Centurion: Debutant Stephen Cook and Hashim Amla made hundreds for South Africa before England fought back on day one of the fourth Test in Centurion.
Cook, 33, made 115 and former captain Amla 109 in a stand of 202.
Both men were dropped - Cook on 47 and Amla on five - but England's bowlers showed little control of line or length in the first two sessions.
However, the tourists took four wickets after tea to leave South Africa 329-5 at the close.
Although England lost the toss, the heavy atmosphere in Centurion suggested the bowlers might receive some assistance, only for the visiting attack to fail to get the ball in the right areas often enough.
As a result, Cook and Amla made the most of a true surface, before England's late rally kept their chances of a 3-0 series win, and their best result in South Africa since 1914, still alive.
Brief scores
South Africa - 329 for 5 (Cook 115, Amla 109)