South Africa's Graeme Smith (right) sweeps during the third Test against England at Edgbaston yesterday. The captain made a match-winning, undefeated 154 as South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. - AP

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP):

GRAEME SMITH played one of the great rearguard innings yesterday as South Africa chased 281 to win the third Test by five wickets and capture their first series win in England for 43 years.

The South Africa captain finished unbeaten on 154 at Edgbaston after putting on 112 for the sixth wicket with Mark Boucher (45 not out), who came in with the team in trouble at 171-5.

Smith finished the game with a pull shot through midwicket off part-time offspinner Kevin Pietersen, holding his arms aloft in triumph as South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

"I have got some really meaningful innings in my life, but the whole situation with so many disappointments since readmission (in 1991), its bigger than just us. I would have to say this is my best," Smith said. "We got off to a good start but before we knew it, we were in trouble. I started taking it 10 runs at a time and took it ball by ball."

Resuming after tea on 111-4, Smith survived an excellent leg-before shout from Monty Panesar when he shouldered arms to a sharply spinning delivery.

Rode his luck

Despite cutting and driving powerfully and hooking fiercely, Smith rode his luck at times, beating a run out opportunity on 78 when Ian Bell fumbled wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose's throw with the captain short of his ground.

Smith then gloved a catch on 85 to Ambrose off Panesar, but the English fielders half-hearted appeal left umpire Aleem Dar with little option but to give the batsman the benefit of the doubt.

A.B. de Villiers and Smith added 78 before Paul Collingwood caught de Villiers at first slip for 27 off Panesar to leave the tourists on 171-5.

Smith and Boucher set about grinding down the attack to claim the team's first series win in England since 1965.

"A.B. steadied the ship nicely and it was nice to have 'Bouch' come in when he was out," Smith said. "We just kept going and just wanted to finish the game."

Earlier, England were dismissed for 363 with Paul Collingwood likely saving his Test career by scoring 135 after the team had resumed on 297-6.

England had a bad start when Ambrose was bowled by Morne Morkel with the second ball of the day for 19. Ambrose and Collingwood had added 76 for the seventh wicket and the wicketkeeper's departure brought Ryan Sidebottom in.

Gloved catch

Collingwood and Sidebottom continued to frustrate the South Africa bowlers by compiling a 65-run partnership, before Sidebottom became Morkel's second victim of the morning when he gloved a catch to Hashim Amla at short leg.

"It's bitterly disappointing," England captain Michael Vaughan said. "It's a tough pill. I thought we were favourites this morning after Sidebottom and 'Colly's' partnership.

"This game has highlighted areas we have to improve - 231 in the first innings was 100 below par - (but) the fight we showed, you couldn't ask any more from. They have been the better team and that is why they are 2-0 up.

"The lads are distraught because we have thrown everything at the South African batsmen, but they have given us a lesson in how to bat," Vaughan said. "We have to reassess. We will let the dust settle, but we are clearly not playing the level of cricket I would like."

The fourth Test starts on Thursday at The Oval in London.

South Africa won the second Test at Headingley by 10 wickets last week after the first match at Lord's was drawn.