Vernon Philander again proved a thorn in England's side as Alastair Cook held firm against South Africa in the third Test at The Oval on Thursday.
England were 171 for four at stumps, having won the toss, with 31 of the scheduled 90 overs lost to bad weather on the opening day of the 100th Test at The Oval.
Pace bowling all-rounder Philander had superb figures of two wickets for 17 runs in 12 overs, including five maidens, despite a stomach bug. That followed his man-of-the-match display with both bat and ball in South Africa's crushing 340-run victory in the second Test at Trent Bridge last week -- a result that left the four-match series level at 1-1. But Cook was 82 not out at Thursday's close.
Already England's leading Test run-scorer, the left- handed opener spent more than four-and-a-half hours at the crease to be in sight of his 31st century at this level.
Ben Stokes was unbeaten on 21.
England had been heavily criticised by several former captains for an inability to bat time and wear down the Proteas at Trent Bridge, where they were twice bowled out cheaply and folded for just 133 in their second innings. Although the overcast conditions and green-tinged pitch promised to assist pace bowlers, England captain Joe Root opted to bat first after winning the toss, just as South Africa captain Faf du Plessis had done in a similar situation in Nottingham.