Bowlers put Proteas on top after day one at Edgbaston
Michael Vaughan was out for a golden duck on the first morning
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Wednesday, 30, Jul 2008 10:47
South Africa's bowlers dominated England on the first day of the third Test at Edgbaston as the hosts were dismissed for 231.
Andre Nel took two wickets in two balls in the morning session as the Proteas gained the upper hand early on. However, wickets continued to tumble throughout the day and England struggled to put partnerships together.
Having been bowled out, one consolation for Michael Vaughan's men came just before the close of play when Andrew Flintoff dismissed South African captain Graeme Smith but England must have a good second day to stand a chance of winning the Test.
The hosts went to lunch at 82-3 after Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen were all dismissed in the space of three overs just before the break.
England had looked good on 68 without loss before paceman Nel dismissed Strauss after the batsman trod on his stumps, just when the home side's openers looked to be settling into a steady rhythm at the crease after reaching 68 without loss by the 24th over.
Strauss was quickly followed back into the pavilion by his captain Michael Vaughan, as the Yorkshireman continued his poor run of form when he edged behind to Mark Boucher off Nel's very next ball to leave England reeling.
Vaughan appeared to doubt the decision of umpire Aleem Dar but replays, although inconclusive, suggested there had been a hint of an edge.
Kevin Pietersen then came to the crease and fended off Nel's hat-trick ball, but soon after added to England's woes as he was caught at short leg by Ashwell Prince off Jacques Kallis.
After lunch Alastair Cook and Ian Bell tried to rebuild the innings and had added 62 before the Essex man edged Nel to Kallis at slip.
Paul Collingwood's troubles continued and he could only add four to the score. Tim Ambrose and Flintoff helped England pass the 200-mark but the lower-order offered little resistance to the Proteas' attack.
The innings ended in calamity as James Anderson and Monty Panesar were run out in the same over.
At the end of the Flintoff struck in his first over but could not repeat the trick against night watchman Paul Harris, leaving South Africa on 38-1 at stumps.