LONDON - Alastair Cook made a patient century to give England the edge on the first day of the first Test match against South Africa at the Oval on Thursday. Cook made 114 not out as England overcame the loss of captain Andrew Strauss in the first over to reach 267 for three at the close.
Cook shared a 170-run second wicket partnership with Jonathan Trott (71) and an 81-run third wicket stand with Kevin Pietersen, who made 42. Cook and Trott came together without a run on the board after Strauss was leg before wicket to Morne Morkel off the fourth ball of the match. But Cook and Trott were largely untroubled on a dry, easy-paced pitch as they rebuilt the England innings with sensible batting, only playing the ball when it was necessary or when they could pick off loose deliveries.
South Africa's highly rated pace attack was neutralised by solid batting and a dry, easy-paced pitch. With the number one ranking in Test cricket at stake, it had been expected that the series would be a battle between two outstanding pace attacks but the South Africans were forced to settle for containment for much of the day. The tourists used spin bowlers for 21 of the 90 overs sent down.
The left-handed Cook showed impeccable shot selection as he reached his 20th Test century off 222 balls, with 11 fours and a top-edged hook for six off Dale Steyn.
scoreboard
ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS:
A Strauss lbw b Morkel 0
A Cook not out 114
J Trott c De Villiers b Morkel 71
K Pietersen c De Villiers b Kallis 42
I Bell not out 10
To bat: R Bopara, M Prior, T Bresnan, S Broad, G Swann, J Anderson
EXTRAS: (b2, lb16, nb10, w2) 30
TOTAL: (3 wkts, 90 overs) 267
FOW: 1-0, 2-170, 3-251
Bowling: AntennaCond BoldMorkel 18-2-44-2, Philander 16-2-48-0, Steyn 21-5-62-0, Kallis 14-3-34-1, Imran Tahir 15-0-51-0, Duminy 6-1-10-0
SOUTH AFRICA: G Smith, A Petersen, H Amla, J Kallis, A de Villiers, J Rudolph, J Duminy, V Philander, D Steyn, M Morkel, Imran Tahir.
TOSS: England