England's bid for a ninth successive victory was foiled by bad light and some determined lower order resistance as South Africa clung on to claim an unlikely draw in the second Test in Durban.

The tourists were on the brink of becoming only the fifth side to win nine Tests in a row with South Africa struggling on 290 for eight after tea on the final day at Kingsmead.

But local regulations state both sides must be offered the opportunity to leave the field for bad light once floodlights become necessary, and South Africa's ninth-wicket pair gladly accepted the opportunity to salvage a draw.

The frustrating events, denying England a possible 15 further overs to bowl at the home side's tail, ended England's winning sequence.

Their terrific run stretched back to their seven-wicket triumph over New Zealand at Lord's last May, but the draw still confirms England as the only side in the world to remain unbeaten in 2004.

Had England clinched a win, it would have represented possibly their most extraordinary victory of the past 12 months.

They had been dismissed for 139 - their lowest first-innings total for four years - on the opening day and conceded a 193-run deficit, only to turn the match around in dramatic style and come so close to gaining a 2-0 series lead.

The eventful final day began with South Africa resuming on 21 for one with unrealistic hopes of chasing a daunting a victory target of 378.

They lost nightwatchman Nicky Boje in the seventh over. But having been brushed aside emphatically during the first Test at Port Elizabeth, South Africa have found some resolve.

They already knew that only three other sides had successfully chased a bigger total in the fourth innings of a Test.

But that historical perspective appeared to be lost on opener Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Rudolph during a stand of 54, 42 of which were added during a seven-over spell.

Having weathered the worst of the new ball threat, the pair set about asserting their authority and playing in a similar manner to a run-chase in a one-day encounter.

The tactic enabled them to progress quickly but also encouraged England.

Gibbs, previously dropped on six by wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, inevitably played one shot too many and cut Steve Harmison straight to gully to give the Durham fast bowler one of two wickets in a six-over spell before lunch.

Harmison followed that success by having man-of-the-match Jacques Kallis caught behind in the final over before lunch, to put England apparently firmly on course for another victory.

Once again, though, they were frustrated by a determined partnership, with Rudolph teaming up with Martin van Jaarsveld to deny England's best efforts for 15 overs.

Just as in Port Elizabeth, when England won a dubious appeal for a catch behind to remove Shaun Pollock and accelerate their march to victory, they were again indebted to a dubious umpiring decision.

Rudolph had battled for 160 minutes and given glimpses of his range of strokes, including a straight six off Ashley Giles and eight fours during his 61, when England's left-arm spinner appealed for a catch at short leg.

Television replays were inconclusive at best but England quickly built on that success to claim three wickets in 20 balls.

Hashim Amla fell leg before to Simon Jones in the next over then van Jaarsveld edged Matthew Hoggard to slip only one short of his half-century.

Even the most pessimistic of England followers must have believed South Africa's resistance was broken, but again the momentum shifted as wicketkeeper AB de Villiers found a determined and able partner in Pollock.

Playing positively when England were wayward, the pair forced the tourists to take the new ball.

Pollock even survived a tough spell from Harmison, when he was hit twice in successive balls on different hands, during their defiant 95-run stand spanning 30 overs.

There was still time for one final twist to the tale, with Pollock - backing up too far - being run out with 16 possible overs remaining and clouds closing in.

While he received ice treatment in the dressing room, new batsman Ntini decided attack was the best form of defence and hit Harmison for four boundaries in his first over, the final action of a thrilling match.