Needing 247 for a win that would level the series at one-all with the final test to come, England finished the day on 108 for just one wicket with Atherton surviving a ferocious spell from Allan Donald to reach 43 not out. Nasser Hussain was with him on 25.

A moment of high drama and controversy when the former England captain had 27 caused Donald to behave in a manner rarely, if ever, seen before in his career.

A bouncer forced Atherton to take evasive action but the ball deflected from his gloves to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher.

Donald was furious when New Zealand umpire Steve Dunne gave the batsman not out, apparently believing that Atherton's hand was not touching the bat when it was hit.

Donald repeatedly stared and spoke to Atherton for several oversafter the incident but Atherton remained unbowed. Donald's blood pressure rose further when Hussain was dropped by Boucher on 23, three overs later.

Fraser had earlier claimed five for 60, his second five wicket haul of the match, to help dismiss South Africa for 208 in their second essay giving him match figures of 10 for 122. It was his second 10 wicket haul in Tests after his 10-110 in the second Test in the West Indies last year.

Three wickets fell in the morning session when South Africa resumed on 92 for three beginning with that of Daryll Cullinan.

Having looked in prime form, scoring 56 (105b, 8x4), Cullinan departed exactly the same way as he did in first innings when a Fraser delivery was clipped off leg stump straight to Mark Ramprakash at square leg.

Cork removed danger man Hansie Cronje for 67 after a poor shot and a catch by Stewart before Fraser wrapped the innings up with Mark Boucher (35) caught at cover, Steve Elworthy (10) trapped lbw and last man Paul Adams caught by Stewart hiseighth catch of the match.

Although England should feel confident of claiming a victory that will level the series at one-all with one match to play, history is not on their side. They have successfully chased 247 or more in the fourth innings just five times, and only once on English soil.

SCOREBOARD

South Africa (1st innings): 374

England (1st innings): 336

South Africa (2nd innings; overnight 92-3): G Kirsten lbw b Fraser 6, G Liebenberg lbw b Gough 0, J Kallis c Stewart b Cork 11, D Cullinan c Ramprakash b Fraser 56, H Cronje c Stewart b Cork 67, J Rhodes c Stewart b Cork 2, S Pollock c Stewart b Cork 7, M Boucher c Hussain b Fraser 35, S Elworthy lbw b Fraser 10, A Donald not out 7, P Adams c Stewart b Fraser 1; Extras: (b1, lb4, w1) 6. Total: (all out in 75.3 overs) 208

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-17, 3-21, 4-119, 5-122, 6-136, 7-189, 8-193, 9-200

Bowling: Gough 16-4-56-1, Fraser 28.3-6-62-5, Cork 20-4-60-4, Flintoff 6-1-16-0, Salisbury 5-2-9-0

England (2ndinnings): M Butcher c Boucher b Pollock 22, M Atherton batting 43, N Hussain batting 25; Extras: (b1, lb10, w1, nb6) 18. Total: (for one wicket in 45 overs) 108

Fall of wicket: 1-40

Bowling: Donald 13-5-17-0, Pollock 15-2-39-1, Adams 6-2-7-0, Kallis 4-1-5-0, Elworthy 3-0-17-0, Cronje 4-1-12-0