Alec Stewart delivered a crucial half-century to guide England towards a major first innings in the third npower Test today to halt South Africa's impressive fightback at Trent Bridge.
Stewart hit a 72 to help guide England to 445 before they were dismissed at tea on the second day after their hopes of reaching a commanding total had been undermined by the loss of several early wickets.
Under pressure for his place after suffering a second ball duck in the second innings during the innings defeat at Lord's, Stewart recaptured the momentum for England with a series of boundaries after they had lost four wickets for 88 runs.
England had resumed on a promising 296 for three with former captain Nasser Hussain unbeaten on 108 and newcomer Ed Smith on 40 with hopes of piling on the runs today and taking a stranglehold on the Test.
But the tourists provided a spirited response to their disappointing opening day and dismissed both overnight batsman inside the first 13 overs of the morning, Hussain being trapped leg before by a Shaun Pollock cutter for 116.
He was applauded all the way back to the dressing room by another sell-out Nottingham crowd and was soon joined by Kent batsman Smith, who fell five overs later when he edged all-rounder Jacques Kallis behind having scored a determined 64 in his maiden Test innings.
Those dismissals were the start of a middle-order collapse with Andrew Flintoff falling for a duck five overs later having been unable to repeat his Lord's century and fell edging Andrew Hall to slip after 29 minutes at the crease trying to get off the mark.
Ashley Giles continued his impressive form with the bat this summer by contributing a useful 22 but was bowled through the gate by Hall, leaving Stewart with the responsibility of taking England past 400 and beyond.
Stewart pounced on any wayward deliveries, helping himself to 11 boundaries, and farmed the strike when he had tail-ender Steve Harmison for company but that method added 32 crucial runs.
England's veteran wicketkeeper-batsman finally fell attempting to hit Paul Adams over the top and instead picked out Graeme Smith at mid-off and the innings was ended when Harmison also edged Adams to slip.
Selected Scores:England 445 all out (N.Hussain 116, M.Butcher 106,A.Stewart 72, E.Smith 64)