Amla defies England barrage

Hashim Amla weathered a barrage of short-pitched bowling to hit a defiant half-century for South Africa and frustrate England's victory hopes in the opening npower Test.

The determined South African batsman battled through the morning session on the final day at Lord's to reach lunch unbeaten on 57 after guiding his side to 312 for one, still trailing by 34 runs after being forced to follow on.

Amla, dismissed for six in the first innings after a sustained period of bouncers, was well supported by opener Neil McKenzie, who had progressed to 131 at the break.

England, desperate to claim victory in a match they dominated for the first three days, signalled their intentions from the start with a sustained burst of intimidatory bowling from the Pavilion End.

Having instructed Lancashire seamer James Anderson to bowl nothing but short-pitched deliveries at Amla, England captain Michael Vaughan set a Bodyline-type field with several players positioned close to the bat on the leg-side.

It was intimidatory bowling on a par with anything England suffered against West Indies 25 years ago, but on a slow pitch Amla handled it superbly and left Vaughan bereft of further ideas to dismiss him.

McKenzie was a different matter and he was facing traditional field settings but showing no signs of getting out despite the occasional excited appeal from left-arm spinner Monty Panesar.

He seized on any loose deliveries from England's tiring attack, who must all have feared a repeat of the Test against Sri Lanka two years ago at Lord's when they batted for 199 overs to save the match after following on.