England, who lost Marcus Trescothick for no score before the close, endured some hard toil but gained an 83-run first-innings lead in the third Test after Anderson put a lean spell in the first two Tests behind him.

The 21-year-old Lancashire paceman ended England's afternoon frustration with the dismissal of Neil McKenzie following a 129-run stand for the sixth wicket with Mark Boucher.

Michael Vaughan's side then chipped away at the South African tail, as they had at the top order earlier in the day, as Anderson bowled Andrew Hall and Paul Adams in contrasting styles and halted Shaun Pollock's cavalier half-century to complete the job.

McKenzie rebuilt South Africa's faltering reply with a composed 90, made in over four hours, before edging the second new ball to first slip.

The 27-year-old batsman came to the crease in the first over of the morning with the tourists 88 for four after England were provided with a perfect start by James Kirtley, who claimed the wickets of Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar inside the first over of the day.

England were in control after three wickets in the opening session but the tourists fought back between lunch and tea as McKenzie and Mark Boucher negotiated 29 overs without mishap.

The latter was eventually prised out for 48 to a rather harsh leg before decision awarded to Andrew Flintoff.

McKenzie displayed greater application than any of those before him to reach his half-century with consecutive boundaries off Steve Harmison.

That was shortly after lunch, which the South Africans took on 167 for five, and their patience ushered them past the follow-on shortly before the next interval.

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