LEEDS (England), July 19: Ashwell Prince’s second century in consecutive Tests took South Africa past England’s modest total as they went to tea on day two of the second Test on 262 for four at Headingley on Saturday.

The tourists, replying to England’s 203 all out, led by 59 runs at the interval and were beginning to take control of the match. The series is currently tied after the draw at Lord’s.

Prince, on nine overnight, was 100 not out from 200 balls after striking the second ball of the day for four through the covers. He reached his hundred with a single five minutes before tea.

A.B. de Villiers was on 44 as South Africa lost only one wicket in the first two sessions, with Hashim Amla departing in the morning session.

The left-handed Prince, whose innings of 101 was a significant reason why South Africa saved the first Test after following on, rarely looked in danger as he took advantage of the sunny conditions that made batting comfortable.

England were bowled out when the weather was cloudy.

Prince registered his eighth test fifty with a sweetly timed lofted drive straight over bowler Monty Panesar’s head for six to prove his growing confidence.

He repeated the stroke soon after to a wider long-on position as the ball sailed even further back into the stands.

De Villiers has played a patient supporting role in a fifth-wicket partnership that was worth 119 at tea.

Before lunch, England’s Darren Pattinson, the swing bowler plucked from relative obscurity by the selectors, claimed his first Test wicket with an lbw from a full toss that cannoned into Amla’s pads.

Replays showed the ball may have missed leg stump, though umpire Daryl Harper gave him out after taking his time over the decision.

De Villiers, who was beaten outside off stump first ball by Pattinson, was booed by the capacity crowd as he walked to the crease after claiming a catch on Friday morning that was shown by replays to have been grounded.

Andrew Flintoff, playing his first Test after an 18-month absence due to injury, had figures of one for 36 from 21 overs at the break.

He showed no rustiness and gave little away in a disciplined and sometimes speedy exhibition of pace bowling but got little help from a pitch that is increasingly better for batting.

Earlier on Friday, Flintoff marked his return to Test cricket by helping get rid of two key South African batsmen on a controversial day when 13 wickets fell.

But the tourists may have ended the day in a worse position but for a flashpoint involving Flintoff.

Amla 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 12th man Andre Nel and Proteas coach Mickey Arthur.

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,” said Flintoff. “You can’t blame Amla for stopping. The decision was made and you have to get on with it.”

Amla clipped the first ball after the resumption from Flintoff off his legs for four.

Flintoff though thought he had him caught down the legside by wicket-keeper Tim Ambrose for 13 but New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden signalled no-ball.

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 southpaw skipper 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 five.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND (1st Innings) 203 (M. Morkel 4-52, D.W. Steyn 4-76).

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings, overnight 101-3):

G.C. Smith c Strauss b Flintoff 44

N.D. McKenzie c Flintoff b Anderson 15

H.M. Amla lbw b Pattinson 38

J.H. Kallis b Anderson 4

A.G. Prince not out 100

A.B. de Villiers not out 44

EXTRAS (LB-10, W-1, NB-6) 17

TOTAL (for four wkts, 85 overs) 262

FALL OF WKTS: 1-51 2-69 3-76 4-143

TO BAT: M.V. Boucher, P.L. Harris, M. Morkel, D.W. Steyn, M. Ntini.

BOWLING (to-date): Anderson 23-5-69-2; Pattinson 13-0-49-1 (1nb); Flintoff 21-6-36-1 (4nb); Broad 14-1-57-0 (1nb, 1w); Panesar 12-2-33-0, Pietersen 2-0-8-0.—Agencies