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CENTURION, South Africa (AFP) – England off-spinner Graeme Swann struck four balls before tea to halt a South African fightback on the first day of the first Test at SuperSport Park on Wednesday.

South Africa were 159 for four at tea with Jacques Kallis unbeaten with a polished 51.

Kallis and AB de Villiers seemed to have weathered an early onslaught by the England bowlers as they put together a fourth wicket stand of 66, but De Villiers was caught at short leg for 32 to give Swann his second wicket of the innings.

De Villiers did not add to his score after surviving a television review when Swann appealed for a catch behind.

England used up their quota of reviews for the innings, with television umpire Amish Saheba earlier confirming a not-out decision by on-field official Aleem Dar against Kallis when James Anderson was bowling.

The series could hardly have got off to a worse start for South Africa. Strike bowler Dale Steyn was ruled out after feeling tightness in his left hamstring during the pre-match warm-up. He was replaced by new cap Friedel de Wet.

Then captain and batting mainstay Graeme Smith was caught behind off Stuart Broad without scoring in the second over after England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and sent South Africa in. Smith’s attempted glance was held by wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who lunged to his right.

Ashwell Prince and Hashim Amla put on 50 for the second wicket but it was slow going against tight bowling before Amla was caught at second slip off Graham Onions.

Prince, who successfully sought a referral after umpire Steve Davis gave him out lbw to Onions when he had 19, made 45 before he was caught slip off Swann’s second ball of the match.

Scores at tea on the first day of the first Test between South Africa and England:

South Africa, first innings

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Smith), 2-51 (Amla), 3-93 (Prince), 4-159 (De Villiers)

To bat: M. Boucher, P. Harris, M. Morkel, M. Ntini, F. de Wet.

Bowling:

England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior (wkt), Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Graham Onions.

Match position: South Africa are 159-4 in their first innings

Toss: England

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK), Steve Davis (AUS).

TV umpire: Amish Saheba (IND).

Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI).