Collingwood, whose place in the team had been under intense pressure before this innings, finished 101 not out for his sixth test century as England took a lead of 214 after day three of the third test.

His partnership with Kevin Pietersen, who was eventually out for 94, added 115 runs for England after tea. Collingwood finished the day unbeaten alongside wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose, who made 19 not out, as England battled their way back from a precarious position at 104-4.

"It was a very special day," Collingwood said. "Everything went my way and I will never forget this day. I knew my test career could be over for a while if I didn't score runs. It's not the first time I have been under that pressure."

Pietersen was dismissed when he tried to hit Paul Harris for six to bring up his hundred, but only succeeded in hitting the ball to A.B de Villiers at deep mid on. Andrew Flintoff was caught at bat-pad by Hashim Amla to again leave England in desperate trouble at 221-6, a lead of just 138.

But Ambrose batted resolutely alongside Collingwood and watched his senior partner bring up his hundred with a six over long on off Harris. It was Collingwood's first test century in a year.

"Everybody knows how hard I have been working," he said. "They kept telling me it was just around the corner."

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said his bowlers allowed too many runs.

"The game is on a knife's edge," he said. "We had an opportunity today but didn't take it. That's disappointing."

South Africa leads the series 1-0 after winning the second test at Headingley by 10 wickets last week.

After bowling out South Africa for 314 in the morning session in reply to its first-innings total of 231, England reached tea on 126-4 for a lead of 43 runs. Alastair Cook was the first to fall after lunch, pulling wildly at Makhaya Ntini and skying the ball to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher to depart for 9 with 15 runs on the board.

Vaughan came to the crease and looked to be aggressive from the start, hitting four crisp boundaries to begin. But he aimed one too many shots at Andre Nel and was superbly caught by Hashim Amla in the covers.

The England captain's dismissal for 17 leaves him with 40 runs at an average of 8 in the series so far.

Andrew Strauss was next to go on 25, edging a rising delivery from Morne Morkel to Jacques Kallis at second slip to leave England on 70-3.

Ian Bell and Pietersen took England past the first-innings deficit and looked to be in control in a 34-run stand, until Bell hooked loosely at Ntini and was out for 20.

In the morning session, England seamers Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson took two wickets each to help dismiss South Africa for 314 within 14.2 overs and restrict its lead to 83 runs. Sidebottom struck first when Ashwell Prince drove loosely at a wide ball outside off stump and was caught behind by Tim Ambrose for 39.

Morkel struck some powerful off-side shots before Anderson trapped him leg-before-wicket for 18 to leave South Africa on 293-8.

Nel was clean bowled by an inswinging delivery from Sidebottom for a duck. Two balls later, England captain Vaughan took a superb catch in the deep off the bowling of Anderson to dismiss Boucher for 40 and wrap up the South Africa innings.