JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — South Africa dominated the first day of the fourth and final Test against England at the Wanderers yesterday, bowling out their opponents for 180 and reaching 29 for no wicket in tricky batting conditions.

England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss but that was virtually his only good moment of the day.

Batting first was always a gamble in conditions which favoured the bowlers and England’s troubles started with the first ball of the match when Strauss was caught at backward short leg off what Dale Steyn admitted was “a bit of a run-in, a loosener and a great catch” by Hashim Amla.

Steyn took five for 51 and Morne Morkel three for 39 as England crumbled.

The tourists, leading the series 1-0, lost their first four wickets for 39 runs inside the first hour.

Paul Collingwood (47) and Ian Bell (35) put on 76 for the fifth wicket but when Collingwood provided a first Test wicket for Ryan McLaren soon after lunch the slide resumed and England were bowled out shortly before tea.

Smith and his opening partner Ashwell Prince faced only 25 balls, scoring 16 runs, before rain stopped play for 92 minutes.

The players returned under heavily overcast skies with the floodlights on. England opening bowlers James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom both made the ball swing but the batsmen survived until bad light stopped play for the day.

Sidebottom was playing ahead of Graham Onions in a surprise move by England.

Onions, as a number eleven batsman, twice played out the last over to secure a draw for his team, in the first and third Tests.