Vaughan counts his walking wounded

Andrew Flintoff was a major concern before the Fourth Test. Despite nursing a sore side, however, the all-rounder pushed himself through 46 overs and England will need to monitor his fitness before Friday. "We expect another really tough game," Vaughan said. "South Africa came back strongly having gone 1-0 down and we've got to make sure we either stay 2-1 up or finish 3-1." Vaughan declined to speculate on Harmison's chances of seeing out the series.

"Steve has bowled here," he said. "We'll have to see how he is and judge it over the next few days. I'm tired so I dread to think how the bowlers are feeling." England twice came from behind to share the 2003 series and now South Africa face the same task on home soil.

Graeme Smith almost saved the game for his side yesterday, defying doctor's orders to make an unbeaten 67 only 24 hours after suffering concussion during a fielding practice mishap.

"There was not enough hardness, especially in the middle order," Smith complained. "It just needed a few extra overs of graft."