London, July 13:

Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie continued to frustrate England in the first Test at Lord’s as South Africa got through their second session here today without losing a wicket.

The Proteas, following on, were 128-0 at tea on the fourth day, still needing a further 218 runs to make England bat again. South Africa captain Smith was 71 not out and McKenzie 50 not out after four hours

and 14 minutes of resistance, having defied all attempts by England captain Michael Vaughan to unsettle them.

South Africa resumed after lunch on 67-0. Left-hander Smith was then 36 not out with McKenzie unbeaten on 24. Smith’s cut four off Stuart Broad saw him complete a fifty off 106 balls with six fours. McKenzie had a lucky break when he went to 48 with an edge off Ryan Sidebottom. But Vaughan had decided to do without a second slip and the ball went through the gap. His single off Monty Panesar saw McKenzie to a 190-ball fifty with seven fours. The closest England had come to taking a wicket on Sunday was during the morning session when Smith, on 26, got a thin inside edge off Panesar.

South Africa resumed on 13-0, a huge 333 runs behind England’s 593-8 declared, built on Ian Bell’s Test-best 199 and 152 from Kevin Pietersen in his first Test innings against the land of his birth.

The Proteas knew that if they batted as they did while being dismissed for a first innings 247, with Ashwell Prince’s 101 the only major contribution, the opening match of this four-Test series could end with more than a day to spare.

England spinner Panesar had taken 4-74 in the first innings but it was the quicks who’d made inroads at the top of the order.