Muted celebrations, and Ntini the wide-boy

Being stuck in the field for hours and days on end is not only tough for the bowlers, but also the fielders who have to try and keep their concentration levels high. The slips require more focus than most, due to the pace the ball can travel in their direction, and Andrew Flintoff showed why he is one of the best in the world. AB de Villiers was on 174 when he drove at Stuart Broad, the edge flying low, seemingly between Tim Ambrose and Flintoff, at a wide first slip. But Flintoff flung his left hand low, plucking out a stunning one-handed grab, before nonchalantly holding it up for the crowd.

South Africa's batsmen have ticked off a few milestones of late, and another came the way of Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers. Their 212-run partnership was the best fifth-wicket stand for South Africa against England, beating the 192-run effort between Gary Kirsten and Mark Boucher at Durban in 1999-2000. That was in a marathon match-saving effort after Nasser Hussain made them follow-on in the Boxing Day Test. Today's stand, on the other hand, has laid the foundation for victory.

Welcome back to Test cricket, Fred. It certainly hasn't a gentle return for Flintoff as Michael Vaughan turned to him at almost every turn in the search for wickets. In one sense that isn't surprising, he looked the most likely wicket-taking option, but as with everything involving Flintoff you have to look at the history. Here is a man who has had four ankle operations, playing in his first Test in 18 months. Yet he bowled 40 overs, the equal second-most of his Test career. Clearly Flintoff and England are confident in his body, and it seems that one way or the other we are going to find out how well-placed that faith is. It wasn't just Flintoff feeling the burn, either, as James Anderson notched up 44 overs, the most he has bowled in a Test innings.

AB de Villiers isn't a favourite of the England players at the moment following his claiming of a 'catch' against Andrew Strauss on the first day. Even though de Villiers apologised he still got a few words from Vaughan during the tea interval, and there was plenty more needle as he approached his century today. de Villiers went to 99 at 12.07, but it took him 43 minutes to find the precious last run. Flintoff cranked up the pace against him and had a huge appeal for caught behind (rightly) turned down. Flintoff then roared another appeal as de Villiers pushed the ball into the covers and finally sprinted off for his 100th run. There was gentle applause from a few England fielders.

One of the significant features of South Africa's batting was their quick singles, especially from Ashwell Prince and de Villiers. They often picked on England's slower fielders - often Vaughan and Panesar at mid-off and mid-on - but de Villiers was confident against anyone. At one point he pushed the ball towards substitute Garry Park at midwicket and raced off for a single. It was a safe run, but Park had a shy at the stumps which went well wide. However, in his eagerness to back-up, Panesar ran backwards into de Villiers, managing to leave him sprawling in the crease. But it was all back-slaps and handshakes between the pair as Panesar returned to his right area.

All England's bowlers have had to toil of late, but none more so than Panesar. He sent down 60 wicketless overs in the second innings at Lord's and wasn't given an easy start here when Prince attacked him yesterday. Finally, though, after 82 overs of waiting he finally claimed another wicket by bowling Morne Morkel through the gate. That's almost a whole day of bowling. No wonder the celebrations were a little more muted than usual.

Makhaya Ntini was severely out of sorts at Lord's and talk was starting over his place in the team. Graeme Smith quickly came out in support of his senior bowler, but it was important that Ntini found his rhythm in this game. Today he looked more like his old self with two vital scalps, including Michael Vaughan with a beauty just minutes before the close. It has been noticeable that he is bowling from wider on the crease, his traditional style, whereas at Lord's, by Ntini's standards, he was almost hugging the stumps.