England all-rounder Graeme Swann says his team have the initiative after his 85 helped limit South Africa's lead to 71 after three days of the first Test.

"We were under the cosh a bit but it worked in my favour because I had a free rein," said the 30-year-old.

"After 10 years of giving my wicket away I think captains have given up on me! I've got my own way of playing and everything I tried came off.

"To get back to 60 down then take a wicket is a huge shift in our favour."

Swann shared 106 with James Anderson - a ninth-wicket record for England against South Africa - to help England to 356 after they had been 242-8.

Anderson then took the late wicket of Ashwell Prince to reduce South Africa to 9-1 in their second innings and Swann told BBC Sport: "When you're going in low down, the fielding side is thinking they could be batting at any minute.

"The hour we batted was very important because you could see them getting a bit frayed.

606: DEBATE He takes a five-for then goes out and plays like that! Is there a better number nine in the world? jonnyb192

"Jimmy played some unbelievable shots and I was trying to hit every ball for four.

"When it comes off like that it can be a real pain in the backside for the fielding side."

Swann, who regularly opens the batting for Nottinghamshire in one-day matches, said: "Whenever I get the chance to go out and express myself I take it with two hands because this is the best game in the world and I'm enjoying myself, I'm on cloud nine and every time I bat I try and ride that cloud."

There was plenty of discussion about the pitch, with large cracks beginning to appear and causing the occasional unplayable low shooter.

And the referral system again came under the spotlight after Stuart Broad reacted badly after being given out lbw to JP Duminy by the video referee.

South Africa will be looking at it (the pitch), hopefully, thinking they have to bat their socks off to set a target. Graeme Swann

England felt that South Africa had taken too long to ask for the referral - around 35 seconds - while there was some suggestion that the South African dressing room could have influenced the decision to refer.

England confirmed after the match they will take up their concerns over the delay with match referee Roshan Mahanama, and Swann explained: "Because of the amount of time that the decision took, we just asked the umpires. We didn't know out in the middle how much time was allowed.

"But they said they hadn't seen any signal from the dressing room, so the decision has to stand. We're certainly not pointing the finger at South Africa - saying 'you definitely did it'. We're just saying that, with the amount of time, there was certainly ample opportunity, maybe, for a message to get out."

Either way, the spinning all-rounder, whose score was his highest in Tests and his third fifty in his last four innings, believes the match is intriguingly poised, saying: "It's been quite an exciting game.

"South Africa will be looking at it, hopefully, thinking they have to bat their socks off to set a target.

"Halfway through the day we were thinking 'how are we going to get a draw out of this' and all of a sudden we are thinking 'right, how are we going to win this game?'

"One session has turned it in our favour, the momentum is definitely with us now and I'm sure we are the happier of the two dressing rooms."

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