Flintoff in firing line as wickets tumble

(CNN) -- England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was the center of attention on his long-awaited return to Test action but could not prevent South Africa taking the early edge in the second match of the series at Headingley.

The tourists ended the opening day in Leeds on 101-3 in reply to England's disappointing 203 all out, with Flintoff taking one wicket and a catch and also being involved in a controversial incident.

Flintoff, making his comeback after 18 months out following four ankle operations and then a side problem, thought he had Hashim Amla caught by captain Michael Vaughan with South Africa 76-3 in the 25th over.

Amla had almost walked off the playing arena before being told by 12th man Andre Nel to return to the crease -- and subsequent television replays showed there was some doubt as to whether the ball had hit the ground before being scooped up by Vaughan.

Vaughan, in his 50th Test as skipper, was furious with umpire Billy Bowden, who then controversially ruled a no-ball by Flintoff two deliveries later as England vociferously appealed for a catch down legside by wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose.

Amla survived to be unbeaten on 18 at the close of play along with Ashwell Prince (9). Both players made centuries in the second innings of the first Test at Lord's as South Africa escaped with a hard-fought draw.

Flintoff's return had pepped up an England attack depleted on the morning of the match by the withdrawal of left-arm seam bowler Ryan Sidebottom with a back problem.

Darren Pattinson, who turns 30 next month, was handed a surprise debut but struggled with the new ball in tandem with James Anderson -- who passed a late fitness test on his stiff back -- and conceded 16 runs in his three overs.

South Africa put on 51 for the first wicket before Anderson had Neil McKenzie caught at second slip by Flintoff, who then had skipper Graeme Smith caught from a rising delivery for 44.

Anderson then beat Jacques Kallis through the gate, with the Proteas' out-of-form talisman edging onto his stumps for just four to follow up his two failures at Lord's.

But the South Africans ended the day without further loss to make good Smith's decision to bowl first after winning the toss.

England made a mockery when he did the same at Lord's, putting on a massive 593-8 declared, but this time Smith's much-heralded pace attack were on target.

Opening bowler Dale Steyn took 4-76 and first change Morne Morkel claimed 4-52 as the hosts lost wickets at regular intervals.

Alistair Cook was controversially given out caught down legside by Mark Boucher off Morkel for 18, then Steyn had the struggling Vaughan caught by Smith at first slip for a duck.

Andrew Strauss was next to go at 62-3, with the opener falling to Morkel for 27 after failing to capitalize on his own recall following a disputed catch by AB de Villers.

Steyn had the dangerous Kevin Pietersen caught by Smith after a rollicking 45 off 47 deliveries, while Ambrose (12) edged Makhaya Ntini to wicketkeeper Boucher to make it 5-123.

Ian Bell, who made 199 at Lord's, this time reached 31 before being bowled by Kallis, then Flintoff fell for 17 with Steyn inducing an edge to Boucher.

Chris Broad and Anderson both reached double figures, but spinner Monty Panesar provided de Villiers with his second catch off Morkel without troubling the scorers and Pattinson's first Test innings was ended on eight by the Steyn-Boucher partnership.

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