England International

England's seamers responded superbly to new captain Kevin Pietersen by dismissing South Africa for a lowly 194 on the opening day of the final npower Test at the Oval.

Despite winning the toss and deciding to bat first, South Africa were dismissed mid-way through the final session on the opening day having made a positive start to the match by reaching 103 for two.

But a spell of five wickets falling for 63 balls in the afternoon session put the tourists on course for a collapse with Steve Harmison claiming two for 49 in his first Test appearance since March while James Anderson grabbed three for 42.

South Africa had enjoyed their fair share of luck during the opening session with Smith twice earning reprieves - including one off the first ball when he was dropped by Alastair Cook in the gully attempting to cut Harmison.

Smith was also fortunate to survive on 26 when he edged Andrew Flintoff and Cook, diving at full-stretch from third slip, could only get a fingertip to the ball before it fell to earth.

It took all-rounder Andrew Flintoff to make the breakthrough when he tempted opener Neil McKenzie into driving a wider delivery which this time was taken by Cook above his head at third slip.

That catch, however, did not turn the luck in Cook's favour because he missed another one shortly after lunch with Hashim Amla being dropped after driving at Flintoff.

England could have been forgiven for blaming their luck but instead the faith Pietersen has shown in Harmison paid off when he claimed wickets off successive deliveries.

South Africa captain Smith had struggled throughout his innings, taking over two hours to reach 46, before he tried to hit his way out of his malaise by dragging a short delivery from outside off-stump and was caught at long leg by James Anderson.

Harmison, playing his first Test since March, followed that success with a quick yorker which removed Amla's middle stump and although Ashwell Prince blocked the hat-trick ball, the momentum was back with England.

Lancashire seamer Anderson, perhaps inspired by Harmison's burst, removed the dangerous Jacques Kallis in the next over with an inswinger which trapped him lbw right in front of his stumps to become the 42nd England player to reach 100 Test victims.

Prince followed four overs later by driving Anderson straight to point and when the Burnley-born seamer induced Mark Boucher into a thin edge behind, South Africa had lost five wickets for 28 runs in 63 balls.

AB de Villiers, the last of South Africa's recognised batsmen, battled for 80 minutes to hit a determined 39 but fell in the last over before tea when he was adjudged lbw to Monty Panesar's third ball of the match.

Stuart Broad accelerated South Africa's capitulation by claiming two quick wickets after the interval when Morne Morkel top-edged an attempted pull to Ian Bell at short leg and Andre Nel edged behind.

But England's hopes of wrapping up the innings quickly were frustrated by a 22-run last-wicket stand which was finally ended when Panesar was brought into the attack and Makhaya Ntini was bowled with his fifth delivery.