South Africa captain Graeme Smith ground out a 23rd Test half-century on Sunday to keep alive his teams hopes of saving the first Test against England at Lord's.At tea on the fourth day South Africa were 128 without loss in their second innings after being asked to follow on 346 runs in arrears. Smith had scored 71 and his opening partner Neil McKenzie was on 50.
The 50 partnership took 164 minutes and the century stand was posted in 109 minutes with a controlled edge by Smith to the third man boundary.
Smith had reached his half-century from 106 balls while McKenzie took 190 for his 15th Test fifty.
Runs rushed more liberally after the lunch interval with Smith off-driving James Anderson to the boundary and using his feet well to on-drive Panesar for another four. He established his growing mastery over the bowlers with a flowing off-drive off Panesar for four in the left-arm spinner's final over before tea.
McKenzie played one false shot off Anderson past Ambrose to the boundary but was otherwise rarely troubled.
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