Flintoff pegs back Proteas

Pattinson makes shock debut for England, who are bowled out for 203

Last updated: 19th July 2008

Andrew Flintoff James Anderson England South Africa second Test

Anderson and Flintoff celebrate a wicket

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Second npower Test Match
Headingley Carnegie
England 203 (M Morkel 4-52, D W Steyn 4-76) v South Africa 101-3

Andrew Flintoff was involved with bat, ball and in the field on his England comeback but it was South Africa who edged a thrilling opening day of the second Test.

The Proteas reached the close on 101-3 at Headingley Carnegie after Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn had claimed four wickets each to bowl out the home side for just 203.

Flintoff managed to make 17 at his new position of number seven in the order but did far better with the ball later on, dismissing Graeme Smith for 44 as he finished with 1-24 from 10 overs.

He also took a catch at second slip off the bowling of Lancashire colleague James Anderson, who then continued Jacques Kallis' lean start to the summer by getting him to chop onto his stumps for just four.

Surprise name

While Flintoff's comeback had already been confirmed the previous day England did spring a surprise at the toss when the name of Darren Pattinson appeared on their team sheet in place of the injured Ryan Sidebottom.

Born in Grimsby but raised Down Under, Pattinson would have hoped to get an early chance to shine but it was the Proteas pacemen who were called into action when skipper Smith decided to bowl after winning the toss.

Keen to make amends for their poor showing in the first Test stalemate, the attack made the most of perfect seaming conditions, though they were given a lucky break to get off and running by umpire Billy Bowden.

The official from New Zealand adjudged Alastair Cook caught behind down the legside but replays clearly showed the ball had flicked thigh pad and not bat.

Michael Vaughan marked his 50th Test in charge with a second successive duck but Kevin Pietersen came out all guns blazing at 27-2, getting off the mark with a glorious four before hooking a bouncer all the way for six.

However, his onslaught ended soon after lunch, an almighty swoosh outside off stump at a full ball from Steyn when on 45 that only offered a simple catch to a clearly delighted Smith.

By then Andrew Strauss had already departed for 27 and when Tim Ambrose - promoted to six in the order - was caught behind to become Makhaya Ntini's first wicket of the series, the home side were five down and in serious trouble.

Batting at number seven, Flintoff emerged onto the field to a standing ovation from the crowd and a defensive stroke to his first ball was greeted with an almighty cheer.

His hopes of producing a heroic innings on his long-awaited return were not helped by the loss of Ian Bell, who had eased to 31 before dragging onto his stumps, and an attempt to hit his fifth boundary meant he became one of five catches for South Africa's wicketkeeper, Mark Boucher.

Morkel (4-52) had both Stuart Broad and Monty Panesar caught in the slip cordon by AB de Villiers, and Steyn (4-76) wrapped things up with the wicket of last man Pattinson, who was soon back in the action.

Sun shines

The former roof tiler would have hoped to hit the heights with a dazzling opening spell with the new ball but with the sun now shining, his attempts to get the ball to swing were only met with straight drives, particularly from Smith.

Indeed, South Africa's openers made serene progress to bring up the half century stand before England finally made a breakthrough, Anderson getting rid of Neil McKenzie for 15.

Flintoff followed that up with a brutal short ball to find Smith's outside edge and with the England tails now up, the key scalp of Kallis followed three overs later.

It seemed a fourth wicket had gone down soon after when Hashim Amla appeared to have been well caught by a diving Vaughan at mid-off.

But, already halfway off the field, the batsman - urged to stay put by his coach Mickey Arthur, suddenly stopped to question whether the ball had hit the ground, leading to the decision being referred to the third umpire.

Richard Kettleborough had a good long look from several angles before deciding to give it 'not out', adding even further to the drama at the end of a quite remarkable day that helped banish the memories of the bore draw between the same two teams just four days ago.