Strauss century gives England edge

South Africa probably hoped a local lad would make good at The Wanderers, just so long as it wasn't the England left-hander who spent the first six years of his life here before being moved to London, briefly via Sydney, by his parents.

But even Graeme Smith and Co had to stand and quietly applaud when Strauss completed his fifth hundred in eight months and his third of this series.

The Middlesex opener who has taken Test cricket by storm since reaching three figures, on debut, against New Zealand at Lord's last May, set up England's victory in Port Elizabeth and almost enabled them to go two up at Durban.

Now the 27-year-old can claim responsibility for having put Michael Vaughan's men firmly back on track after their series-levelling defeat in Cape Town. Even two quick-fire wickets as the light ran out today could not take the gloss off Strauss's efforts which helped see England to 263 for four at the close.

He couldn't do it alone, of course, and Rob Key contributed 83 to what could be a match defining second-wicket stand of 182 before being dismissed with the total on 227.

But Strauss still dominated centre stage, passing his previous best of 137 and climbing to 147 before the second new ball accounted for him and Graham Thorpe who failed to score.

It may not have been the most commanding of his centuries because South Africa's bowlers - especially the princely Shaun Pollock - found or went past the outside edge of his bat a good number of times.

But he won't worry about that, and neither will England.

Strauss, playing only his 11th Test, is simply something else. Very few players have taken to international cricket quite like this and South Africa's bowlers must be sick of the sight of him already.

Dale Steyn gave the home side a boost by dismissing Marcus Trescothick for 16 after an hour's play today and when there were only 45 runs on the board. But Strauss made sure Vaughan's rare success at this morning's toss did not go to waste.

There was enough in the pitch to encourage Pollock and Co throughout. Strauss, though, has this wonderful capacity to forget the last ball in an instant - and thrash the next one to the rope if it is even remotely inviting.

Thanks to a straight driven six off spinner Nicky Boje and 17 fours - many of them ferociously cut past point - 74 of his first 100 runs came in boundaries.

Strauss celebrated in that now familiar bat-waving style of his, then bided his time for a while as Key blossomed in the warm afternoon sunshine.

England's No3 survived a sharp caught and bowled chance to Boje, on 39, and he had his heart in his mouth again when Strauss was forced to dive full length to avoid being run out for 95 following a mini mix-up.

But Key knows this is his big chance to cement a place in the side for next summer, and the man who plundered a double hundred against West Indies at Lord's last July was desperate to go big again.

With Mark Butcher now back at home nursing a wrist injury, Key began to drive and pull with increasing assurance. It was when he swept Boje for six, though, that England and their fans really sensed they were in charge.

Makhaya Ntini spoiled the party just a little by persuading Key to edge to slip. But at that stage it looked only a blip.

Vaughan, with six low scores in as many innings this series, soon found himself facing the second new ball. He dug in determinedly, though, and had the best view in the house until Strauss's tired drive against Pollock presented a catch to second slip.

Soon after. Thorpe could only fend a lifter from Ntini to third slip as South Africa hit back late on.

The Wanderers is one of the world's great cricket grounds and, even though it was never even half full today, there was no shortage of atmosphere.

South Africa ' s emphatic 196-run victory in Cape Town has brought this series to the boil at 1-1, and England entered the "Bullring" - as locals like to call their arena - with home supporters scenting blood.

Five years ago, when Nasser Hussain's inexperienced side were sent crumbling to two for four after being put in at The Wanderers, the pitch started damp, the light looked barely playable and there was drizzle in the air. Conditions were considerably better all round this morning and batting first had to be the way forward. Even so, Trescothick and Strauss expected a searching examination . . . and were not disappointed.

Whenever the openers put bat to ball with real conviction, life looked lovely for them, but on several occasions they either played and missed or were fortunate to get away with edges that refused to go to hand.

Trescothick finally edged Steyn to recalled keeper Mark Boucher. But then Strauss took over.