CENTURION: England lost two wickets before lunch as they battled to avoid defeat on the fifth and final day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park on Sunday.

England, set 364 to win, were 77 for three at lunch.

They scored only 66 runs for the loss of two wickets in 28 overs during the morning and it seemed clear that survival, rather than seeking an improbable win, was the objective.

Only Kevin Pietersen showed any aggressive intent. He was on 29 not out off 49 balls at lunch.

Pietersen and Jonathan Trott, who laboured to 18 not out off 75 balls, notched a half-century partnership for the fourth wicket in the last over before lunch.

England lost nightwatchman James Anderson in the third over of the day when he gloved Friedel de Wet down the legside to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Alastair Cook defended resolutely for 79 minutes and 56 balls, scoring 12 runs, before he too was caught off a glove, when a ball from left-arm spinner Paul Harris went to Graeme Smith at leg gully off his glove and pad.

After an early four-over spell by De Wet, Harris and JP Duminy bowled from the West Lane end, while Smith rotated his three fast bowlers in short spells from the Hennops River end from which there had been unpredictable bounce for much of the match.

There was no undue assistance for the quicker men, however, and Smith brought on Harris for the last over before lunch from that end.