Scorecard

Michael Vaughan on Sunday scored a near-flawless 156 to keep England's hopes alive on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa.

The England opener's ninth Test century helped the home side to 374 for seven in reply to South Africa's 594 for five declared, just 21 short of avoiding the follow-on.

Vaughan, who first took guard late on Saturday, returned to the trenches and held his ground for just short of seven hours to frustrate a lively South African attack at Edgbaston.

When he departed, edging a weary drive behind after a 286-ball show of defiance, England were still 89 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.

But all rounder Andrew Flintoff, the last batsman of note, hit a belligerent 40 and put on an invaluable 63 with tailender Ashley Giles.

Quick bowler Dewald Pretorius took four wickets, including those of Vaughan and Flintoff, who fell lbw to the last ball of the day when an off cutter scuttled through low and hit him on the ankle.

Marcus Trescothick, batting with a fractured right index finger, made a gutsy 31 and put on 66 for the first wicket. Mark Butcher managed just 13 but helped add 66 for the second wicket.

The limited, dour but utterly determined Anthony McGrath (34) shared a 89-run stand with Vaughan, who then added another 84 runs with Alec Stewart.

HUSSAIN FAILURE

The only man who failed was Nasser Hussain -- the man who Vaughan will surely one day replace as captain. He contributed a single in seven balls before fatally playing no stroke to Shaun Pollock's slide-rule seam bowling.

Whatever Monday's outcome, South Africa will head for next week's second Test at Lord's in a buoyant mood, having dominated proceedings throughout since Herschelle Gibbs's 179 and Graeme Smith's South African record score of 277.

Their bowlers on Sunday also extracted far more life and sideways movement than their opponents had done.

If England do save the first game of the five Test series, Vaughan will have to share the credit with the wretched weather, which washed out Friday's play and also cost a session on Saturday.

Vaughan, however, deserved credit for his refusal to be flustered during his eighth Test century in the past 15 matches and his fifth over 150.

On Saturday evening, he was dropped at slip off a no ball. Early on Sunday, he edged again, facing Makhaya Ntini, but the ball dropped short of second slip.

Trescothick was the one man to fall in the morning, getting in a tangle and being castled by a yorker from Ntini.

Vaughan picked up the rate just before lunch, hitting left-arm spinner Robin Peterson's first over for 14, including three boundaries.

Immediately after the break, he pulled Ntini for four off his first ball and then repeated the shot for six just forward of square as 13 came off the over.

But when Butcher and Hussain both fell lbw, England looked vulnerable on 133 for three.

McGrath and Stewart though proved perfect foils to Vaughan.

McGrath, strong off his legs, was only shown up with his final ball when, flinching and turning away from a Pretorius lifter, he lobbed a catch to gully.