At tea England were 109 without loss with Trescothick on 33 and Strauss on 54, the fourth half-century of his fledgling Test career.

Earlier Boeta Dippenaar scored 110, his third century, to assist the home side's recovery from 66 for three on Friday.

South Africa, who won the toss and chose to bat, resumed on 273 for seven with Dippenaar on 79 and Thami Tsolekile on six.

Dippenaar reached his century in the 14th over of the day with an upper cut for four through backward point off fast bowler Stephen Harmison.

He was out four overs later when he edged a drive off fast bowler Simon Jones and was caught by Trescothick at first slip to end an eighth-wicket partnership of 63.

Dippenaar batted for more than six hours, faced 245 balls and hit 11 fours.

Tsolkile went five balls later for 22, his highest Test score, when he attempted to slog-sweep left arm spinner Ashley Giles and sent a looping catch to Andrew Flintoff at backward point.

Debutant Dale Steyn hit Giles for the only six of the innings in his next over but South Africa were dismissed from Giles' next delivery which Steyn prodded to Strauss at short leg.

Swing bowler Matthew Hoggard was the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 56 from 20 overs while Flintoff picked up three for 72 from 22 overs. Giles kept a steady line and length and was rewarded with two for 69 from 27.4 overs.

Trescothick and Strauss rode out tight and aggressive opening spells from fast bowlers Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini and were able to score more freely off the rest of the South African attack.

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Opener Andrew Strauss completed a fine century as England reached 227-1 by the close on the second day of the first Test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth yesterday. Strauss, who put on 152 runs for the first wicket with Marcus Trescothick (47), was batting on 120 and Mark Butcher was not out on 24 at the other end.