Harmison plunges South Africa into trouble

England fast bowler Steve Harmison plunged South Africa into deep trouble when he picked up two key wickets on the fourth day of the fourth and final Test at the Oval on Sunday.

South Africa were 168 for five in their second innings at lunch, a slender lead of 46.

Harmison dismissed both overnight batsmen, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis, in a hostile eight-over spell in which he took two wickets for 12 runs.

Andrew Flintoff followed up with the wicket of Ashwell Prince shortly before lunch as England moved nearer to a consolation victory in a series in which South Africa hold a winning 2-0 lead.

Amla was out for 76 to the 19th ball of the day when he was forced on to the back foot by a lifting delivery from Harmison which he edged to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose. He added only five runs Sunday.

Kallis never looked settled against the pace and bounce of Harmison and the swing of James Anderson. He had an escape on nine when he drove Harmison low to wide mid-off where England captain Kevin Pietersen dropped the chance.

But he was out next ball without adding to his score when he edged Harmison low to Paul Collingwood at third slip.

For Kallis, long regarded as South Africa's most reliable batsman, it completed his least successful series since he became an established Test player.

In seven innings he scored 104 runs at an average of 14.85, with 64 of his runs coming in one innings in the third Test. He was the only member of the South African top six in the batting order not to score a century during the series.

Prince was troubled early on by Harmison but seemed fairly secure as he advanced to 24. But then he slashed at a short ball from Flintoff and edged a catch to Andrew Strauss at first slip.

It left South Africa relying on AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher, the last recognised batsmen, with only the tailenders to follow them.