England make solid start in reply to SA's 419

England made a solid start to their reply after South Africa stretched their first innings to 419 on the second day of the second Test at Headingley today.

England were 48 for no wicket when bad light ended play with 22 overs still due to be bowled. England captain Andrew Strauss and his opening partner Alastair Cook batted confidently, aided by some wayward bowling by the South Africans.

South Africa's innings lasted until shortly before the tea break. Alviro Petersen made a career best 182 as South Africa ground out an imposing total, casting doubt on England's decision to pick an all-seam attack and send them in. After Petersen's marathon innings ended in mid-afternoon, JP Duminy hit an unbeaten 48 as the last three wickets added 66 runs.

There was irony for England when part-time off-spinner Kevin Pietersen took his side's first wicket of the day after Petersen and Jacques Rudolph had batted most of the morning in a stubborn sixth wicket stand of 59.

England left out front-line spinner Graeme Swann, opting for four specialist seam bowlers. But the quick men could not make a breakthrough despite bowling accurately in overcast conditions.

Finally, England captain Andrew Strauss tossed the ball to Pietersen, whose second ball spun sharply past the bat as the left-handed Rudolph stretched forward defensively.

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior whipped off the bails and television umpire Asad Rauf ruled that the batsman had not got part of his foot behind the line in time.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad sent down six successive maidens at the start of the day.

In the fifth over Petersen was given out leg before wicket to Anderson by umpire Steve Davis without adding to his overnight score of 124 but, for the second time in his innings, he called for a review and was reprieved when replays showed the ball would have missed his leg stump.

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