The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, London

South Africa captain Graeme Smith was proud of the character he and old schoolfriend Neil McKenzie demonstrated after their hundreds batted the Proteas towards an unlikely first Test draw against England.

The duo shared a stand of 204 before Smith was out shortly before the close but the left-hander's innings of 107 played a major role in South Africa reaching stumps on 242 for one after they'd been made to follow-on.

That still left them 104 runs behind England's first innings 593 for eight declared.

However, Michael Vaughan's men headed into Monday's final day knowing they had to take nine wickets, having managed just one on Sunday, to have a chance of going 1-0 up in this four-Test series.

For the 27-year-old Smith, this was his second Test hundred at Lord's.

Five years ago the Western Province batsman made 259, the highest individual score by an overseas batsman in a Lord's Test, a match the Proteas won by a crushing innings and 92 runs.

Smith, who batted for over five hours after being dismissed

for just eight in the first innings, acknowledged this was

another sort of century entirely after England dominated the first three days of this match

"The first few days were very different to 2003. We've been outplayed and England have been more precise," he said.

He added: "One thing you learn is to bat the situation. It was really good hard Test cricket today, man-on-man, and it defines the character of people."

The South Africa skipper, who prior to this Test had been at the crease for just two hours on tour, after suffering a hamstring injury while playing in the Indian Premier League, added: "It's got to be one of my best innings, considering the pressure we'd been under."