CRICKET / Fifth Test: Marcus Trescothick produced possibly the most important innings of his international career to play his part in an impressive England fightback in the final npower Test against South Africa at the Oval.

Trescothick demonstrated great resolve and character to register only his fifth half-century in the last 21 Test innings.

He was forced to labour for nearly three hours for his 50, but by the close of the second day his efforts alongside the returning Graham Thorpe had guided England to 165 for two in reply to South Africa's first-innings total of 484 when bad light halted play four overs prematurely.

For both players their determined 87-run partnership was not only timely given its proximity to Wednesday's announcement of the winter tour teams, but it also guided England out of another potentially perilous situation following the early loss of captain Michael Vaughan and the in-form Mark Butcher. Vaughan has struggled to score runs almost as much as opening partner Trescothick since taking over the England captaincy and on a true Oval pitch looked determined to finish the summer with a flourish.

While Trescothick took over half an hour to get off the mark, Vaughan had dominated their partnership until he pushed forward too firmly and edged low to Herschelle Gibbs at third slip to enable all-rounder Shaun Pollock to become the 19th player in history to claim 300 Test wickets.

His innings of 23 was his eighth successive score below 50 as he struggles to balance his responsibilities as opening batsman and captain, and he was followed 11 overs later when Butcher was adjudged leg before to the useful seam bowling of Andrew Hall.

Thorpe used the experience of his 77 previous Tests to restore England's spirits.