England's Paul Collingwood hits a six to reach 100 runs during their third international Test cricket match against South Africa, at Edgbaston cricket ground, Birmingham, England, yesterday. - AP

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP):

Paul Collingwood's rearguard century brought England to 297-6 in their second innings yesterday, giving them hope of evening the Test series against South Africa.

Collingwood, whose place in the team had been under intense pressure before this innings, finished 101 not out for his sixth Test century as England took a lead of 214 after day three of the third Test.

His partnership with Kevin Pietersen, who was eventually out for 94, added 115 runs for England after tea. Collingwood finished the day unbeaten alongside wicket-keeper Tim Ambrose, who made 19 not out, as England battled their way back from a precarious position at 104-4.

Special day

"It was a very special day," Collingwood said. "Everything went my way and I will never forget this day. I knew my Test career could be over for a while if I didn't score runs. It's not the first time I have been under that pressure."

Pietersen was dismissed when he tried to hit Paul Harris for six to bring up his hundred, but only succeeded in hitting the ball to A.B. de Villiers at deep mid on.

Andrew Flintoff was caught at bat-pad by Hashim Amla, again to leave England in desperate trouble at 221-6, a lead of just 138. But Ambrose batted resolutely alongside Collingwood and watched his senior partner bring up his hundred with a six over long on off Harris. It was Collingwood's first Test century in a year.

"Everybody knows how hard I have been working," he said. "They kept telling me it was just around the corner."

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said his bowlers allowed too many runs.

"The game is on a knife's edge," he said. "We had an opportunity today but didn't take it. That's disappointing."

South Africa lead the series 1-0 after winning the second Test at Headingley by 10 wickets last week.

After bowling out South Africa for 314 in the morning session in reply to their first-innings total of 231, England reached tea on 126-4 for a lead of 43 runs. Alastair Cook was the first to fall after lunch, pulling wildly at Makhaya Ntini and skying the ball to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher to depart for nine with 15 runs on the board.

Vaughan came to the crease and looked to be aggressive from the start, hitting four crisp boundaries to begin. But he aimed one too many shots at André Nel and was superbly caught by Hashim Amla in the covers. The England captain's dismissal for 17 leaves him with 40 runs at an average of eight in the series so far.