Prince (101) frustrated England for 183 balls on day three - making up only partially for the failures of most of his team-mates in South Africa's 247 all out, in reply to England's mammoth 593 for eight declared.

Thanks to four for 74 from Panesar, on a pitch already helping the spinner considerably - particularly out of the footholds - England were able to enforce the follow-on and the tourists closed on 13 without loss.

South Africa began their second innings needing 346 to make their hosts bat again, and to survive for the majority of the remaining two days to avoid defeat.

After four bizarre overs before the close - with rain and bad light threatening and against Panesar and Kevin Pietersen's part-time off-spin with the new ball - openers Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie survived.

On a first-innings card which had featured six single-figure scores, Prince's eighth Test hundred was a conspicuous achievement.

The gritty left-hander shared a fifth-wicket stand of 78 with AB de Villiers and hit 13 fours and a six.