Batting woes continue for England

Having suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat at Headingley in the second npower Test, England wanted a strong response after winning the toss and opting to bat on the first morning.

But England's top order once again struggled against South Africa's pace attack and by tea they had struggled to 173 for six after losing three wickets for six runs in 21 balls shortly before lunch.

Openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook appeared to have laid a platform for a major total from a top order who have only passed 400 in the first innings once in the last 14 Tests.

They forged a 66-run opening stand, but Strauss' dismissal in bizarre circumstances just five overs before lunch sparked another collapse, which handed the initiative to the tourists.

Seamer Andre Nel, brought into South Africa's line-up as a replacement for Dale Steyn after he withdrew with a fractured left thumb, forced Strauss onto the back foot with a short delivery. He turned it onto the leg-side but stepped on his stumps as he attempted to push off for a single.

England captain Michael Vaughan suffered a first-ball duck and while Kevin Pietersen blocked the hat-trick ball, he lasted only three more overs before falling to all-rounder Jacques Kallis in similarly confusing circumstances.

England's collapse was halted by a 62-run stand between Cook and Ian Bell, which hinted at a recovery as the hosts battled through 16 overs without further setback.

Cook brought up his second half-century of the series, but once again failed to progress to three figures with Nel claiming his third wicket of the innings when he induced an edge low to Kallis at second slip.

Paul Collingwood was patient but edged Kallis attempting a front-foot drive low to captain Graeme Smith at slip and with tea approaching, England lost another key wicket with Bell's defiant 50 ending after more than two hours at the crease when he edged Makhaya Ntini behind only one over before the interval.