Bloemfontein: England experienced their best day of their South African tour on Sunday as Darren Gough and Mark Butcher put a smile back onto the normally stern face of coach Duncan Fletcher.

At stumps after the third day of the four-day tour match against a Free State/Griqualand West Combined XI, the tourists found themselves in a winning position as the Combined XI finished the day on 10 without loss still 366 runs short of their winning target.

The day had belonged completely to England and was sparked off by a remarkable bowling spell by 29-year-old Yorkshire paceman, Darren Gough, bowling in only his second competitive match since injury ruined his English summer in mid-July.

Bowling with plenty of pace and hostility, Gough grabbed the prize wicket of local hero Gerhardus Liebenberg for 92 in the 12th over of the day on his way to an impressive haul of four for 60 off 21 overs.

While Gough will admit he's still not 100 percent fit, bar any further injuries, he represents the biggest threat to South Africa's batsman when the first Test gets underway in 10 days time.

Left arm seamer Allan Mullally was almost as good, taking two for 24 in 19, while Gavin Hamilton, Phil Tufnell and Michael Vaughan all picked up a wicket each.

With a first innings lead of 164, Butcher and Atherton started the England second innings aggressively and put on 141 for the first wicket in just over 2-1/2 hours before Atherton nicked one behind attempting to cut.

Atherton's innings was a gem. Stroking the ball all around the wicket, he hit ten fours and a six off 128 balls. Butcher continued the good work, and was only slightly more subdued, for his 87 off 146 balls with ten fours. Having scored just 27 runs in his five innings so far in South Africa, Butcher may well have regained his place in the Test side on Sunday.

With captain Nassar Hussain eager to declare, Flintoff added a quickfire 37 off 25 balls (6x4, 1x6) at the death.

Sunday's performance will be off great comfort to Fletcher after two weeks of mediocre performances and injury worries.

© CricInfo