Strauss leads the way

Andrew Strauss scored a century on his first appearance against a 3rd nation to create a unique record.

After previous tons against New Zealand and the West Indies, the left-hander dominated the second day of the First Test as England took control of the game.

The hosts resumed on 273-7, and although Boeta Dippenaar and Thami Tsolekile saw off the opening threat of Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard to take their stand to 63, Simon Jones removed Dippenaar for a fine, patient 110 (his third Test Century) and Ashely Giles removed the last 2 men to see them all out for 337 just before lunch.

Marcus Trescothick and Strauss then proceeded to put on a masterful display of concentration and application as they proceeded to bat for more than 3 hours in adding 152 against an attack that was lacking in variety and extremely compliant in giving up no balls.

Debutant Dale Steyn was the main culprit, delivering 10 in only 11 overs that were milked for 45 runs, although he did have the honour of collecting the only wicket of the 66 overs so far, bowling Trescothick for 47, an innings that was dogged and in some ways very much out of character, occupying a total of 139 balls.

At the other end, Strauss was on fire, as he put away the frequent bad balls for 4, and although he slowed dramatically in the 80s (just after the wicket fell) at a time when the recalled Mark Butcher was also struggling to score runs, the left handed pair were not to be dismissed, and Strauss completed his 3rd Test century with a straight drive of Makhaya Ntini from 194 balls, before opening out against a tiring attack to push his side into a very enviable position after only 2 days of what may very well turn out to be a long long series for the Proteas.

SOUTH AFRICA 337
Dippenaar 110, Rudolph 93, Flintoff 3-72
ENGLAND 227-1
Strauss 120*, Trescothick 47

Posted by Marc