England protest over Graeme Smith's escape

Smith was given not out by third umpire Daryl Harper after apparently being caught behind off Ryan Sidebottom when on 15 early in the second day's play in Johannesburg.

The opener made the most of the reprieve to put South Africa in a commanding position by going on to hit 105 of the hosts' 215 for two, a lead of 35.

The audio from slow-motion replays suggested Smith had edged the ball but it was claimed Harper did not have the volume turned up. England team director Andy Flower confirmed a complaint would be made.

He said: "He has obviously hit it because you can hear the nick on the replays. I don't blame him for standing but certainly with the technology available and everyone can hear the nick on referral, I find it very surprising that he hasn't been given out.

"I am not surprised he didn't hear it because he didn't turn the volume up on his speaker. I find it strange if you are listening for a nick you don't turn the volume up on your speaker.

"In the pre-series match referees meeting both Dave Richardson from the ICC and Roshan Mahanama, the match referee, explained on caught behind referrals the volume would be turned up. We don't have the benefit of 'snicko' or 'hot spot' in this series and that is a bit illogical if it is being used in other Test matches around the world.

"But we were assured that, because we don't have that technology available, they would turn up the volume to listen for nicks. They didn't do that today and I find that hard to understand."

Technological aids such as the snickometer and hot spot – being used in the current series between Australia and Pakistan – have not been made available by host broadcaster SABC because of the expense. When asked if England would make an official complaint to the match referee, Flower added: "Yes we will. I have had a couple of discussions with him to today. The first one, an inquiry into how they didn't hear it when everyone else had. He said they get a different audio feed (to TV).

"After that meeting we investigated that little further and that isn't the case, they get the same audio feed. In a subsequent discussion with Roshan he informed us Daryl simply didn't turn up the volume. It is not the end of the world and it is a Test match, but it was at a crucial time. He (Smith] is one of the most important wickets in their line-up. But even thought it is reasonably serious, it is not the end of the world."

Smith survived to post 16 fours in his 20th Test century, and his second in succession against England as he and Hashim Amla (73no) shared another huge stand – to add to the 230 they put on together last time out in Cape Town – before a violent thunderstorm hit Johannesburg to take 46.4 overs out of the second day, and bad light ended proceedings.

Amla's share of the 165 put on with Smith in 41 overs extended beyond a fluent half-century, which came up in only 75 balls.

South Africa, who had bowled England out for only 180, duly pressed home their advantage in pursuit of the victory which would snatch a drawn series.

England, by contrast, are hoping to hang on to a 1-0 lead – and may be encouraged by a weather forecast promising more storms for the remainder of the match. They needed no help from above, though, to break an opening stand between Smith and Ashwell Prince after just seven runs had been added yesterday morning.

Prince's unproductive series continued when he propped forward to Stuart Broad and edged a ball showing a little extra bounce to Graeme Swann at second slip.

With Amla for company, Smith set out to make the most of his presumed fortune in what quickly developed into a damaging partnership and by lunch was into record territory for the wicket on this ground.

Sidebottom finally saw off Smith, caught at slip from one that left him off the pitch. But in itself, the second wicket altered the match situation only marginally shortly before the sticky weather broke spectacularly.

Three hours and 20 minutes later came a resumption which contained 23 balls, seven more runs and no wickets, before bad light brought an early close.