* Unbeaten Cook strikes his 20th test century
* Second-wicket stand with Trott boosts hosts
* Pietersen out for 42 as tourists fight back
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By Richard Sydenham
LONDON, July 19 (Reuters) – Unflappable Alastair Cook scored
his 20th test century as England dominated day one of the first
test against South Africa to finish on 267 for three by the
close at The Oval on Thursday.
Cook finished on 114 not out with his chanceless effort
coming after he lost captain and opening partner Andrew Strauss
to the fourth ball of the morning before enjoying an impressive
second-wicket stand of 170 with Jonathan Trott who made 71.
South Africa fought back late on with the strike of Kevin
Pietersen (42) in the last hour after he gloved a short Jacques
Kallis ball to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers, who was playing
instead of the retired Mark Boucher. Ian Bell was ten not out.
Strauss went lbw to Morne Morkel for a duck, though what
could have been a series-defining early strike was cancelled out
by Cook and Trott, who eventually edged Morkel to de Villiers.
Morkel had figures of two for 44 at stumps.
Left-hander Cook drew level on 20 test hundreds with his
mentor and former England captain Graham Gooch, as well as a
clutch of distinguished batsmen such as Ken Barrington, Younus
Khan, Pietersen, Mark Waugh and Aravinda de Silva.
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