14 January 2005	Friday	03 Zilhaj 1425

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 13: Andrew Strauss hit a career-best 147 as England made a strong start before South Africa hit back late on the first day of the fourth Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday.

England were 263 for four at the close, with Strauss and Graham Thorpe falling to the second new ball before bad light ended play. The teams are locked at 1-1 in the five-match series.

Strauss shared a second wicket stand of 182 with Robert Key (83), a record for a visiting team against South Africa at the Wanderers, as England took advantage of batting first after captain Michael Vaughan won the toss for the first time in the series.

Strauss, 27, who was born in Johannesburg before his family emigrated from South Africa when he was seven years old, made his third century of the series and his fifth in 11 Tests.

He went past his previous highest score of 137 against the West Indies at Lord's last year before edging a drive against Shaun Pollock to Jacques Kallis at second slip in the third over with the second new ball.

Thorpe followed without scoring when he was caught at third slip by Boeta Dippenaar off Makhaya Ntini three overs later. Night watchman Matthew Hoggard faced three balls against Ntini before the umpires offered the batsmen the chance to go off because of poor light.

Vaughan, who had not got past 20 in six innings during the series, was clearly determined not to get out to a loose shot, battling to nine not out at the close after 89 minutes and 45 balls without hitting a boundary.

Strauss, though, batted comfortably on a pitch which was drier and had less grass than usual for the Wanderers, where bowlers have often had plenty of help on the first day. It was on the same ground five seasons ago that England were two for four in Vaughan's debut Test after being sent in.

Despite heavy rain in recent weeks, Vaughan's decision was justified as the bowlers received virtually no assistance on a pitch with good but even bounce and carry.

Recalled wicket keeper Mark Boucher and fast bowler Dale Steyn combined in South Africa's only breakthrough before tea when Marcus Trescothick was caught behind for 16 when the total was on 45.

Boucher was recalled to add experience to the South African team. He was dropped following a tour of Sri Lanka last year after making a South African record 75 consecutive Test appearances.

Steyn returned to the side after Charl Langeveldt failed a late fitness test on an injured left hand. The left-handed Strauss reached his fifty off 95 balls and then took control with some finely-placed cuts and cover drives as he made his second half-century off just 60 deliveries. He century included 17 fours and a six.

Strauss seldom looked in trouble after an edge off Shaun Pollock went dangerously close to AB de Villiers at gully when he was on 13. Strauss lost his fluency after tea, however, and his total innings lasted for 250 balls. He hit 23 fours and a six.

Key kept his normal attacking instincts in check as he reached 50 for only the fourth time in 14 Tests off 110 balls. He gave a hard caught and bowl chance to left-arm spinner Nicky Boje when he had 39.

Boje needed to leave the field briefly for treatment to a cut ring finger on his left hand, although he was able to return and resume bowling. Key became the dominant partner after tea with a sweep for six and two precisely-timed off drives for four off Pollock lifting the tempo.

He faced 164 balls and hit 11 fours and a six before edging a drive against Ntini to South African captain Graeme Smith at first slip. England made one change to the team which lost the third Test in Cape Town by 196 runs, with James Anderson replacing Simon Jones in a switch of fast bowlers.

SCOREBOARD



England (1st innings)



M.Trescothick c Boucher b Steyn        16 



A.Strauss c Kallis b Pollock           147 



R.Key c Smith b Ntini                  83 



M.Vaughan not out                      9 



G.Thorpe c Dippenaar b Ntini           0 



M.Hoggard not out                      0 



Extras (lb-5 nb-3)                     8 



Total (for four wickets, 85.4 overs)   263



Fall of wkts: 1-45 2-227 3-262 4-263



To bat: A.Flintoff, G.Jones, A.Giles, J.Anderson, S.Harmison



Bowling (to date): Pollock 19-6-45-1, Ntini 17.4-3-51-2, 
Steyn 18-6-55-1, Kallis 17-2-55-0 (nb-2), Boje 14-2-52-0 (nb-1)



South Africa: G.Smith, H.Gibbs, J.Rudolph, J.Kallis, 
B.Dippenaar, M.Boucher, A.de Villiers, S.Pollock, 
N.Boje, M.Ntini, D.Steyn. -Agencies