BIRMINGHAM (England), July 30: England slumped to 173 for six at tea against South Africa on the first day of the third Test on Wednesday as out-of-form batsmen Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood failed to reach double figures.

Ian Bell, playing on his home ground of Edgbaston, was out eight balls before tea after reaching his 19th test half-century. He made 50, while Andrew Flintoff was on four and Tim Ambrose had not scored.

South Africa, knowing a win would give them their first series win in England for 43 years, were jubilant. Andre Nel has figures of three for 43.

The only other England batsman to show some resistance was opener Alastair Cook, who was out for 76 midway into the afternoon session.

Cook, who said on Monday that he would not want to be dismissed by his former Essex county team-mate Nel, did exactly that when he failed to move his feet sufficiently only to be brilliantly caught at second slip by a diving Jacques Kallis.

The score was then 136 for four.

Collingwood, without a Test century in 13 months, endured 34 minutes and 16 balls to score his first run, an off-driven boundary to Morne Morkel.

His struggle continued when he played across a Kallis out-swinger and was caught at first slip by Graeme Smith for four made in 44 minutes with one scoring stroke.

Durham batsman Collingwood has scored only 96 runs in 10 first-class innings this season.

Before lunch, England lost their first three wickets for just six runs in the space of 21 deliveries, totally changing the story of the morning session after Cook and Andrew Strauss had put on 68.

Strauss played a flick shot off his hip to Nel but trod on his middle stump to gift the Proteas a breakthrough.

The next ball, England captain Vaughan (0) was given out caught behind and appeared unhappy with the decision from Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar. Wicket-keeper Mark Boucher did not appeal initially.

Kevin Pietersen was dismissed for four, given out caught at point by Australian umpire Steve Davis, who believed he had deflected an inside edge on to pad. Television replays suggested the ball did not strike his bat.

Vaughan won the toss and batted in sunny conditions. England are trailing 1-0 in the four-match series.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND (1st Innings):

A.J. Strauss hit wicket b Nel 20

A.N. Cook c Kallis b Nel 76

M.P. Vaughan c Boucher b Nel 0

K.P. Pietersen c Prince b Kallis 4

I.R. Bell c Boucher b Ntini 50

P.D. Collingwood c Smith b Kallis 4

A. Flintoff not out 4

T.R. Ambrose not out 0

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-7, W-2, NB-5) 15

TOTAL (for six wkts, 56 overs) 173

FALL OF WKTS: 1-68, 2-68, 3-74, 4-136, 5-158, 6-173.

TO BAT: R.J. Sidebottom, J.M. Anderson, M.S. Panesar.

BOWLING (to-date): Morkel 15-2-50-0 (4nb); Ntini 11-4-41-1 (1nb); Nel 14-5-43-3 (1w); Kallis 13-5-24-2 (1w); Harris 3-0-7-0.

SOUTH AFRICA: G.C. Smith, N.D. McKenzie, H.M. Amla, J.H. Kallis, A.G. Prince, A.B. de Villiers, M.V. Boucher, M. Morkel, P.L. Harris, A. Nel, M. Ntini.

UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and S.J. Davis (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: I.J. Gould (England).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Madugalle (Sri Lanka).—Reuters