Vaughan helped to rebuild the innings after the early loss of Marcus Trescothick and Mark Butcher, leaving the home side well-placed on 73 for two nearing the break.

But all rounder Andrew Hall, recalled to the South Africa Test side on his 28th birthday, then took two wickets in five deliveries.

When Vaughan followed, after a rush of blood and a reckless hook, England had lost three wickets for 12 runs in 10 balls.

Nasser Hussain, seeking to secure his future as a specialist batsman after quitting as captain at Edgbaston, went first, driving loosely at Hall's bustling seamers and being bowled for 14.

Anthony McGrath then chipped Hall off a leading edge to wide mid-off for four before Vaughan, attempting to hook Makhaya Ntini into the stands after scoring 33, skied to fine leg.

Wicketkeeper Alec Stewart, on five, and Andrew Flintoff, on four, were at the crease at lunch.

Pace bowler Ntini had provided the first breakthrough as Trescothick played on lazily for six.

The left-handed batsman left his angled bat dangling outside off and edged the ball back into his stumps with the score on 11. The England opener had been dropped earlier off a simple chance off Ntini by Graeme Smith at second slip.

If Hall stole the limelight on the opening morning he reached the break with two for six off four overs it was strike bowler Shaun Pollock who deserved the superlatives, as he had done in the drawn first Test.

His opening figures of 9-4-10-1 left England on the back foot from the start.

Mark Butcher had suggested a fightback with three consecutive boundaries, driving Ntini through mid-on, then forcing him off the back foot through point and driving him off the front foot through cover.

But the left-hander, having made 19 off 17 balls, was squared up by Pollock and edged to Hall at third slip to make it 35 for two.

South Africa lost quick bowler Dewald Pretorius from their attack With a right thigh strain after he bowled four overs.