England won a dramatic third test against South Africa by 70 runs today, taking the last five wickets early on the final day to level the series at 1-1.
Debutant fast bowler James Kirtley was England's hero, completing figures of six for 34 on a deteriorating pitch to inspire a thrilling victory.
Kirtley sealed the win by having Mark Boucher caught by wicketkeeper Alec Stewart for a defiant 52, completing Michael Vaughan's first victory as England captain in his second match in charge.
South Africa resumed on 63 for five and Boucher and Neil McKenzie survived the first five overs from Andrew Flintoff and Kirtley without undue alarm.
Kirtley, named man of the match, struck first in the day's sixth over, bowling McKenzie for 11 with a ball that kept low.
Flintoff then bowled Shaun Pollock for a duck, the ball rising no more than a few inches off the Trent Bridge pitch before crashing into the all rounder's stumps.
Andrew Hall fell first ball when he slashed Kirtley high to Marcus Trescothick, who held a sharp catch to his right to leave South Africa reeling at 81 for eight.
Boucher and Paul Adams added 45 for the ninth wicket, frustrating England with a mixture of watchful defence and bold attacking strokes.
Adams was badly dropped by Mark Butcher at second slip off Kirtley.
Boucher reached his fifty from 85 balls, batting for over two hours and hitting seven fours, but he lost Adams when the diminutive spinner spooned a simple return catch to Kirtley for 15.
Boucher then edged another Kirtley outswinger to Stewart, prompting wild celebrations among the England players, who will travel to Leeds in good heart for the fourth test at Headingley starting on Thursday.
Scoreboard
England first innings 445 (N.Hussain 116, M.Butcher 106, A.Stewart 72, E.Smith 64)
South Africa first innings 362 (N.McKenzie 90, S.Pollock 62; J.Anderson 5-102)
England second innings 118 (S.Pollock 6-39)
South Africa second innings (overnight 63-5)
G.Smith lbw b Kirtley 5
H.Gibbs c Giles b Harmison 28
J.Rudolph lbw b Kirtley 0
J.Kallis b Anderson 13
B.Dippenaar c Smith b Anderson 1
N.McKenzie b Kirtley 11
M.Boucher c Stewart b Kirtley 52
S.Pollock b Flintoff 0
A.Hall c Trescothick b Kirtley 0
P.Adams c & b Kirtley 15
M.Ntini not out 3
Extras (lb-2 nb-1) 3
Total (all out, 56.2 overs) 131
Fall of wickets: 1-22 2-28 3-40 4-41 5-50 6-71 7-80 8-81 9-126
Bowling: Kirtley 16.2-7-34-6, Flintoff 17-4-54-1, Harmison 11-2-24-1, Anderson 12-4-17-2
Result:England won by 70 runs
First test:Edgbaston - match drawn
Second test:Lord's - South Africa won by an innings and 92runs
Fourth test:August 21st-25th - Headingley, Leeds
Fifth test:September 4th-8th - The Oval, London