LEEDS, England (AP) - England struggled to 70 for three at lunch Friday after being put into bat by South Africa on the first day of the second test.

Kevin Pietersen was undefeated on 17, and Ian Bell 4 not out.

After the start was briefly delayed by rain, England's openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook put on 26 before Cook was unluckily given out for 18 by umpire Billy Bowden.

Morne Morkel's delivery clearly hit Cook's thigh pad on its way to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Cook was replaced by Michael Vaughan, but the England captain did last long.

He prodded at his seventh ball, bowled by Dale Steyn, and edged a simple catch to his opposite number Graeme Smith at first slip to depart without scoring.

It was the second time in successive innings that Vaughan had been dismissed by Steyn.

Pietersen, fresh from a brilliant hundred in the first test, hit Steyn for four and six in the same over.

Pietersen survived a good shout for leg before wicket off Steyn but umpire Daryl Harper gave him the benefit of the doubt when the ball appeared to be hitting leg stump.

Strauss was on 23 when AB de Villiers claimed a low catch at third slip off the bowling of Morkel. Strauss stood his ground and was given not out when television replays showed De Villiers had dropped the ball.

One over later Strauss edged a ball to Boucher and was out for 27, leaving England reeling at 62 for three in the 22nd over.

Earlier, England had included Andrew Flintoff in their team ahead of Paul Collingwood.

They also handed a surprise debut to fast bowler Darren Pattinson in place of the injured Ryan Sidebottom.

Scoreboard

England 1st Innings

A. Strauss c Boucher b Morkel 27

A. Cook c Boucher b Morkel 18

M. Vaughan c Smith b Steyn 0

K. Pietersen not out 17

I. Bell not out 4

Extras: (1lb, 3nb) 4

Overs: 24

Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-27, 3-62.

Still to bat: T. Ambrose, A. Flintoff, S. Broad, J. Anderson, M. Panesar, D. Pattinson.

Bowling: Steyn 8-2-24-1, Ntini 5-0-18-0, Morkel 7-2-22-2 (3nb), Kallis 4-2-5-0.

Toss: South Africa

Umpires: B. Bowden (NZ) and D. Harper (Aus)

TV umpire: R. Kettleborough (Eng)