South Africa opener Stephen Cook made 115 on his test debut to put the hosts in charge of the fourth test versus England at Centurion.
A late flurry of wickets saw a rear-guard bowling action from the tourists, even so South Africa reached 329-5 at stumps on day one.
Multiple changes for hosts
The tourists made just the one enforced change to the following a tour-ending injury to Steven Finn. Chris Woakes came into the side.
The Proteas made wholesale changes following their series-defining defeat a week ago at The Wanderers. As documented, Stiaan van Zyl's Johannesburg reprieve was short lived, as Cook came in for his test debut to open the batting with Dean Elgar.
The hosts also recalled Kyle Abbott, Dane Piedt, JP Duminy and the fit again Quinton de Kock, as Faf du Plessis, Dane Vilas, Chris Morris and the still convalescing Dale Steyn missed out.
Proteas won toss once more
With the series gone, it was vital South Africa made a statement of intent, with certain corners of the media writing the obituary of world cricket's number one test side.
Captain AB de Villiers' assignment first up was to win the toss. The newly heralded skipper made it two for two on the coin toss and elected to bat on an overcast and muggy opening morning in the Highveld.
Cook balanced opening order
The Proteas' problems this series has been establishing an opening partnership - with particular reference to the faultering van Zyl - as Elgar lacked a balanced partner at the crease. The incoming Cook, on debut no-less, would be under pressure for runs. However, the 33 year-old rose to the occasion.
The Jo'berg born player - son of former international Jimmy Cook - who represents North West in domestic cricket for The Rainbow Nation, was displaying the sort of composure of his opposite number and namesake Alastair, that was also bereft of many of his teammates versus England this winter.
Taylor field wizardry gives respite for England
Elgar and Cook were taking to their task with aplomb. It was only the tourist's newly crowned 'field wizard' James Taylor that prevented a sizeable partnership developing.
Elgar cut at a Moeen Ali delivery that pitched up; his eyes lit up. That illumination was promptly switched off after Taylor at short leg once more, dove low to take the Kookaburra at his feet. Taylor juggled the ball - off his ankle - before snaffling at his pouch, to cue more jubilant celebrations for the Notts' man.
Unfortunately for the tourists, it was a rare moment of morning exhultation with the hangover victory of a series win hanging over their weary brows.
Ben Stokes should have claimed the scalp of Hashim Amla, only for Jonny Bairstow - diving to his right to shell a tough chance in front of watching captain Alistair Cook's venerable bucket mitts - in turn putting his skipper off. South Africa passed the 100 mark, with a total of 107-1 at lunch.
Bairstow profligate once more with gloves
Bairstow's miss before the interval was looking costly. Having been dropped on five, Amla and Cook were both pushing on. With Cook on 47, it was the debutant's turn for good fortune.
Stuart Broad was bowling a consistent line once more and got one to nip back off the seam. Cook edged behind below the England keeper, whose footwork betrayed him and could only get fingertips on the ball.
To rub salt into the wounds, both men at the crease began to feed off Woakes' wayward lines and reached half centuries with the minimum of fuss.
Cook and Amla take control
As the two took the partnership past 100, South Africa began to dominate proceedings. Boundary after boundary came as the hosts passed 200 for the loss of just one wicket.
England largely toiled in the humid conditions as not only scoreboard ticked onto 200, but soon did the partnership also.
Protean tons before flurry of wickets
Such was the style of both men at the crease, it was fitting both reached their tons. First up was Amla who became the lead scorer of the series and his 25th century. He was not to last much longer however, after playing on from a Stokes ball, to hear the ominous death rattle behind him.
As if to characterise South Africa in nutshell, another wicket fell eight balls later, when captain de Villiers was dismissed without scoring. After a day with little to cheer, could the tourists get something going before the close?
Before that however, it was Cook's moment in the limelight. With the nervous nineties to negotiate - including a tight lbw appeal, the opener became the one hundreth player in test cricket to score a ton on debut, as his father looked on from the stands. The Protean selectors may well have looked on and mused 'what if'?
The fragility of the South African batting lineup was once more visible, when centurion Cook played on to his sticks from a rare peach from the poor Woakes. With Duminy falling lbw to Ali also, four wickets had fallen for 36 runs.
Bavuma steadies ship once more
It was again the task of Temba Bavuma to steer to ship through choppy seas and with de Kock at the other end, the pair fought back to reach 300 without any further losses.
The duo pushed on further with some beautiful shots and at stumps had reached 329-5, with South Africa very nicely placed going into day two.
England spent the day chasing the ball to the fence with Chris Woakes their most expensive bowler going for 74 off 16 overs with just the one wicket. On resumption tomorrow morning, the tourists will need to strike early with a relatively new cherry, to give themselves a platform to fight back.