Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss shared an opening partnership of 273 to earn England the lead and turn the tables in the second Test against South Africa on Tuesday.

England were 281 for one in their second innings on the third day, 88 ahead, when bad light ended play 11 overs early.

Andrew Strauss was 132 not out after batting for more than six hours, facing 272 balls and hitting 16 fours.

South Africa scored 332 in their first innings in reply to England's total of 139, a lead of 193.

Trescothick made 132 in almost six hours at the crease in which he faced 261 balls and hit 20 fours and two sixes.

Trescothick and Strauss's partnership was the fifth-highest in England's history.

It was Strauss's fourth century in his ninth Test and Trescothick's ninth in his 56th match.

The pair have now shared four century partnerships and each time they have forged past 150.

Tuesday's effort, their highest, also meant Trescothick and Strauss have become the 12th pair of England openers to share 1,000 runs in Tests.

England resumed on 30 without loss and South Africa were armed with a ball just 11 overs old.

VIOLENT THUNDERSTORM

A violent thunderstorm on Monday night was expected to change the character of the steadily flattening pitch.

The westerly wind that blew the storm in also provided cloud cover that should have helped the bowlers to swing the ball.

However, it was soon apparent that the pitch would probably be at its best so far in the match for batting.

Fast bowlers Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock each began the day with a maiden over, but the batsmen were not tested and were able to settle on their own terms.

Strauss went to his fourth half-century in the 16th over the day and two overs later Trescothick raised his bat to acknowledge the applause for his 25th half-century.

Their centuries came five balls apart before tea with Trescothick straight driving Ntini for four and Strauss sweeping spinner Nicky Boje for a single.

Neither opener was put under pressure by a South African attack that failed to bowl with penetration.

South Africa conceded the superiority of the batsmen over their pace attack by introducing Boje in the 21st over of the innings.

The breakthrough came in the fifth over before the enforced close when Trescothick edged a delivery from Pollock and was easily caught behind.

Scorecard:

England first innings 139

South Africa first innings 332 (J.Kallis 162)

England second innings (overnight 30-0)
M.Trescothick c de Villiers b Pollock 132
A.Strauss not out 132
M.Butcher not out 1
Extras (b-1 lb-5 nb-9 w-1) 16
Total (for one wicket, 90 overs) 281

Fall of wicket: 1-273.

To bat: M.Vaughan, G.Thorpe, A.Flintoff, G.Jones, A.Giles, M.Hoggard, S.Jones, S.Harmison.

Bowling (to date): Pollock 22-10-42-1 (nb-3), Ntini 21-4-51-0 (nb-2 w-1), Steyn 9-1-46-0 (nb-4), Boje 24-3-90-0, Kallis 12-1-31-0, Smith 2-0-15-0.