CENTURION, Jan 23: Shaun Pollock snatched two wickets in four balls to rock England's batting order before a storm ended play on the third day of the fifth Test on Sunday.

England struggled to 114 for four in reply to South Africa's first innings of 247 when the weather, which had caused delays all day, finally closed in. Graham Thorpe was 32 not out with Andrew Flintoff on nought as South Africa gave themselves a chance of salvaging a draw in the series which England lead 2-1.

South Africa resumed on 247 for nine and were dismissed just two balls into the day's play when Andrew Hall slashed a delivery from fast bowler Simon Jones to third man, where Andrew Strauss dived forward to take the catch.

Jones finished with figures of four for 47. South Africa's new ball pair, Pollock and Makhaya Ntini, kept England openers Marcus Trescothick and Strauss under pressure with tight bowling on a responsive pitch.

However, England moved to 27 without loss when, in the eighth over, Strauss pushed a ball from fast bowler Ntini to Nicky Boje at mid-off and set off for a single. Strauss changed his mind and sent Trescothick back, but Boje's direct hit at the non-striker's end ran Trescothick out for 20.

Pollock struck twice in the 11th over when he had Robert Key caught behind down the leg side by wicket-keeper Mark Boucher for one, and two balls later captain Michael Vaughan's rash attempted pull looped to Jacques Rudolph at mid-wicket.

Strauss was joined by Graham Thorpe with England tottering on 29 for three and the pair shared a stand of 85 before Strauss played drive to a ball from Andre Nel and was caught behind by Boucher for 44.

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