Monty Panesar wants England to keep the pressure on South Africa after taking control of the first Test at Lord's.

The tourists were forced to follow on after being bowled out for 247 in their first innings and still trail by 333 after ending day three on 13-0.

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Oram defies England to claim draw ... "South Africa have a strong line-up so it will be tough, but we need to do what we did on Saturday again," said left-armer Panesar, who took 4-74.

Only four South Africans made it into double figures as England dominated.

Panesar was full of praise for his team-mates, adding: "The seamers were brilliant as a unit, even though it was not swinging so much.

"They had to be patient and created a lot of pressure. That made my job a lot easier, when I came on to bowl."

South Africa need 346 to make England bat again and were 13-0 at the end of the day's play.

Panesar opened the bowling because of fading light when the tourists came out to bat for their second innings late in the day.

He took the new ball with occasional spinner Kevin Pietersen and explained: "When we got back in the dressing room, knowing that the light was bad for the seamers, captain Michael Vaughan said: 'Be prepared to open the bowling with the new ball'.

"The umpires said, 'As long as the spinners bowl, it is fine to get in those last few overs'.

"I'd never bowled with a brand new ball. But in general I like bowling with a hard, newer ball - because you tend to get a bit more bounce, and sharper turn as well."

Panesar bowled Neil McKenzie round his legs and added: "There is a bit of rough, and you know it can turn out of it.

"But that was a fortunate one, coming back like that to hit the stumps."

South Africa batsman Ashwell Prince made a century on his Lord's debut but was left rueing his dismissal so close to the end of the day's play.

"I thought I let the team down, getting out just a few overs before the end of the day's play," he said.

"The last thing I wanted was to have the captain and Neil McKenzie go out again and face a few overs. It was a bit difficult leaving them in the lurch.

"At the time I got out, I probably started thinking about too many things and probably ended up not watching the ball - and that's what did for me."

Prince would gladly have traded personal glory for a better position in the Test.

"It means a lot but it would have been better if it had meant more for the team. It's not about an individual," he added.

But he is confident South Africa can turn things around, saying: "Monty is a quality bowler who gets turn and bounce but we're looking forward to getting stuck in again. We believe we can do the job."

(BBC)

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