Kallis has hit his 50, and between them they have forged a half century partnership in the teeth of some fierce bowling from Angus Fraser and Dominic Cork. At tea South Africa are 88 for 2.

They have been helped by the re-emergence of the sun at Edgbaston after the first two hours and twenty minutes were wiped out by rain.

Stewart's gloves removed the bails

The warmth has helped to dry out the wicket and England's seamers have found it hard to make the ball work for them.

Cullinan, though, survived a near miss, after Alec Stewart appeared to have stumped him off the bowling of Robert Croft.

Croft's ball completely eluded Cullinan and ended up in Stewart's gloves, he attempted the stumping, but the ball only brushed the stumps, and failed to remove the bails, which were knocked off by his gloves.

Dominic Cork exorcised his frustration at his 15 months in Test exile by dismissing both South African openers.

The start of play was delayed by two hours and twenty minutes because of rain, but Cork made up for lost time, dismissing Jerry Liebenberg in the sixth over with the score on six.

Spendlove took an easy catch

The South African opener offered an easy catch to Ben Spendlove, the substitute fielder, at short square leg.

Cork was giving his all. He ended up with blood all over his shirt after he grazed his elbow while crashing into an advertising hoarding while saving a four from Kallis.

Gary Kirsten was failing to get into his rhythm and had amassed just 12 runs when Cork struck again. He flashed at a rising delivery which carried to Mark Butcher at third slip, who took an excellent catch above his head.

South Africa were 2-38, with both openers gone. But Kallis and Daryl Cullinan made it to the 50 without further incident.

England captain Alec Stewart will be delighted with Cork's performance, as he has shouldered all the responsibility for leading England's attack after the loss of Darren Gough with his broken finger.

Scorecard

England 1st innings

• M Butcher c Kallis b Adams 77
• M Atherton c Boucher b Donald 103
• A Stewart c Cullinan b Klusener 49
• N Hussain lbw Adams 35
• G Thorpe b Pollock 10
• M Ramprakash b Donald 49
• M Ealham b Adams 5
• D Cork c Pollock b Donald 36
• R Croft c Boucher b Donald 19
• D Gough not out 16
• A Fraser c Cronje b Pollock 9

Extras 54

Total 462

FoW: 1-179, 2-249, 3-309, 4-309, 5-329, 6-356, 7-411, 8-430, 9-437, 10-462.

Bowling, Donald 35-9-95-4, Pollock 42-12-92-2, Klusener 31-7-74-1, Cronje 11-3-28-0, Adams 42-10-83-3, Kallis 20-7-46-0.

South Africa 1st innings

• G Kirsten c Butcher b Cork 12
• G Liebenberg c Sub b Cork 3
• J Kallis not out 51
• D Cullinan not out 22