Johannesburg: England looked set for a heavy defeat in the final Test at the Wanderers as they ended day three on 48-3, still trailing South Africa by 195 runs.

Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott both fell to the new ball and Andrew Strauss became Wayne Parnell's first Test victim before bad light halted play.

Earlier, Mark Boucher played brightly to make 95 from 119 balls before South Africa declared on 423-7.

African wicket-keeper batsman put on 120 with AB de Villiers (58) after South Africa resumed on 215-2.

Cook was unable to deal with a ball from Morkel that pitched in line with the stumps and seamed away, nicking an easy catch to Graeme Smith at first slip.

Trott, as he had done on the first morning, looked out of sorts and it was no surprise when he found AB de Villiers at third slip off Steyn following a collection of ill-judged shots.

After a brief break for bad light, Parnell struck. Strauss, who had reached 22 despite some problems dealing with bouncers, was trapped lbw by a ball that nipped back a fraction.

By the close, it was easy to forget that England had enjoyed a fine start to the day, taking three quick wickets to leave South Africa on 235-5, whereupon they once again had cause for complaint over the umpire review system.

De Villiers and Boucher had added a further 10 to that score, moving the overall lead to 62, when De Villiers, on 11, found himself on strike to Graeme Swann.

The off-spinner had already turned his first delivery sharply to remove JP Duminy for seven, caught at slip, and in his second over De Villiers went for a sweep with England's appeal for a catch at leg-slip upheld by on-field umpire Tony Hill.

Brief scores
England: 180 and 48 for 3
South Africa: 423 for 7 dec (Smith 105, Boucher 95, Amla, Broad 3-83)
Status: England trail by 195-runs.