Steven Finn took three wickets in the evening session as England pressed for victory in the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead.
Finn removed Hashim Amla, Dean Elgar and Francois du Plessis for figures of 3-27 as the Proteas closed on 136 for four, needing another 280 in pursuit of 416 after England were bowled out for 326 earlier in the day.
Jonny Bairstow made a quick-fire 79 to help England set a daunting total in Durban, but the wicketkeeper missed a stumping chance against the dangerous AB de Villiers late in the day.
South Africa's chase began well as Stiaan van Zyl, who had lasted only two balls in the first innings, shared 53 for the first wicket with Elgar to frustrate England's victory bid.
Ben Stokes made the breakthrough shortly before tea, breaching van Zyl's defences to end his resistance on 33.
Finn then struck twice in quick succession after the break.
Steven Finn celebrates the wicket of Hashim Amla as England pressed home their advantage on day four
First skipper Amla's run of low scores continued when he nicked a good-length ball to Bairstow on 12.
Then Elgar, who had carried his bat for 118 in the first innings, flashed at a wide delivery and edged it to Joe Root at second slip.
England were in the ascendancy, but despite Moeen Ali extracting some sharp turn, they struggled to make further inroads.
De Villiers had a lucky escape on 33 when Moeen turned one through the gate, but Bairstow was unable to complete the stumping.
However, Finn returned to the attack for what proved to be the final over of the day and induced an edge from du Plessis which Alastair Cook held at second slip to end the former Lancashire batsman's stoic innings on nine.
Earlier quick runs were the order of the day when England resumed this morning on 172 for three, already 261 ahead and facing an attack deprived of the injured Dale Steyn.
Jonny Bairstow hits out on his way to 79 off only 76 balls
Joe Root swept an early four off Dane Piedt, but was visibly annoyed to fall to Kyle Abbott when an attempted expansive drive saw him edge to van Zyl at slip for 73.
Ben Stokes reverse swept Piedt for a boundary but top-edged to Elgar trying to repeat the trick two balls later, and James Taylor's bright and breezy 42 ended when he charged off-spinner Piedt but was beaten by the flight and de Villiers whipped the bails off.
At the other end Bairstow regularly chanced his arm but got some big shots away before Moeen was given lbw to Piedt on review for 16.
Bairstow reached his fifty from the first ball after lunch, and he and Chris Woakes shared an enterprising stand of 43 before JP Duminy held a stunning catch at short extra cover to end the latter's innings on 23 off the bowling of van Zyl.
England batted on, although Stuart Broad edged van Zyl behind for a two-ball duck.
Bairstow was able to get away a couple of lusty blows off Elgar's part-time spin before becoming the last man out when he picked out Duminy at long-off from van Zyl for 79 off 76 balls.
Piedt was the pick of the Proteas bowlers as he finished with 5-153.