HASHIM Amla hit a fine hundred as he and debutant Stephen Cook batted South Africa into dominant position in the fourth Test at Centurion.

England have already secured an impressive series win but their hopes of ending on a high grew distant as the hosts reached tea on 299 for five approaching the end of play having chosen to bat first.

Both batsmen were dropped, Alastair Cook grassing Amla on five and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow adding to his collection of mishaps by shelling Stephen Cook on 47.

Chris Woakes, replacing the injured Steven Finn, was the worst offender, serving up 13 chanceless overs for 65.

Stephen Cook's father Jimmy had suffered a golden duck on his own Test debut in 1992, but history did not repeat itself as the opener flicked a gentle loosener from James Anderson to the boundary.

Anderson was the supposed target when Proteas skipper AB de Villiers suggested some of England's seamers had "lost some pace over the years" but the expected riposte did not emerge in a flat first spell.

Moeen Ali's off-spin made a surprise appearance after just 10 overs and it took just four deliveries - and another James Taylor special at short leg - to see off Dean Elgar.

It was not as aesthetically pleasing as Taylor's two wonder catches in Johannesburg, with the ball lodging inelegantly in his hunched body before he plucked it out to complete the dismissal. But his decision not to back away from the chance showed bravery and foresight.

Had Amla been caught at the start of his innings, when Ben Stokes found the edge with a lovely outswinger, England may have grabbed the momentum.

But Bairstow dived in front of Alastair Cook at first slip and a low chance went to ground.

The Proteas cashed in on that chance, scoring rapidly to post 107 for one at lunch.

England's prospects of reining the batsmen back in after the break suffered an immediate blow.

Broad finally persuaded Cook to edge a delivery on 47, but not for the first time in the series Bairstow's glovework let him down as he fumbled a one-handed effort.

At the other end Woakes was struggling badly, sending down a three-over spell that cost 26 runs and saw Amla thump five boundaries between cover and point.

Both batsmen moved past 50 in successive overs and with fours, Cook from 97 balls and Amla 68.

Stokes and Moeen appeared but were unable to stem the flow.

There were loose deliveries along the way but, increasingly, Amla did not need to wait for them.

Moeen, in particular, was on the receiving end of some brilliantly-executed drives.

England delayed an inevitable century by packing the offside and hanging the ball wide outside off stump, but when Anderson eventually straightened up Amla punched him for two to reach three figures for the 25th time.

England fought back later in the day with Cumbrian-raised Stokes bowling Amla for 109 and Woakes skittling Cook for 115.

De Villiers was caught by Joe Root off Broad for a duck and Moeen trapped JP Duminy LBW for 16.