South Africa bowled out England for just 173 on the first day of the second Test at Lord’s here on Thursday.
They would have been in an even stronger position but for a last wicket stand of 55 in 67 balls between fast bowlers Darren Gough and James Anderson.
England were 118 for nine when the pair came together before Gough (34) skied Shaun Pollock to Paul Adams at mid-off. Gough, the innings top scorer, faced 48 balls hitting two sixes and three fours. Anderson, was a Test best 21 not out off 30 balls.
Only Michael Vaughan (33), in his first match as England Test captain, also made it past 30. Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini took five for 75 while lively paceman Andrew Hall, recalled on his 28th birthday, took three for 18. But poor shot selection was responsible for many of the dismissals.
Vaughan and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff both gifted Ntini their wickets, each falling into obvious hooking traps. But Gough successfully pulled recalled left-arm spinner Paul Adams for six and three-balls later drove him for another six.
England, struggling at 94 for five at lunch, lost their sixth wicket five balls after the resumption when Alec Stewart (seven) miscued a pull off Ntini and Adams, just behind square, took a diving catch.
Ashley Giles (seven) then fended Hall to Pollock at first slip before all-rounder Flintoff (11) unthinkingly hooked Ntini to Adams.
Flintoff’s carelessness left England 112 for eight in the 34th over.
Earlier Hall, who had been at English county Worcestershire before replacing Charl Willoughby, took two wickets in five balls. Hall bowled former captain Nasser Hussain (14) with a ball that nipped back between bat and pad.
And four balls later 73 for three became 77 for four when Hall made Anthony McGrath (four) check a drive straight to Gary Kirsten at mid-off.
Vaughan (33) then hooked Ntini and was caught by substitute fielder Neil McKenzie at deep fine leg, England 85 for five. After South Africa captain Graeme Smith – who made a national record 277 in the drawn first Test at Edgbaston — called correctly
on a green tinged pitch, England were soon in trouble.
Opener Marcus Trescothick, batting with a right index finger fractured while fielding at Edgbaston, went for six after playing on to Ntini. – Sapa-AFP