HEADINGLEY

(day one of five, South Africa won toss)

England 203 (KP Pietersen 45, Morkel 4 for 52, DW Steyn 4 for 76) South Africa 101 for three

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Andrew Flintoff marked his return to Test cricket by helping get rid of two key South African batsmen amid controversy in the final session

South Africa closed the opening day with a deficit of 102, but may have ended the day in a worse position but for an incident involving Flintoff.

Hashim Amla, who made a century in the drawn first Test at Lord's and ended the day here on 18 not out, chipped a Flintoff delivery towards England captain Michael Vaughan, who dived forward at mid-off and claimed a low catch.

Amla started to walk and was nearly off the field when he was told to remain in the middle by Andre Nel, the12th man and Mickey Arthur, the Proteas coach.

Belatedly, the umpires called for a television replay and with the pictures unclear, Amla was allowed to carry on by TV official Richard Kettleborough with South Africa 76 for three.

"It all happened very quickly. Vaughan went up for the catch and the decision went against us," Flintoff said. "You can't blame Amla for stopping. The decision was made and you have to get on with it."

The all-rounder, appearing in his first Test for 18 months after being ruled out by ankle and side injuries, was at first slip when he caught Neil McKenzie, whose marathon hundred helped draw the first Test at Lord's, off fellow Lancashire quick James Anderson.

Then, coming round the wicket in a move the Proteas feared would pose problems for their left-handed batsmen, Flintoff removed Graeme Smith, another Lord's centurion, for 44 after the batsman, drawn forward, edged him to first slip Andrew Strauss.

Anderson, who finished the day with figures of two for 39, then bowled the experienced Jacques Kallis of the inside edge for just four.

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