South Africa need an early breakthrough at the start of the third day in Durban and they get one in the second over when Morne Morkel (centre) has England's Jonathan Trott caught behind
Trott, who has got under the skin of the South Africans with his slow and deliberate preparation routine at the crease, has a rueful expression as he returns to the dressing room
Alastair Cook is unruffled by Trott's early departure and is rewarded with his first half century in a Test match since July, which takes him 136 balls and includes five boundaries
Having been dropped in the slips off spinner Paul Harris, Kevin Pietersen fails to heed the warning and falls lbw for 31 after missing an attempted sweep shot
Harris (left, with wicketkeeper Mark Boucher) is understandably elated after finally getting his man and proving once again what an under-rated performer he is
Cook and Paul Collingwood stabilise England's innings with a century partnership either side of lunch - and Cook completes a deserved hundred after almost five and a half hours of intense concentration
Kevin Pietersen is among the England players out on the balcony to applaud Cook's century - and maybe reflecting momentarily on what might have been but for his own error of judgement during the morning session
Collingwood reaches his fifty in the over after Cook celebrates his hundred as the pair bat through the entire afternoon session, adding 91 runs in 28 overs
Cook finally departs after tea, caught at second slip off Morkel, who greets new batsman Ian Bell with some testing early deliveries as South Africa try to prey on his current lack of confidence
South Africa skipper Graeme Smith considers his options as Bell and Collingwood add 68 for England's fifth wicket on a pitch which has become placid and offering little assistance to the bowlers
With a century there for the taking, Collingwood mis-times an attempted cut on 91 from JP Duminy's off-spin and a thin edge is taken by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher
For a batsman under pressure at the start of the match, Ian Bell with confidence and freedom, launching a six off spinner Paul Harris over midwicket
South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis struggles to keep his feelings in check after short leg fielder Hashim Amla fails onto a chance offered by England's Matt Prior
After Prior's let-off, England avoid any further alarms as he and Bell see things through to the close with their side 43 runs to the good and hoping to build a sizeable lead on the fourth day
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