JOHANNESBURG, Jan 15: Herschelle Gibbs hit a century to steer South Africa out of immediate danger on the third day of the fourth Test against England at the Wanderers Stadium on Saturday.

South Africa were 306 for six at the close after England declared at their overnight total of 411 for eight. Opener Gibbs ended a run of poor form, compounded by injuries, with an unbeaten 136.

Matthew Hoggard led the England bowling, taking four for 101 with the blond opening bowler had to carry a heavier load than usual following an injury to Steve Harmison, who left the field in mid-afternoon and was taken for a scan after pulling up with a sore left calf.

Hoggard's exertions counted against him towards the end of the day when he conceded 24 runs in three overs with the second new ball. England's hopes of taking the lead in the five-match series, which is tied at 1-1, were lifted when the first five South African wickets fell for 184 runs, still 28 short of the follow-on mark.

But Gibbs and recalled wicket keeper Mark Boucher stabilised the innings with a sixth wicket stand of 120 in 130 minutes off 178 balls. Boucher, who missed five Tests after being dropped before a tour of India last November, made a solid 64, hitting 11 boundaries in a 90-ball innings and outscoring Gibbs towards the end of the day.

England's morale seemed to be slipping when James Anderson bowled three wides in an over but off what was his eighth delivery, Boucher finally played a loose shot, steering a cut straight to Andrew Strauss at backward point.

England could have finished the day on an even better note when Gibbs, on 136, edged the penultimate ball of the day from Andrew Flintoff and wicket keeper Geraint Jones flung himself in front of first slip but dropped the chance.

Jones had needed treatment after the previous ball when he landed awkwardly on his left wrist taking a leg side delivery from Flintoff. South Africa made a bright start when Graeme Smith and Gibbs scored at four runs an over as they put on 64 for the first wicket.

But the momentum of the innings changed dramatically after the morning drinks break when Hoggard trapped Smith leg before for 29. Boeta Dippenaar, the fourth man out, was caught by Marcus Trescothick at slip off Andrew Flintoff without scoring.

Trescothick had to lean forward to scoop the ball virtually off the turf and Dippenaar waited for a decision from umpire Aleem Dar before going back to the dressing room.

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