AB de Villiers cracked 174 before Makhaya Ntini took two key wickets as South Africa punished a timid England side at Headingley overnight, with the hosts needing a further 269 to make the tourists bat again.
De Villiers became the second South African to notch a century in the innings, after Ashwell Prince’s 149, as the visitors piled on 522 on what appeared to be a docile batting track.
But the pitch looked lively as soon as Ntini was given the new ball, with the speedster dismissing Andrew Strauss and Michael Vaughan – both caught behind – to leave England in trouble at 2-50.
Alastair Cook was 23 not out with nightwatchman James Anderson yet to score.