England were seeking to confine South Africa to as Opposition reprisals in Zimbabwe ...
North Korea rejects olive branch ...
Live - Venus v Tanasugarn ...
Africa 'needs an extra $40bn aid' ...
Japan vows to double Africa aid ...
Charles urges forest logging halt ... small a lead as possible on the third morning of the third Test.

Andrew Flintoff (4-68) was the star act on Thursday with England's other seam bowlers distinctly off colour.

South Africa have two good batsmen at the crease in Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher as they resume on 256-6.

That translates to a lead of 25 which they will want to push well past the 100-mark before putting pressure on England's out-of-form batsmen again.

LATEST ACTION (all times BST)

By Ben Dirs

e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Ben Dirs' in the subject), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as the first word) or use 606. (Not all contributions can be used)

SOUTH AFRICA FIRST INNINGS

1104 - 264-6 Players are out and about and Freddie will have first bung. Flintoff steaming in around the wicket to the left-handed Prince and his first ball fizzes past his off-stump. Freddie spears one down the leg side and the ball races away for four byes. Not much Ambrose could have done about that. Prince nibbles Flintoff to leg for a single before Boucher picks up a single. One no-ball and a leg-bye from that first over, a scruffy one from Flintoff.

1058: Anyone see that girl on the front page of The Sun this morning? 33st at the age of 15. A couple of things: I know she eats a lot, but surely her family can afford a proper zimmer frame rather than that garden chair she's using to get around. And I can't say I like that expression on her face on page 5. It says to me: "You should have got out of bed earlier, you'll just have to make yourself a bowl of cornflakes..."

1052: The news on Freddie is that he won't get his bottom slapped after his show of dissent last night. I thought he took that dodgy lbw decision by Umpire Dar pretty well, I reckon Gunther would have shouted in his face and twisted his nipples.

"According to my 'On this Day in History' desk calendar, today is the 234th anniversary of Carl Wilhelm and Joseph Priestley's discovery of oxygen. What did people breathe before that?"
Ian, Birmingham, in the TMS inbox

1050: It's windy up at Edgbaston, but mercifully dry at the moment and we'll be starting on time. A couple of chaps have emailed in to tell me it's Yorkshire Day today. Never heard of it - what's that all about?

"Here's something to ponder while waiting for the match to start. Supposing you had to form a team from the present England and SA teams to play the rest of the world. Who apart from Freddie would even be considered among the English players?"
Jack in the TMS inbox

1038: Anyone see that documentary about packaged sandwiches on Monday? If not, I'll give you a clue: next time you fancy one, save yourself a few quid - pour loads of sugar and salt between two slices of bread, sprinkle some toenail clippings and, if you can get your hands on some, a few beaks, and it will have roughly the same nutritional value as a chicken mayo sanger from your local petrol station.

1031: Morning. For those who logged off early last night, what a final session you missed. Freddie on fire, and England are right back in it. And what a broad church the chat was, ranging from dogs with side-partings to existentialism. I have high hopes for today, although England will need Flintoff firing on all cylinders this morning.

(BBC)

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