England were just four wickets away from an innings victory over South Africa when bad light stopped play 40 minutes early on the fourth day of the second Castle Lager Test against England at Kingsmead on Tuesday.

With three sessions of the Test still to be played, South Africa, on 76 for six, still need 157 to avoid an innings defeat.

Stuart Broad, with three for 18 and Graeme Swann, with three for 22, were the men who caused all the problems for South Africa.

South Africa were in the mire almost immediately after England declared their first innings closed on 575 for nine, with a first innings lead of 232. Graeme Smith and Ashwell Prince got through the first 40 minutes but spinner Swann was introduced as early as the 10th over and started the rot.

He got rid of Ashwell Prince, caught at silly-point by Ian Bell, with his second delivery and in his next over he bowled Hashim Amla for six just before tea.

Broad got into the act in his first over after the break when Jacques Kallis shouldered arms to a ball that crashed into his wicket. He made three.

Two overs later, Broad took two wickets in two balls to dismiss AB de Villiers and JP Duminy. De Villiers was leg before wicket for two and Duminy was bowled without scoring, and South Africa were 44 for five.

Mark Boucher, the last of the recognised batsman, survived the hat-trick ball, but South Africa's woes continued when Graeme Smith, who had watched helplessly as wickets fell at the other end of the pitch, was given out leg before wicket. He asked for a review, but it was a hopeless request.

The decision was upheld and South Africa's strong man had to leave.

Earlier, England added 189 to their overnight score of 386 for five before they declared their first innings closed just under an hour after lunch.

The highlight of the morning session was Ian Bell's ninth Test century. Bell, who came into the Test under a cloud after a number of low scores, batted for nearly four hours and faced 172-balls before he reached the milestone.

Only one wicket fell in the extended first session, with Matthew Prior bowled by JP Duminy for 60. Bell and Stuart Broad batted aimlessly for the next hour, adding just 36 runs before lunch.

However, when they came back, they obviously wanted to get quick runs and attacked the South African bowling.

Broad, who had faced 51-balls on his way to 10, doubled his score off the next four balls he faced, smashing a six and a four off Paul Harris before he became Duminy's third victim.

Dale Steyn struck two quick blows with the new ball, dismissing Bell for 141 and Swann for a cameo 22 off 14-balls. Eight minutes later, Andrew Strauss declared the innings closed, with a first innings lead of 232.

South Africa need a miracle - or persistent rain on the final day - to pull off a draw, with 98 overs left in the match. The weather forecast for Wednesday is for partly cloudy conditions, but no rain is predicted.

In the last Test between the two sides at Kingsmead in December 2004, bad light rescued South Africa. Needing another 78 runs for victory, South Africa were on 290 for eight when the umpires called play off.

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