Cricket: Paul Collingwood responded to yet another top-order collapse with one of the most important centuries of his career as England battled to remain in contention with South Africa in the third npower Test.
The Durham all-rounder was facing one of his defining innings as an international cricketer when he walked out to bat with his Test career at stake and South Africa closing in on the victory that would secure a series triumph.
Without a Test century in 25 previous innings and only 43 runs in six Test innings this summer, Collingwood knew another failure would almost certainly end his Test career for the near future.
But having been dropped for last week's defeat at Headingley and recalled because "he's just a good man to have around the team," according to captain Michael Vaughan, Collingwood chose the most telling of circumstances to finally deliver.
His brilliant, unbeaten 101 helped England finish the third day at Edgbaston 214 runs ahead on 297 for six after yet another failure by his top-order team-mates had put them on course for almost certain defeat in this Test and series.
Starting their second innings 83 runs adrift after dismissing South Africa for 314, England needed their top order to perform - but once again they failed to deliver and slipped to 104 for four.
Needing a solid start to deny South Africa's push for victory, England instead lost Alastair Cook top-edging an attempted pull from outside off stump in the sixth over.
That brought Vaughan to the crease for an innings every bit as important to his long-term prospects as the one facing Collingwood later in the day after only 23 runs in his previous four innings in the series.
He hit two boundaries to calm his nerves but did little to dispel the doubters who believe his powers are diminishing by driving Andre Nel to extra cover for 17 in the 11th over.
Andrew Strauss followed 11 overs later, edging to slip after fast bowler Morne Morkel went around the wicket and induced an edge to Jacques Kallis at second slip.
Ian Bell also contributed to his own downfall by attempting an ambitious pull off Makhaya Ntini and provided wicketkeeper Mark Boucher with another catch - becoming the third member of the top four to fall after a bowling change.
Leading by only 21 runs with four of their top six already out, England were facing almost certain defeat when Collingwood strode to the crease and demonstrated his total absence of form with a couple of swishes outside off stump early in his innings that never threatened to connect.
While Collingwood battled to find his form and confidence, Kevin Pietersen had enough for the pair of them at the other end as they forged a 115-run partnership off only 138 balls by going on the offensive against South Africa's pace attack.
Pietersen was perhaps fortunate to bring up his half-century with two boundaries in three balls, both of them inside edges that narrowly missed his stumps before flying past Boucher as he attempted to drive Kallis.
But otherwise Pietersen was in complete control and had guided England into a promising lead and only six runs short of a memorable century when he decided to take on left-arm spinner Paul Harris.
Looking for a six over long-on to add to the 13 fours already included in his innings to bring up his hundred, Pietersen misjudged the shot and instead picked out AB de Villiers in the deep and stomped off furious with himself for his error.
Only four balls later Andrew Flintoff was following him back to the dressing room after inside-edging a forward lunge to Harris onto his pad and into the hands of Hashim Amla at short leg.
England were now only 138 ahead with their last two recognised batsmen at the crease in Collingwood and Tim Ambrose and 24 overs of the day remaining for South Africa to force home their advantage.
Collingwood seized the moment to dominate their unbroken 76-run partnership as Ambrose, another player fighting for his Test future having averaged only 18.5 previously in the series, became accustomed to the situation.
Seizing on any delivery bowled remotely near his legs, Collingwood hit 14 fours before bringing up probably the most important century of his career by advancing down the pitch to Harris and launching him over long-on for six.
His celebrations were muted, however, as he settled down to ensure he batted through the final four overs and ensured England did not lose the advantage he had fought so hard to gain in the closing stages.
South Africa had earlier resumed 25 runs ahead on 256 for six and were not quite able to claim the 100-run lead they had set their sights on despite Collingwood and Monty Panesar dropping Boucher en route to a vibrant 40 off 49 balls.
Boucher was finally caught in the deep superbly by a diving Vaughan 14 overs into the day to set the stage for Collingwood's heroics in the final session.