It was first blood to England in the opening session of the first Castle Lager/MTN cricket Test against South Africa at St George’s Park on Friday, with three wickets falling before lunch.
The lunchtime score was 83 for three, with Jacques Rudolph on 41 and Boeta Dippenaar on six.
Captain Graeme Smith edged the second delivery of the match from Matthew Hoggard to South African-born Andrew Strauss at first slip to have the home side reeling on nought for one, after winning the toss and deciding to bat first.
Test debutant AB de Villiers and fellow Titan Jacques Rudolph did much to repair the damage, moving to their 50 partnership in 56 minutes, off 74 deliveries, before De Villiers was given out somewhat controversially lbw to Andrew Flintoff for 28.
Jacques Kallis faced seven balls in the 15 minutes he was at the crease. He was bowled by Steve Harmison for nought. — Sapa