Test drawn after hiccups

England were offered a target of 253 off 39 overs yesterday and they took up the challenge, sending in Kevin Pietersen to open the innings. But after he scored 12 off the first over, a delivery from Philander leapt up at him, looped to Imran Tahir at mid-on and England's hopes of victory were over, even though they still kept the scoreboard moving for a while

But the scene was set much earlier in the day. Home advantage counts a lot, and for Jacques Rudolph, Headingley is a home from home after playing here for five years.

He made it count yesterday with a stand of 120 runs as an emergency opener with Graeme Smith, due to the hamstring injury to Alviro Petersen which dropped him down the order. It was this stand which saved the game for South Africa.

With South Africa resuming their innings just 33 runs ahead, England needed quick wickets but they were thwarted by the openers until shortly before the lunch break.

It was left to the off-spin of Pietersen - again - to end Rudolph's valiant effort. Pietersen, brought on for an over before lunch, got his second ball to turn and bounce, beating the inside edge and slapping into his back leg.

In the meantime, Smith, still with a strapped knee after his fielding mishap on Saturday, was content to wait, scoring his first four after 27 deliveries. He had his fair share of luck, being dropped by Jimmy Anderson with a low sharp chance at second slip when on 42.

But that ran out shortly after lunch against Pietersen, who was bowling only because England had decided they did not need their regular spinner, Graeme Swann, and went in with four seamers.

Smith got a faint inside edge on to the pad and was caught by James Taylor at forward short leg.

Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers hammered a quick 53 off 60 balls before Pietersen struck again. Amla drove a full toss straight to Alastair Cook at mid-off to give the part-time bowler figures of 7.5-1-38-3.

De Villiers followed soon after for 44, the first of two wickets in two balls for Stuart Broad. Replays showed the ball was missing the leg stump, but South Africa had run out of reviews.

Philander was undone the same way with a ball which jagged back and Kallis was undone by a bouncer which took the glove on its way to Prior. South Africa declared after tea when Morkel became Broad's fifth victim.

England's target, though formidable, was not impossible and Pietersen, Cook and Strauss showed intent, but when they were out Bell and Trott ensured the draw.