The South Africa captain finished unbeaten on 154 at Edgbaston after putting on 112 for the sixth wicket with Mark Boucher (45 not out), who came in with the team in trouble at 171-5.

Smith finished the game with a pull shot through midwicket off part-time offspinner Kevin Pietersen, holding his arms aloft in triumph as South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

"I have got some really meaningful innings in my life, but the whole situation with so many disappointments since readmission (in 1991), its bigger than just us. I would have to say this is my best," Smith said. "We got off to a good start but before we knew it, we were in trouble. I started taking it 10 runs at a time and took it ball by ball. Resuming after tea on 111-4, Smith survived an excellent leg-before-wicket shout from Monty Panesar when he shouldered arms to a sharply spinning delivery.

Despite cutting and driving powerfully and hooking fiercely, Smith rode his luck at times, beating a run out opportunity on 78 when Ian Bell fumbled wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose's throw with the captain short of his ground.

Smith then gloved a catch on 85 to Ambrose off Panesar, but the English fielders halfhearted appeal left umpire Aleem Dar with little option but to give the batsman the benefit of the doubt. A.B. de Villiers and Smith added 78 before Paul Collingwood caught De Villiers at first slip for 27 off Panesar to leave the tourists on 171-5.

Smith and Boucher set about grinding down the attack to claim the team's first series win in England since 1965.

"A.B. steadied the ship nicely and it was nice to have 'Bouch' come in when he was out," Smith said. "We just kept going and just wanted to finish the game."

Earlier, England was dismissed for 363 with Paul Collingwood likely saving his test career by scoring 135 after the team had resumed on 297-6.

England had a bad start when Ambrose was bowled by Morne Morkel on the second ball of the day for 19. Ambrose and Collingwood had added 76 for the seventh wicket and the wicketkeeper's departure brought Ryan Sidebottom in.

Collingwood and Sidebottom continued to frustrate the South Africa bowlers by compiling a 65-run partnership, before Sidebottom became Morkel's second victim of the morning when he gloved a catch to Hashim Amla at short leg.

"It's bitterly disappointing," England captain Michael Vaughan said. "It's a tough pill. I thought we were favorites this morning after Sidebottom and Colly's partnership.

"This game has highlighted areas we have to improve _ 231 in the first innings was 100 below par _ (but) the fight we showed, you couldn't ask any more from. They have been the better team and that is why they are 2-0 up."

Anderson was bowled by Kallis for 1, and Collingwood was out when his cut shot at Morkel was edged to Boucher.

Smith and Neil McKenzie had to face a tricky 20-minute spell before lunch, taking the score to 11-0.

England then took four wickets in the second session for only 28 runs to leave the Proteas on 111-4 at tea, still requiring 170 for victory.

McKenzie and Smith had made serene progress to reach 65-0 with few alarms. But Andrew Flintoff struck when McKenzie lost sight of a yorker that caught him flush on the toe and umpire Steve Davis gave him out lbw for 22.

Panesar then trapped Amla in front for 6, before Jacques Kallis on 5 became the third lbw victim of the innings when he also lost sight of Flintoff's full toss and was hit on the thigh.

Kallis stood his ground in disbelief, but Davis raised his finger to leave South Africa on 83-3.

Ashwell Prince made 2 before James Anderson slanted a ball across to have him caught behind by Tim Ambrose to leave the tourists on 93-4.

"The lads are distraught because we have thrown everything at the South African batsmen, but they have given us a lesson in how to bat," Vaughan said. "We have to reassess. We will let the dust settle, but we are clearly not playing the level of cricket I would like."

The fourth test starts Thursday at The Oval in London.

South Africa won the second test at Headingley by 10 wickets last week after the first match at Lord's was drawn.