Gary Kirsten revealed on Thursday that he had to give century-making teammate Herschelle Gibbs a dressing down as their second wicket partnership of 227 piled on the agony for England on the first day of the fifth and final Test at The Oval.

Gibbs, who was eventually dismissed for 183, hit three successive boundaries at one stage as the tourists went looking for a 3-1 series victory.

But veteran left-hander Kirsten, who made 90, warned the opener not to throw away all the good work.

"Herschelle hit three in a row and I had a go at him because he was getting loose and I thought he was able to get 200," said Kirsten after South Africa had finished the day on 362 for four.

"I told him to wait for the right ball to hit and take it easy," added Kirsten, a Western Province teammate of Gibbs.

"It's a great batting wicket. There's not much sideways movement for the bowlers."

Gibbs, 29, whose innings was his 10th Test century, admitted that the conditions were just too good to resist.

"I got to 100 and I just wanted to unleash and play the way I want to play. It is such a good wicket that you can latch on to the short stuff," he said after his initial hundred contained an extraordinary 86 runs in boundaries.

"If it's there to be hit, it has got to go.

"It's a really good wicket. It's not swinging, it's not moving so why not go out there and hit the ball."

South Africa, chasing their first Test series win in England since 1965, saw Gibbs eventually bowled by left-arm spinner Ashley Giles after he missed an attempted slog.

But Gibbs, whose innings was his highest against England, insisted: "It was the first ball that turned and to his credit he bowled it a little slower."

Giles, recalled after being dropped for South Africa's 191 run fourth Test win at Headingley, was England's most successful bowler with two for 75 from 21 overs.

"We've got a lot to do to win this game but it's still not out of the question," Giles admitted.

"It's a good cricket wicket. Hopefully our guys will make runs like their guys have and fill their boots.

"It was a difficult day. But you either get on with it, do the job properly or turn your back, walk off and so something else for a living."

Meanwhile Kirsten, who has gone back on his original plans to retire, said that despite the loss of Neil McKenzie off the last ball of the day, South Africa were still confident of wrapping up victory.

"We are still in a good position. The boys are very motivated."

But Gibbs warned: "We need another 200 runs tomorrow (Friday) and we'll take it from there. But the match will last five days."