A few eyebrows were raised a fortnight ago when the returning Andrew Flintoff suggested that his best years may lie ahead, but his final spell yesterday matched the hostility of anything to go before. One questioner drew comparisons to his bowling to Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting at the Brit Oval in 2005; another found parallels in his battle against Jacques Kallis with the duel between Allan Donald and Mike Atherton at Trent Bridge ten years ago.

The big difference between now and then is that Donald was forced to back down. When Flintoff bowled Kallis with a ball that swung late, it felt like a throwback to the golden days earlier in the decade when the all-rounder inspired the men around him. Kallis, who was also back to his best, said that the spell was among the sharpest he has faced in his career and agreed that it has yanked England back into the game.

Before the obligatory ice bath, Flintoff visited the umpires' room to apologise to Alim Dar, who had rejected what television replays confirmed had been a very good appeal for leg-before against Kallis in the previous over. “Emotions were quite high at that stage,” Flintoff, who will not face punishment, said. “I had a chunter, a bit of a rant. I apologised to Alim and shook his hand...we are friends again.”

The plan to bowl more yorkers was hatched with Michael Vaughan, the captain, and Ottis Gibson, the bowling coach, during the tea interval. Kallis confirmed that batsmen are struggling to see the high arm against the background of dark windows from the committee room. “I hope the captains come together, common sense prevails and they cover the area, otherwise tall bowlers will bowl yorkers all day,” Kallis said.

Although Flintoff looked drained, he said that he had felt more tired during rehabilitation work with Dave Roberts, the physiotherapist, after the fourth operation on his left ankle. “The surgery was so long ago I do not even think about it any more,” Flintoff said. “I thought I bowled all right. Kallis is right up there and that kind of opponent brings out the best in you. Getting back into the series means a lot to us and we scrapped all day.”

He became the twelfth England bowler to reach 200 Test wickets when he removed Neil McKenzie after lunch. “It is nice to get to that figure but I should have done it 15 or 20 Tests ago,” he said. “I am not driven by statistics but I want to perform better than I have been doing. I feel I am more skilful these days.” He is now level with John Snow on 202 wickets; immediately above him stands Stephen Harmison, his great mate, on 212.

The first session this morning will be crucial in determining whether England can level the series or South Africa take an unassailable 2-0 lead. “We do not want Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher still there at lunch,” Flintoff said. “If we can keep them below 300, that would be fantastic.” But Kallis suggested that a lead of even 75 could be decisive.

“That would put pressure on England's batting, which hasn't been the best,” the South Africa all-rounder said.