South Africa dominated the first day of the fourth and final Test against England at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday, bowling out their opponents for 180 and reaching 29 for no wicket in tricky batting conditions. England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss but that was virtually his only good moment of the day.
Batting first was always a gamble in conditions which favoured the bowlers and England's troubles started with the first ball of the match when Strauss was caught at backward short leg off Dale Steyn. Steyn took five for 51 and Morne Morkel three for 39 as England crumbled. The tourists, leading the series 1-0, lost their first four wickets for 39 runs inside the first hour.
Paul Collingwood (47) and Ian Bell (35) put on 76 for the fifth wicket but when Collingwood provided a first Test wicket for Ryan McLaren soon after lunch the slide resumed and England were bowled out shortly before tea. South African captain Graeme Smith and his opening partner Ashwell Prince faced only 25 balls, scoring 16 runs, before rain stopped play for 92 minutes.
Sidebottom was playing ahead of Graham Onions in a surprise move by England. Having chosen to bat, Strauss turned a lifting delivery on leg stump from Steyn firmly behind square leg but Hashim Amla dived to his right to hold an excellent catch. Morkel followed up in the second over when Jonathan Trott played across a full delivery and was leg before wicket.
Kevin Pietersen's run of poor scores continued when he pulled Morkel straight to Parnell at mid-on after making seven. Alastair Cook went back on his stumps against Morkel and was a second leg before victim after making 21. He asked for a review but umpire Tony Hill's decision was upheld. Collingwood looked in good form before he was squared up by McLaren and caught at point off a leading edge. He made his 47 off 61 balls with five fours and two sixes.
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