes and 12 fours, before missing another smite at spinner Paul Adams deep into the morning session.

That gave Michael Vaughan's men - whose chances of victory when South Africa were 290 for one on the opening day, looked remote at best - a first-innings lead of 120 and the pace attack retained the initiative.

New-ball duo James Anderson and Martin Bicknell claimed early successes after lunch to remove both openers and Steve Harmison followed with a quick double as South Africa reached 185 for six by the time three lights showed on the scoreboard.

Herschelle Gibbs had been dropped by Marcus Trescothick at first slip off Bicknell moments earlier when another edge was taken by Alec Stewart, playing his 133rd and final Test, off Anderson.

That initial strike was followed three overs later as Bicknell shaped the ball back into Graeme Smith's pads and umpire Simon Taufel adjudged the captain leg before, encouraged by an apparent lack of shot.

It took a good delivery from the lanky Harmison which made Gary Kirsten nibble outside off-stump to claim a third success and that was followed by the departure of Jacques Kallis in his next over leg before.

When Jacques Rudolph misjudged a delivery from Bicknell, shouldering arms and having his off-stump knocked back, South Africa were still in arrears.

Then Flintoff re-claimed centre stage, albeit fortuitously, when umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan gave out Neil McKenzie lbw despite a thick inside edge and suspicious height.

Earlier, England resumed on 502 for seven, a slender advantage of 18 runs.

Flintoff, the last recognised batsman, lost overnight partner Bicknell to the third delivery of the morning when Shaun Pollock gained a leg before decision.

However, Harmison offered staunch support as Flintoff hammered boundaries at will to reach 95 before he was bowled by Paul Adams offering another hefty heave.

Vaughan declared on 604 for nine, an occurance no-one could have expected after South Africa had been so in control after the first day.

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