The Wanderers at Johannesburg could not have witnessed a more enthralling and absorbing contest than the first three days of the fourth Test between England and South Africa. Fortunes of both sides wavered alongside the fluctuating weather. England, having won the toss, left the field on the first day with mixed emotions at 263 for four. After the loss of Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss and Robert Key built a outstanding 183-run partnership that left the hosts scratching their heads. While Robert Key made most of the opportunity in the absence of the injured Mark Butcher, Strauss continued his drema run that shows no sign of abating.

As the game appeared to slip away, the home team did manage to peg its opponents back with Robert Key on eighty-three and Andrew Strauss on 147 departing in quick succession, along with the bonus wicket of Graham Thorpe.

The nippy Ntini was instrumental in reviving South Africa's fortunes. But the hosts had to wait awhile for the skies to clear on a rain-interrupted second day. England's innings resembled fault-lines after the magnum opus of a partnership between Key and Strauss. But at 278 for seven, a struggling but defiant Michael Vaughan found company as the last two wickets put on 133 runs. The hapless hosts failed to maintain a disciplined line against the tail-enders. Ashley Giles with twenty-six and Steve Harmison with thirty gave England a fighting chance as Vaughan grew in confidence, in what can be best described as a rather 'bleak' series for him. As Harmison made most of the short stuff, the umpires rather bizarrely appeared to cave in to the fielding side's requests of bad light, much to the annoyance of the England skipper. Having said that, controversy and bad light dogged play all day. In a bid to utilize the overcast conditions and damp atmosphere, England declared at their overnight score of 411 for eight. But the sky shone brilliantly, as did South Africa, who raced to sixty-four with openers Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs looking in fine nick against some ragged bowling. Matthew Hoggard, the only bowler who looked impressive, then nailed

Graeme Smith, who suffered insult to injury when the umpire gave him out lbw when he was lying face down on the ground. Jacques Rudolph made a fleeting appearance before Hoggard had him caught by Ashley Giles. Giles however paid for his sharp fielding with a dislocated right thumb, which is bad news for England.

Jacques Kallis then combined with Herschelle Gibbs, who has had a lean series. They shared a steady partnership that left Vaughan and most of England contemplating whether the declaration was a wise move after all, particularly as Harmison, who had sustained a calf injury, was generally wayward, and James Anderson had clearly not vindicated the management's faith in him at the expense of Simon Jones. But Hoggard struck again as Kallis chopped one onto his stumps, ending a promising innings of thirty-three. The game appeared to have tilted in England's favour when Andrew Flintoff removed Dippenaar before tea. But the hosts struck back with a flurry of runs, until Abraham de Villiers played an injudicious hook off Hoggard straight down Giles' throat. The decision to recall Mark Boucher to bolster the line-up in place of Hashim Amla proved insightful. At the other end, Gibbs looked in exceptional nick. From 184 for five, the duo wore down the visitors with some scintillating stroke-play. Gibbs scored his first century at Johannesburg, his fourteenth in all and third against England. The duo, in blistering fashion, wrested the initiative with a 120-run partnership. Boucher fell to an over-ambitious shot on sixty-six. An injured Geraint Jones dropped Gibbs who remained unbeaten on 136 as South Africa finished the day on a commanding 306 for 6.

Centurion Herschelle Gibbs evades a bouncer.