Jonty Rhodes scored freely

The pair put on 104, taking South Africa well past the follow-on, scoring freely with some fluent stroke-play.

But with tea looming, Fraser, by now visibly frustrated, dug deep and produced a delivery which cut back off the seam and just nicked the inside of Rhodes' bat.

Stewart took a difficult catch to his left.

Mark Ealham had toiled hard with no reward, but before South Africa could take the score on he had taken his first first-class wicket of the season.

He accounted for Klusener in a similar fashion to Fraser's dismissal of Rhodes. This time the ball moved away, nicked Klusener's bat, and Stewart took the catch, diving a long way to his left.

Cork produced a spectacular catch to dismiss Donald

But even South Africa's last wicket partnership was stubborn and Allan Donald and Paul Adams had added 15 when Dominic Cork produced the wicket of the match so far.

Donald thumped a ball straight back at him, but Cork leaped instinctively to take the catch with his right hand well above his head.

Rhodes had escaped two very near misses on his way to his 95. First before lunch he was dropped at deep backward square leg by Saturday's catching hero, Ben Spendlove.

Agony for Saturday's safe-hands hero

Although the England substitute fielder did everything right, getting both hands on the ball, he just spilled it at the last moment.

Then, with score on 300, a confident appeal by Robert Croft was ignored by umpire David Shepherd.

England started the day well with Fraser dismissing Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher, as South Africa looked to score quickly.

Fraser took Boucher for a duck

The tactic was risky as Pollock, who had hit three boundaries, was caught by Croft on the boundary having skied a delivery from Fraser.

England captain Alec Stewart took the new ball as soon as it was offered, and Fraser struck again immediately.

He had just bamboozled Mark Boucher with a ball which moved sharply off the seam, and the very next delivery he conned the South African into playing for a ball which moved away outside his offside, giving Stewart an easy diving catch.

Scorecard

England 1st innings

Total 462

South Africa 1st innings

• G Kirsten c Butcher b Cork 12
• G Liebenberg c sub b Cork 3
• J Kallis c Stewart b Cork 61
• D Cullinan b Fraser 78
• W Cronje c sub b Cork 1
• J Rhodes c Stewart b Fraser 95
• S Pollock c Croft b Fraser 16
• M Boucher c Stewart b Fraser 0
• L Klusener c Stewart b Ealham 57
• A Donald c & b Cork 7
• P Adams not out 6