England made a cautious start in Durban today as they attempted to thwart South Africa's bid for victory in the second Test and preserve their unbeaten record in 2004.
Resuming the third day 163 runs adrift on 30 without loss, England were bracing themselves for a tough day's battle if they were to avoid defeat and become the only side in the world to finish the year unbeaten.
Conditions continued to favour batting this morning with neither Shaun Pollock nor Makhaya Ntini causing any problems to openers Andrew Strauss and Marcus Trescothick during the early stages.
Somerset left-hander Trescothick, unbeaten on seven overnight, gave the only half-chance early on when he edged Pollock just short and wide of Jacques Kallis at second slip in the fourth over of the day and the ball raced away for the first boundary.
Strauss, resuming on 21, claimed his first boundary three overs later when Ntini dropped short and he pulled through midwicket for four.
