Hosts flex muscles, visitors in trouble

South Africa, 2-1 up and seeking their first series win in England since 1965, ended on 185 for six in their second innings, 65 ahead, with Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock at the crease.

Michael Vaughan8217;s side, however, will be well aware of their opponents8217; resilient batting.

The home team had resumed their first innings on 502 for seven, 18 runs ahead, and lost a wicket to Pollock8217;s third delivery of the day. Flintoff, however, conjured up perhaps the most important, and certainly most intelligent, innings of his career, hammering 95 runs and putting on 99 for the ninth wicket to take his side to an improbable 604 for nine declared, 120 ahead. His partner, the studious Harmison, contributed three to their stand.

Brief Scores

South Africa: 484 038; 185/6 Kallis 35, McKenzie 38; Bicknell 2/51, Harmison 2/24
England: 604/9 decl Trescothick 219, Thorpe 124, Flintoff 95; Pollock 3/111 Reuters