PORT ELIZABETH, Dec 17: Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Flintoff took three wickets each as England claimed the spoils on the first day of the first test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

South Africa, who won the toss, reached 273 for seven on a docile batting surface by the close. Boeta Dippenaar was 79 not out with wicket-keeper Thami Tsolekile on six.

All rounder Flintoff, who took three for 62, had Jacques Rudolph caught behind for 93 to end a rebuilding fourth-wicket stand of 112, and then bowled Zander de Bruyn for six.

Hoggard, who finished with three for 41 off 15 overs, set the tone by striking with the second ball of the match to remove Graeme Smith for a duck as the South Africa skipper chased a wide ball straight to third slip.

Hoggard then returned with the new ball in the final session to have Shaun Pollock caught by Marcus Trescothick at first slip for 31, then induced Andrew Hall to drag a delivery into his stumps.

England are seeking an eighth test win in a row. South Africa's batsmen, however, remained defiant throughout the day, clinging on after each setback. Rudolph and debutant AB de Villiers added 63 for the second wicket before they were separated 40 minutes before lunch when De Villiers played back to a delivery from Flintoff and was trapped in front for 28.

Steve Harmison, the world's top ranked fast bowler, came back from an inconsistent opening spell to bowl Jacques Kallis for nought with a late swinging full toss that rattled the base of the off stump as South Africa slipped to 66 for three half an hour before lunch.

Rudolph and Dippenaar, though, scored fluently in a wicket less second session as the England attack wilted in temperatures forecast to reach 36 degrees Celsius.

On 68, Rudolph offered a sharp chance to short leg off left-arm spinner Ashley Giles but he recovered his poise only to fall 15 minutes after tea, flashing at a rising delivery from Flintoff and edging behind.

He batted for more than fours hours, faced 192 balls and hit 14 fours. Six overs later De Bruyn shouldered arms to a Flintoff delivery angled in at him and was bowled.

Pollock and the cautious Dippenaar put on 61 for the sixth wicket but Hoggard's double strike tilted the day's play conclusively in England's favour. Hoggard was denied a fourth wicket when Dippenaar, on 74, as dropped by Trescothick at first slip.

SCOREBOARD

South Africa (1st innings)

G.Smith c Strauss b Hoggard 0

A.de Villiers lbw b Flintoff 28

J.Rudolph c G.Jones b Flintoff 93

J.Kallis b Harmison 0

B.Dippenaar not out 79

Z.de Bruyn b Flintoff 6

S.Pollock c Trescothick b Hoggard 31

A.Hall b Hoggard 6

T.Tsolekile not out 6

Extras (lb-11 nb-9 w-4) 24

Total (for seven wkts, 90 overs) 273

To bat: M Ntini, D Steyn

Fall of wkts: 1-0 2-63 3-66 4-178 5-192 6-253 7-261

Bowling: Hoggard 15-4-41-3 (nb-1), Harmison 20-2-73-1 (w-3), S.Jones 14-4-34-0 (nb-2), Flintoff 17-2-62-3 (nb-6, w-1), Giles 24-8-52-0.

England: M.Trescothick, A.Strauss, M.Butcher, M.Vaughan, G.Thorpe, A.Flintoff, G.Jones, A.Giles, M.Hoggard, S.Jones, S.Harmison. -Reuters