At tea on the second day, England were 51 for one in reply to South Africa's first innings 484, with captain Michael Vaughan the man out for just 23.

The not out batsmen were opener Marcus Trescothick, 12, and Mark Butcher, 14.

Fast bowler Pollock, who had made an unbeaten 66 in South Africa's innings, became the 19th man in history, and only the second South African, after longtime new-ball colleague Allan Donald, to take 300 Test wickets when he had Vaughan edging to third slip Herschelle Gibbs for 23.

England then were 28 for one.

Pollock had taken his wickets at an impressively economical average of just over 20.

Vaughan's exit meant that after scoring 156 in the first innings of the first Test he had managed just 149 in his next eight at a meagre average of just over 18.

Pollock, returning after missing South Africa's 191 run fourth Test win at Headingley to attend the birth of his daughter, made the lion's share of the runs in a last wicket stand of 52 with Makhaya Ntini.

South Africa, 2-1 up and needing just a draw to win their first Test series in England since 1965, lost their last seven wickets for 122 runs after they had been 362 for three on Thursday.

It was a good fightback by England after Gibbs (183) and Gary Kirsten (90) were plundering their attack on Thursday.

But with South Africa 432 for nine, England let it slip.

Pollock lofted left-arm spinner Ashley Giles for six on the biggest Test ground in England to bring up an 82 ball fifty which also featured seven fours.

He then pulled a Stephen Harmison long hop for four and next ball, when the Durham quick dropped wide of off-stump, he cut him for another boundary.

Ntini made 11 before he was clean bowled by paceman James Anderson.

Earlier, it needed a cruel run out to spark South Africa's slump.

All-rounder Jacques Kallis, who started Friday on 32 not out, had made an untroubled 66 off 95 balls with 10 fours and one six.

He was run out after bowler Giles deflected Pollock's drive onto the stumps at the non-striker's end.

Then nine balls later, 419 for seven became 421 for eight when Andrew Flintoff had opposing pace bowling all-rounder Andrew Hall plumb lbw for one. And to the last ball before lunch Paul Adams (one) was run out.

Pollock drove Giles through extra cover and completed a single.

But, going for a second, Adams fell after he failed to beat Butcher's throw to Giles.

England made a fine start Friday when five balls into the day Jacques Rudolph went lbw for nought to Surrey seamer Martin Bicknell.