Ntini dislodged Mohammad Sami to record his 300th Test wicket

Ntini, in his 74th Test, said: "It's been a marvellous day, to take my 300th wicket at home was great.

"Not all of us get to do that. It means more than anything to do it in front of your own people, in that atmosphere."

South Africa are 26 behind at 115-3 but Ntini is hopeful, adding: "The wicket is an absolute belter, once you get in, there is nothing the bowler can do."

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Imran Farhat was cleared of breaching the International Cricket Council's code of conduct for claiming a catch off Ashwell Prince that television replays showed had bounced.

"The umpires got together and watched the replays of the incident, and decided that the fielder should have known the ball had bounced," match referee Chris Broad said.

"I felt that until they had seen the slow motion replay no-one had questioned whether the ball had bounced. There was no blame laid at the fielder's door."