SOUTH AFRICA finished the opening day of the second Test on 101 for three yesterday, leaving them 102 runs behind England.

On a pulsating day of cricket that saw a welcome return for Andrew Flintoff, South Africa bowled England out for 203 after captain Graeme Smith won the toss and put the home side in to bat.

In the evening session, Neil McKenzie and Smith put on 51 for the first wicket. McKenzie was the first to fall, caught by Flintoff off James Anderson at second slip.

Smith hit a confident 44 before Flintoff picked up his first Test wicket in 19 months when he had the opener caught by Andrew Strauss.

Television replay

Hashim Amla seemed to have chipped a catch to Michael Vaughan and Amla walked off, only to be told to stay put by his teammates on the boundary, who had seen a television replay of the catch. Amla was reprieved by the umpires and survived to the close.

Earlier, England had resumed at 70 for three after lunch.

Kevin Pietersen got over confident and was caught at first slip by Smith off Dale Steyn, for 45 from 46 balls.

Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose played a couple of confident shots before edging a delivery from Makhaya Ntini to Mark Boucher for 12. That brought Flintoff to the crease and the allrounder, playing his first Test after ankle and side strain injuries, received a warm welcome from the crowd.

However, Ian Bell was bowled by Jacques Kallis for 31 to make it 150-6 and Steyn then had Flintoff caught behind for 17.

Stuart Broad was caught by A.B. de Villiers off Morkel to leave England 181 for eight and Monty Panesar became Morkel's fourth victim when he edged a ball to de Villiers and departed without scoring.

That brought newcomer Darren Pattinson to the crease. After a brief flurry of runs, Pattinson was caught behind by Boucher - his fifth catch of the innings - off Steyn as South Africa wrapped up the innings.

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