Flower pours scorn upon idea England tampered with ball on day of home dominance

A South Africa spokesman read out a statement at the close-of-play press conference, confirming they had "raised concerns" over "allegations about the ball".

Within the hour, England made it clear they do not accept any suggestion of wrong-doing.

Controversy broke out at Newlands after television cameras showed England seamer Stuart Broad stopping a straight drive during the morning session with the sole of his boot.

England were able to take only two wickets in 80 overs as South Africa piled up 312-2 and put the tourists in danger of losing a 1-0 series lead over the final two days of this penultimate Test.

The South Africa spokesman later said: "There have been several queries from the media about various video footage shown today, and certain allegations being made about the ball.

"We have raised our concerns with the match referee about it and we've left it to him to decide if any further action or investigation is necessary."

His opposite number responded: "We totally refute any suggestions of ball-tampering or malpractice."

An International Cricket Council spokesman subsequently confirmed an official complaint must be lodged before the match referee is required to respond.

It is understood South Africa may have identified a package of video footage to support their suspicions. But it remains a moot point whether "raising concerns" constitutes an actual complaint.

Any allegations on the subject of possible ball-tampering carry huge resonance in cricket, given the controversies which have dogged the sport on that score in the recent past.

On-field umpires Daryl Harper and Tony Hill did not see fit to change the ball yesterday, however, and England went wicketless for 54 overs while South Africa captain Graeme Smith (162 not out) and Hashim Amla (95) were piling up a record stand of 230. Pressed about South Africa's recourse to Mahanama, England coach Andy Flower said: "The umpires or match referee haven't said anything to us about that. That's the first I've heard of it.

"I think over the years we have seen a lot of tall fast bowlers stop balls with their feet, so I don't see anything sinister in it all."

Flower was taken aback when he heard South Africa were querying the day's events.

Referring to the close-of-play scorecard, he said: "This amazing amount of reverse swing obtained by Stuart Broad standing on the ball obviously hasn't worked."

Ashwell Prince survived one faulty caught-behind decision off James Anderson, on review, then was rightly dispatched when he queried another – lbw to Graeme Swann.

Smith came through a saga of reviews and non-reviews for lbw against the England off-spinner, as well as a clutch of other scrapes.

But the South Africa captain gradually ground England into submission, then upped the ante after tea on his way to and beyond three figures for the 19th time as his partnership with Amla beat the previous Test highest for the wicket at this venue.

Earlier, Prior (76), had dominated a last-wicket stand of 32 with Onions, and they narrowed the first-innings margin to only 18 on 273 all out.