South Africa were all out at tea when Boje was out for an attacking 76. Kallis was eighth man out for 149 after hitting his eighth century in 14 Tests.

Kallis batted for just over eight hours and faced 334 balls before pushing at a delivery from Andrew Flintoff outside his off stump and edging a catch to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones.

The left-handed Boje was the dominant partner, scoring 58 in a stand of 104 with Kallis. It was a crucial partnership for South Africa after it seemed they would fall well short of captain Graeme Smith's target of 450 or more.

Before Boje came in to play some sparkling strokes, the England bowlers kept the pressure on the batsmen, with wickets falling at regular intervals and Kallis unable to force the pace against defensive field placings.

Kallis added 68 runs Monday, hitting only three boundaries off 146 balls. He hit 11 fours in his innings.

Flintoff took the last four wickets to finish with four for 79. He also gave South African new cap and last batsman Charl Langeveldt a torrid introduction to Test cricket, hitting him on the left hand and body with some well-directed short-pitched bowling.

Boje's 76 was made off 97 balls with 12 fours.

There was a scare for England when captain Michael Vaughan was taken to hospital for X-rays before the start of play after being hit on his right hand while batting against England squad fast bowler James Anderson in the nets.

But no serious damage was found and he returned after 45 minutes of play with strapping on the index and middle fingers.

Steve Harmison put the South African batsmen under early pressure, hitting Kallis on the right hand with the first ball of the day after Kallis resumed on 81.

In the same over he had Kallis falling to the turf to avoid a bouncer before beating South Africa's star batsman outside the off stump.

Kallis survived but his overnight partner Hashim Amla was out in the sixth over of the day, adjudged leg before wicket against Matthew Hoggard for 25.

Harmison was rested after a hostile spell during which he conceded only nine runs in six overs and Kallis went to his 19th Test century when he punched Simon Jones, the new bowler, past point for four, then played him to midwicket for three.

The century took 336 minutes and he faced 226 balls, hitting ten fours.

Kallis came into the match on a golden streak of form, having scored 1667 runs at an average of 87.73 in his previous 13 Tests going back to the start of last season's home series against the West Indies. It was Kallis' eighth century during the period.

The England bowlers continued to make inroads, however, and left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, in his second over of the day, bowled AB de Villiers for 21 before Flintoff had Shaun Pollock caught behind for four.