CAPE TOWN: Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla shared the best partnership of the match and made England toil under a hot sun as South Africa stretched their lead on the third day of the third Test at Newlands on Tuesday.

South Africa were 165 for one in their second innings at tea, an overall lead of 183.

Smith (65 not out) and Amla (73 not out) added an unbeaten 134 for the second wicket as South Africa took advantage of the best batting conditions of the match and England struggled in temperatures nearing 40C.

The first century stand of the Test followed South Africa's quick wrapping up of England's first innings.

England were all out for 273, losing their last three wickets for 32 runs in six overs to give South Africa a lead of 18 runs.

Fast bowler Morne Morkel took wickets off successive balls in the first over of the day to complete his second five-wicket haul in Tests. He finished with five for 75.

Morkel had the right-handed Graeme Swann and the left-handed James Anderson caught at first slip by South African captain Graeme Smith off fast lifting deliveries.

Matt Prior hit boldly to take his overnight score from 52 to 76 before he was bowled off a bottom edge when he shaped to pull Dale Steyn, who had figures of four for 74.

Smith and Ashwell Prince put on 31 for the first wicket in the second innings before Prince was leg before wicket to off-spinner Swann's seventh ball of the innings.

Prince survived one review, successfully winning the reversal of a leg side caught behind decision made by umpire Daryl Harper off the bowling of Anderson when he had five. A replay showed the ball had glanced off his pad with the bat not near the ball.

But there seemed little point to his second call for a review when he prodded forward to Swann and was given out by umpire Tony Hill. He looked palpably out and this was confirmed by a replay.

Smith also survived a review after being given out leg before to Swann by umpire Hill.

A review showed he was beyond the 2.5m discretionary distance from the stumps when he was struck on the pad and that the ball would have gone just over the top of the stumps.