Flintoff fires England

Andrew Flintoff roars his delight after dismissing Jacques Kallis late on

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Andrew Flintoff provided the nation with a thrilling reminder of his talismanic qualities to keep England in the hunt in the third npower Test against South Africa.

The all-rounder’s return to action at Headingley Carnegie was overshadowed somewhat by England’s heavy defeat, and he was cut short in his prime with the bat yesterday as the hosts were bowled out for 231.

But there was no keeping him out of the limelight on an absorbing second day which exploded into life late in the final session as Flintoff produced one of the most hostile spells of his career.

He embarrassed the hitherto unflustered Jacques Kallis before ripping out his off stump, then had AB de Villiers caught at deep fine-leg in a devastating six-over stint that left South Africa reeling on 238 for six.

Though they recovered to reach 256 without further loss before bad light brought play to a premature close - a lead of 25 - no-one who witnessed England’s Flintoff-inspired charge could be in any doubt over which side were happier to leave the field.

Flintoff, whose removal of the obdurate Neil McKenzie gave him 200 Test wickets and sparked a post-lunch fightback, ended with figures of 4-68 from 26 overs that were never less than demanding, having restored England’s hopes of registering the victory they require to maintain their hopes of winning the series.

The removal of Kallis was key to England’s hopes of limiting South Africa’s first-innings advantage. He made a composed 64 to complement McKenzie’s equally valuable 72, while Ashwell Prince also deserves considerable credit, standing firm amid Flintoff’s late barrage in making a resolute unbeaten 37.

England’s early-evening success contrasted sharply with their travails earlier in the day, when the dismissal of nightwatchman Paul Harris was all they had to show for their efforts in a morning session cut short by rain.

James Anderson takes a stunning catch in his follow-through to remove Hashim Amla for four

But Hashim Amla and McKenzie fell in the space of 24 balls shortly after lunch to enliven an increasingly vocal crowd, and Flintoff ensured the England supporters went home in good heart by ending a 91-run stand for the fifth wicket before de Villiers succumbed four overs from the close.

Rain initially delayed England’s attempt to make further inroads into the South Africa batting following the departure of Graeme Smith last night, with play getting under way at 11.15am.

Just 15 balls were possible before the players were forced to leave the field once more, and England’s frustration was compounded when McKenzie was reprieved by technology shortly after they resumed.

Having made 29 and with South Africa 59 for one, he edged Flintoff low to first slip, where Andrew Strauss claimed what appeared to be a smart catch and set off in measured celebration before a shrug of the shoulders inferred he was not convinced the ball had carried.

Ian Gould, the TV umpire, was duly consulted and, as so often happens in these circumstances, the benefit of the doubt went in the batsman’s favour.

McKenzie continued in much the same unflustered fashion after that incident, punishing England’s bowlers for straying on to leg stump too often while Harris defended doggedly.

Harris had made 19 and batted for more than an hour and three quarters, encompassing the final session yesterday, when he edged a delivery slanted across him by Ryan Sidebottom to Alastair Cook at third slip.

Kallis has his off stump uprooted in sensational fashion as England mount a thrilling fightback

McKenzie, who resumed on 12 this morning, went to a 100-ball fifty containing eight fours before lunch, although he was fortunate to see Paul Collingwood spill a low chance at second slip off Flintoff on 57 shortly after the interval.

Anderson ensured England’s disappointment was shortlived, clinging on to a sensational catch, diving forward and to his left in his follow-through as Amla inside-edged a drive on to his front pad.

Flintoff’s punishment for overpitching was two successive boundaries for McKenzie, but the opener perished next ball, trapped leg before as he attempted to work another full-length delivery through midwicket.

It proved to be England’s last success of the afternoon session, with Kallis following up his 3-31 haul yesterday with an innings high on composure as well as importance.

While he was fortunate to see Tim Ambrose put down a thick inside edge standing up to Collingwood when he had made 37, Kallis otherwise progressed serenely to his half-century off 93 balls.

He survived a vociferous shout for lbw to an inswinging Flintoff yorker when he had made 55, but could not be spared by the umpire when he had his off stump uprooted with of a vicious full-length delivery that swung away late.

De Villiers perished on the hook - Ryan Sidebottom took a steepling catch on the fence - and, but for the obduracy of Prince and Boucher during a heated late spell, England’s spirits would have been even higher going into the third day’s play.