Michael Vaughan scored a fine 82 not out and teamed up with his tailenders to revitalise England's innings after South Africa pace bowler Makhaya Ntini had blasted through on a rain-affected second day of the fourth Test.
Vaughan found his touch for the first time in the series on Friday, putting on 51 for the eighth wicket with Ashley Giles (26) and then an unbroken 82 with Steve Harmison (30 not out) as his side reached 411-8 before bad light ended the day early.
Only 38.2 over were possible on Friday. Makhaya Ntini took four for 111.
Earlier, the tourists had resumed on 263-4 in murky conditions after rain delayed the start by two hours and lost Matthew Hoggard, Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones for five runs on a seaming wicket before more rain forced an early tea.
In all, England had lost six wickets for 51.
The five-match series is level at 1-1.
Scorecard
England (1st innings): (263-4 overnight)
M.Trescothick c Boucher b Steyn 16
A.Strauss c Kallis b Pollock 147
R.Key c Smith b Ntini 83
M.Vaughan not out 82
G.Thorpe c Dippenaar b Ntini 0
M.Hoggard c De Villiers b Ntini 5
A.Flintoff c Smith b Ntini 2
G.Jones c Smith b Pollock 2
A.Giles c Gibbs b Steyn 26
S.Harmison not out 30.
Extras: (lb-13, nb-5) 18
Total: (for eight wickets, 124 overs) 411
Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-227, 3-262, 4-263, 5-273, 6-275, 7-278, 8-329.
To bat: J.Anderson
Bowling: Pollock 33-12-81-2, Ntini 34-8-111-4, Steyn 21-7-75-2 (nb-2), Kallis 22-2-79-0 (nb-2), Boje 14-2-52-0 (nb-1)
South Africa: G.Smith, H.Gibbs, J.Rudolph, J.Kallis, B.Dippenaar, M.Boucher, A.de Villiers, S.Pollock, N.Boje, M.Ntini, D.Steyn.
