Anderson strikes to boost England

Resuming the fourth day 12 runs adrift on 110 for two after most of the previous day was washed out by showers, South Africa had hoped to build a big enough lead to frustrate England's hopes of claiming their first victory under new captain Kevin Pietersen.

But despite a defiant 76 from AB de Villiers, South Africa slumped to 265 for seven at tea, leading by just 143 runs, as England's seamers continued to dominate.

Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison got England off to a flying start by dismissing both Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis early.

Harmison, making his first Test appearance since March, delivered a superb spell of 8-5-12-2 and made the important early breakthrough by removing Amla, who had raced to 76 off only 99 balls including 14 fours.

Attempting to fend off a short ball in the third over of the day, Amla only succeeded in edging wide of wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose, who dived to his right and took the catch after a fumble.

England thought they had also dismissed dangerman Kallis 10 overs later when they finally persuaded him to break out of his disciplined approach to chase a wider delivery from Harmison, but he was dropped at mid-off by Pietersen.

The new skipper looked devastated, but with the very next ball he was celebrating again when Kallis edged low to Paul Collingwood at third slip.

Flintoff persuaded Ashwell Prince to push outside off-stump and give Andrew Strauss a catch at first slip while Lancashire seamer James Anderson surprised Mark Boucher with some extra bounce, who gave a looping catch to Paul Collingwood at point.

The dominance of England's seamers was finally broken by left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, who had Morne Morkel caught off the glove by Ian Bell at short leg, but de Villiers combined with Paul Harris to forge an unbroken 47-run stand to guide South Africa to tea without any further loss.