Gary Kirsten exploited England's inability to seize their opportunities and spearheaded a vibrant South African recovery in the crucial fourth npower Test.

Kirsten utilised the knowledge gained from 91 previous Tests to halt England's charge towards a stranglehold on both this Test and the remainder of the series.

His brilliant century, forged over six hours, prevented South Africa from humiliation and ensured they recorded a competitive total of 260 for seven on the opening day just as the decision to bat first threatened to backfire.

Despite local knowledge and overhead conditions suggesting bowling first was the best option at Headingley, South Africa captain Graeme Smith elected to bat and watched his side plunge to 21 for four inside 15 overs.

The tourists, though, always knew they could rely on the resolve of Kirsten, who returned to their line-up after being sidelined with an arm injury, and produced a trademark performance, although England twice dropped him.

His unbeaten 109 prevented South Africa from capitulating completely and his experience helped Jacques Rudolph and debutant Monde Zondeki, playing only his 16th first-class match, add valuable runs down the order.

Facing a new England all-seam attack featuring Surrey's Martin Bicknell and debutant Kabir Ali, South Africa never settled from the moment Smith fell to the fourth ball driving at a wide delivery from James Kirtley and edged behind.

New Durham signing Herschelle Gibbs followed in almost identical fashion in the next over, giving Bicknell a wicket with his second ball, while Jacques Kallis also fell to the Surrey seamer 10 overs later when he drove to short extra cover.

Kabir made a similar impact, removing Neil McKenzie with his fifth ball when he also pushed forward and edged behind to give wicketkeeper Alec Stewart his third catch and expectations rose.

But the one player capable of hitting back was Kirsten, who set himself to play a defiant innings - one which will be all too familiar to those who witnessed his double centuries at Old Trafford in 1998 and Durban the following year.

Had England retained their discipline, Kirsten would not have halted their slide towards a sub-hundred total with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff over-stepping at the vital moment to allow Kirsten to escape on 28.

Flintoff got uneven bounce from the Football Stand End and that unpredictability almost accounted for Kirsten when he attempted to avoid a lifting delivery and looped the ball to James Anderson at backward point only for umpire Simon Taufel to rule a no-ball.

Kirsten enjoyed another escape when he was dropped on 56 off Flintoff when he mistimed an attempted upper cut but third slip Nasser Hussain could only get his finger-tips to the diving catch.

Those reprieves allowed Kirsten to play an anchor role while Jacques Rudolph was more aggressive to dominate a 95-run partnership which laid the platform for South Africa's later recovery.

That partnership was only ended when Kabir earned a fortuitous decision for leg before against Rudolph after he had scored a sparkling 55.

With Mark Boucher falling for 16 before tea to an ill-judged hook off Flintoff which looped to Vaughan at mid-on and Andrew Hall fencing straight to gully from the next ball, Kirsten's hopes of reaching his century looked slim when Zondeki walked out to bat.

He survived Flintoff's hat-trick ball and demonstrated a high quality technique, giving Kirsten the confidence to change the strike as if he was partnering a member of the top order during an unbroken 118-run partnership

In face, Kirsten looked the more likely to fall at one stage and wicketkeeper Stewart completed the hat-trick of his escapes by failing to take a difficult leg-side catch off Kirtley when he had progressed to 74.

He did not need a further invitation and Kirsten completed his fifth century against England after over five hours at the crease, an innings which included 15 boundaries and plenty of old-fashioned determination