Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini inspired a middle-order collapse that left the first test between South Africa and England delicately balanced after the third day on Sunday.

South Africa reached the close on 99 for two in their second innings, a lead of 11 runs, with captain Graeme Smith 33 not out while Jacques Kallis was on 10.

England, who began the day at a commanding 227 for one, were dismissed for 425 in response to South Africa's 337, after losing four wickets for 12 runs within 15 balls just before tea.

Ntini was the chief destroyer in that period, dismissing Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones with consecutive deliveries before he finished with three for 75.

England, who needed to build on their excellent batting display on Saturday, failed to capitalise when centurion Andrew Strauss (126) cut a wide delivery from fast bowler Shaun Pollock to AB de Villiers at backward point in the fourth over of the day.

Captain Michael Vaughan edged a swinging delivery from Andrew Hall to Graeme Smith at first slip to be dismissed for 10 just four overs later before part time off-spinner Smith bowled Graham Thorpe around his legs for four to leave the visitors at 267 for four.

Mark Butcher (79) and Flintoff steadied England with a fifth-wicket stand of 79 before Butcher attempted to pull a ball from Ntini and was caught off the bottom edge by wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile.

Flintoff (35) then heaved the first ball of Ntini's next over to Jacques Rudolph on the square leg boundary before Jones (two) fended a short ball to Boeta Dippenaar at short cover from the next ball.

Matthew Hoggard dealt successfully with the hat-trick delivery but was out for a duck shortly after when he was caught by Tsolekile off Hall.

England's tail wagged with the last two wickets adding 67 with Ashley Giles (26) combining with Simon Jones (24) in a 36-run partnership before the final pair of Jones and Steve Harmison (15 not out) added a rather fortuitous 31 runs.

Harmison was dropped twice and caught behind off a no-ball.

South Africa's second innings began poorly when AB de Villiers was caught and bowled for 14 by Hoggard.

They slipped to 64 for two when Rudolph attempted to cut a ball from left-arm spinner Giles and was caught by Marcus Trescothick at slip for 28 before Smith and Kallis saw them through to stumps.

Brief scores

South Africa 337 (Boeta Dippenaar 110, Jacques Rudolph 93) and 99-2.

England 425 (Andrew Strauss 126, Mark Butcher 79).