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Strauss and Cook are quick to foil pace aces ; England pair blunt the much-heralded South Africa attack with some smart strokes to give the home side an early edge. David Lloyd reports from Lord's

OPENING batsmen Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook rose to the challenge here today to give England a sound start to the npower First Test against South Africa.

The two left-handers were under pressure when visiting captain Graeme Smith won the toss and unleashed his highlyrated fast bowlers in conditions which appeared tailor-made for seam and swing.

But a combination of a slow pitch, some less than sparkling work from Makhaya Ntini and Co and, above all, sound judgement of what to play and what to leave alone allowed Strauss and Cook to bat through the morning session to take England to a lunchtime score of 71 without loss.

Cook was more aggressive but his partner played equally well as ...

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