The prospect of defeat is staring England squarely in the face at Newlands after an eighth-wicket partnership between Darryl Cullinan and Mark Boucher put on 90 runs and pushed the tourists backwards once again. England yesterday fought back hard and with spirit on a ferociously hot Cape day, and in keeping with the bulk of their cricket during this series, but they had lost so much ground during the lackadaisical, inept second day that a win is now beyond them, and worse may lie in wait.

It will take the mightiest of efforts from the batsmen - minus Andy Flintoff, whose fractured metatarsal bone has ruled out any further participation this winter - if, even making allowance for the South Africa captain Hansie Cronje's conservatism, they are to wriggle from this particular hook and go in to the final Test at Centurion Park with the series still alive.

With the day's end in sight South Africa were all out for 421, a lead of 163, leaving the England openers the tricky prospect of, they would have thought, a single over from Allan Donald before the end of play. In fact it was the left-arm spin of Paul Adams which confronted Mark Butcher and he duly survived the six deliveries, punching one boundary in the process.

Earlier, much earlier, Chris Silverwood had managed to take the wicket of Gary Kirsten in the first over of the day and before he had added to an overnight 80. Darren Gough then removed Jacques Kallis with the second new ball although not before he had made 105, his sixth Test hundred. But England had to endure a classy century from Cullinan who, missed by the substitute fielder Darren Maddy at square leg when he was 89, was last out for 120 having hit 10 fours and a six in a shade under six hours.

There was due reward, though, for Silverwood's unflagging effort and ruddy-faced optimism as he hurled himself into the fray for 32 overs to take five for 91, the first five-wicket haul of his international life.

England needed to atone for their display of the previous day and backed up by some tremendous fielding, all three seamers shrugged off fatigue and raised their games.

With wickets for Silverwood, Darren Gough finding bounce to remove Kallis and a snorter to bowl Lance Klusener, and Andy Caddick nipping out Cronje without scoring and Jonty Rhodes, South Africa were pegged back from 200 for one overnight to 307 for seven midway through the afternoon.

Cullinan was still there, however, a half century to his name, and with Boucher, surely the most prolific number nine batsman in Test history, they added 90. Then, with the wicket-keeper on 36 and looking set for a heap more, he became Silverwood's fourth wicket. Boucher can consider himself unfortunate to be given out leg-before by umpire Cyril Mitchley, though, with as poor a decision as any in this series.