Gary Kirsten’s unbeaten 109 guided South Africa to 260 for seven at stumps on the first day of the fourth Test at Headingley here on Thursday.
Debutant Monde Zondeki, with a career-best 50 not out, also frustrated England in an unbroken eighth wicket stand of 118 with Kirsten — South Africa’s most-capped player, appearing in his 92nd Test.
Left-hander Kirsten (35) at the crease for over six hours, batted for all but four balls of the day.
Pace bowler Zondeki, (21) in only his 16th first-class match, brought up his fifty off 87 balls with a cut four off Andrew Flintoff, his 10th boundary.
England’s all-pace attack had been on top, reducing the Proteas to 21 for four and 142 for seven after South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss.
And they would have remained ahead had they not given Kirsten three lives.
On 28 he was caught off all-rounder Flintoff’s no-ball and on 42, Kirsten saw Nasser Hussain at third slip drop a fierce cut above his head off Flintoff.
Then, on 74, wicket-keeper Alec Stewart dropped his legside deflection off Kirtley.
However, Kirsten was unflustered, bringing up his 18th Test hundred and fifth against England with a pull behind square leg off debutant Kabir Ali for two, having faced 232 balls including 15 fours.
Kirsten’s second fifty had come off just 60 balls as he wrested back the initiative from England.
England took the new ball as soon as they could, with South Africa 230 for seven after 80 overs.
But Zondeki, playing in the absence of Shaun Pollock who had returned home to witness the birth of his first child and because the Proteas had dropped left-arm spinner Paul Adams, brought up the duo’s century stand with a square cut four off James Kirtley worthy of a top order batsman.
Flintoff, who dimissed Mark Boucher (16) with the last ball before tea, struck with the first ball after the break.
Andrew Hall could do nothing with a Flintoff delivery that lept spitefully off a length except fend it to Ed Smith in the gully for a first ball nought.
South Africa were now 142 for seven and Flintoff was on a hat-trick.
But pace bowler Zondeki survived before getting off the mark in style with an on-driven four off Flintoff.
Jacques Rudolph had already staunched the early flow of wickets by putting on 95 for the fifth-wicket with Kirsten.
But, on 55, Northerns left-hander Rudolph was lbw to 22-year-old Worcestershire pace bowler Kabir. He faced 101 balls including 10 fours.
Earlier left-hander Smith fell fourth ball of the innings.
Kirtley had Smith (two) chasing a wide delivery, edging to Stewart.
Then, in the second over two for one became two for two.
Martin Bicknell (34) marked his return to Test cricket after a ten-year absence when his second ball had Herschelle Gibbs edging to Stewart for nought.
Bicknell, included alongside Kabir after Durham quick Stephen Harmison and Warwickshire left-arm spinner Ashley Giles were dropped from the winning England third Test team at Trent Bridge which levelled the series at 1-1, soon had another wicket.
Jacques Kallis (six) uppishly drove Bicknell to England captain Michael Vaughan at short extra-cover.
Bicknell was England’s most economical bowler with two for 32 in 20 overs.
Then 16 for three became 21 for four when Kabir struck with his fifth ball.
Neil McKenzie (four) got half-forward to Kabir and Stewart took his third catch of the innings.
But it was South Africa who were celebrating at stumps. – Sapa-AFP