England fight back

England fought to wrench back the initiative from South Africa in the fourth Test on Friday, on a day when the sides seemed to swap their collective personalities.

South Africa, so dominant at the start of the series, eked out 342 in their first innings, thanks mainly to a magnificently obdurate 130 from Gary Kirsten, before England rattled along to 197 for three as bad light cut short the second day.

Shrugging off their frustrations 8212; Kirsten had put on 150 with Monde Zondeki to equal South Africa8217;s record for the eighth wicket 8212; the home team scored at more than four runs an over in an attempt to make up time. Michael Vaughan fell cheaply, a block against Makhaya Ntini spinning back into his leg stump, before Mark Butcher 77 and Marcus Trescothick 59 put on 142 for the second wicket.