DURBAN, DEC 27: England captain Nasser Hussain made the third-slowest century by an England batsman before South Africa's bowlers hit back on the second day of the third Test at Kingsmead today. Hussain made 146 not out in an England total of 366 for nine before bad light stopped play 16.2 overs early.England failed to take full advantage of a sparkling fourth wicket stand of 156 between Hussain and Alec Stewart (95: 149b, 15x4), losing five wickets for 26 runs on either side of tea before Hussain accepted an offer of an early close after being struck in the ribs by a lifting ball from Allan Donald, bowling with the third new ball.Hussain batted for more than ten and a half hours and faced 463 balls. He hit 17 fours. The England captain reached his century after batting for 466 mins and facing 343 balls. Only two batsmen have batted longer for England before reaching three figures. Peter Richardson took 488 minutes against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1956-57 while Clive Radley needed one minute lessagainst New Zealand at Auckland in 1977-78. Hussain played the anchor role on a second successive day of heat and high humidity, although he hit some cracking coverdrives, pulls and hooks. It was Stewart, however, who lifted the tempo of what had been a slow-paced match.ScoreboardEngland (1st innings; overnight 135-2): Mark Butcher c Klusener b Adams 48, Michael Atherton b Hayward 1, Nasser Hussain not out 146, Darren Maddy c Adams b Donald 24, Alec Stewart lbw b Hayward 95, Chris Adams b Adams 19, Andrew Flintoff lbw b Cronje 5, Andy Caddick lbw b Cronje 0, Darren Gough c Klusener b Donald 9, Chris Silverwood c Boucher b Pollock 0, Phil Tufnell not out 0; Extras: (b1, lb14, w3, nb1) 19. Total: (for 9 wkts, 166.4 overs) 366Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-82, 3-138, 4-294, 5-336, 6-345, 7- 345, 8-363, 9-362.Bowling: Donald 23.4-3-67-2, Pollock 33-14-55-1, Hayward 20-3-74-2, Kallis 23-9-38-0, Klusener 17-5-38-0, Adams 43-17-74-2, Cronje 7-5-5-2.
