2nd Test (Day-2): South Africa Vs. England - - Strauss And Cook Shine As England Begin Solid Reply After South Africa Were All Out For 343

Andrew Strauss hit a sparkling half-century as England made an aggressive start to their first innings on the second day of the second Test against South Africa at Kingsmead on Sunday.

Strauss hit 50 not out off 49 balls as England reached 59 for no wicket at tea in reply to South Africa's 343 all out.

On an overcast day, with the floodlights on from the start of play, South Africa's total seemed a good effort in conditions which had been expected to be favourable for bowlers.

But Strauss made batting look easy as he struck eight fours and took advantage of some ill-directed South African bowling. Makhaya Ntini was particularly expensive, bowling too short and conceding 25 runs off three overs.

On 50 he was adjudged lbw to Morkel. Immediately he called for a review, and it soon became obvious why. He had got a feather of an inside edge onto his back thigh, and after a delay, with TV replays not even having to consider whether the ball was too high, was reprieved. But not for long. He faced just 11 more balls.

AB de Villiers (50) and Mark Boucher (39) batted positively at the start of the day after South Africa resumed on a shaky 175 for five.

They took their sixth wicket to 63 before Boucher fell victim to the umpiring review system with 2.5 overs remaining before the second new ball.

Boucher stretched well forward to off-spinner Graeme Swann, with bat and pad close together. Swann's appeal for leg before wicket was turned down by umpire Amish Saheba.

England sought a review and replays showed the ball would have hit just below the bails, so the decision was reversed and Boucher had to go.

Boucher had been in good form, making his runs off 50 balls with five fours and outscoring De Villiers, who batted solidly.

De Villiers went on to reach his half-century but two balls drove at a Stuart Broad outswinger and was caught behind by Matt Prior. He made his runs off 98 balls with six fours.

Paul Harris was a second lbw victim of Swann, unsuccessfully seeking a reprieve by review after being given out.

Morne Morkel made a useful 23 before he was Swann's fourth victim in the first over after lunch. But Dale Steyn made a cavalier 47 off 58 balls as he and Ntini frustrated the England bowlers in a last wicket stand of 58. Steyn hit three sixes, all off Swann, and three fours.

Swann finished with four for 110.