18 Dec 2009

Honours even on day two of first test in Centurion

6:20 am on 18 December 2009

The England cricketers have made a solid start in reply to South Africa's first innings of 418 on the second day of their opening test in Centurion.

England lost their opening batsman Alastair Cook for 15, but skipper Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott shared an unbroken 63-run second wicket stand which took them to 88 for 1 at stumps.

Earlier, the off spinner Graeme Swann finished with 5 wickets for 110 as England's bowlers again had to toil under a hot sun until tea, working their way through some stubborn lower order resistance.

Jacques Kallis added only eight runs to his overnight score before being dismissed for 120.