(CNN) -- South Africa captain Graeme Smith and his opening partner Neil McKenzie ground their way to hundreds to severely dent England's victory hopes in the first Test at Lord's on Sunday.
Smith (right) receives the congratulatioins of his partner Neil McKenzie after reaching his ton.
South African had begun the fourth day a massive 333 runs in arrears after following on, but Smith and McKenzie posted an opening stand of 204 to frustrate the home bowlers.
Smith, who had been dropped twice by wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose, eventually fell to James Anderson for 107, shortly after the second new ball had been taken, gloving a pull shot to Kevin Pietersen.
It was his 15th Test century and went some way to redeeming his decision to insert England on the first day, a move which backfired as the home side ran up 593 for eight declared.
Left-hander Smith, who in the corresponding match five years ago made 259, the highest individual score by an overseas batsman in a Lord's Test, batted for 18 minutes short of six hours.
McKenzie battled on to complete his fifth Test century and was 102 not out at the close with Hashim Amla undefeated on 20.
It left South Africa on 242 for one, still 104 runs adrift as they attempt to salvage a draw in the first Test of a four-match series.
The South African openers batted cautiously on a benign pitch and negated the threat of left-arm spinner Monty Panesar who had taken four wickets in South Africa's first innings of 247.
In other cricket news on Sunday, The International Cricket Council confirmed that an unnamed player tested positive for a banned substance during the recent Indian Premier League season.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India will decide on the next course of action.
The player's sample was taken during random tests, supervised by the World Doping Agency.
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