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Cricket

KP's England one down after skittling South Africa for 194

07/08/2008

England have closed the day on 49-1 after bowling South Africa out for 194 in Kevin Pietersen's first match as England captain.

Andrew Strauss was dismissed for six by Makhaya Ntini to mark the only low point of a great day for the home side at the Oval.

At one point the tourists had looked imposing on 103-1, but a bowling fightback led by the recalled Steve Harmison (2-49) and James Anderson (3-42) put England in a strong position going into bat.

Captain Graeme Smith top-scored for the Proteas with 46, caught by Anderson off the bowling of Harmison, with the recalled paceman then dismissing Hashim Amla (36) with the next ball.

Jacques Kallis followed two balls later from Anderson as the wickets began to tumble for South Africa.

But the visitors resisted a collapse thanks to Jacques de Villiers' 27, while tail-enders Morne Morkel and Paul Harris added 30 between them.

Monty Panesar claimed the wickets of Ntini and de Villiers, with Andrew Flintoff and Stuart Broad sharing the other wickets between them.

Earlier Pietersen had been denied a perfect start to his captaincy when Alastair Cook dropped Smith off the match's first ball from Harmison.

Cook went some way to making amends when he caught Neil McKenzie at third slip from an Andrew Flintoff delivery with South Africa on 56.

Strauss was caught behind to leave England at 7-1 before Ian Bell and Cook steadied the ship to leave Pietersen's side one run short of their 50 at the close of day one.