Hall led the way for SA with 99 not out Profile: Hall makes his mark Day four photo gallery

A partnership between Mark Butcher and Andrew Flintoff was England's last hope of staving off defeat after the hosts lost five wickets on the fourth evening at Headingley.

The home side were set what would be a national record 401 for victory after Andrew Hall led South Africa to 365 in their second innings with a blazing, unbeaten 99.

But two wickets each for Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini saw England's middle order crumble.

Hard work and a little luck on a pitch offering wildly variable bounce saw Butcher pass 50 for the second time in the match from 107 balls and at stumps he had reached 57 not out.

Through inexperience we did not put the ball in the areas we needed to - and Andrew Hall batted exceptionally well England coach Duncan Fletcher More reaction

Flintoff hit some bludgeoning boundaries and survived a single chance, a difficult drop at second slip when he had made 20, on his way to an unbeaten 45.

The duo added an unbroken 70 together but still face a massive task on the final day if they are to stave off a defeat that would make it impossible for England to win the series.

Of the rest of the top order, captain Michael Vaughan top-scored with 21 before he was the second to fall, and a second catch for Herschelle Gibbs at slip after Marcus Trescothick's dismissal.

Flintoff played confidently late in the day

Nasser Hussain was unhappy to be lbw for six, Ed Smith was caught at point off a lax shot and Alec Stewart got an edge behind to Ntini for seven.

Resuming the day 164-5, Neil McKenzie and Mark Boucher had dug the foundations for South Africa, enjoying the bulk of a first hour that saw 63 runs come in 13 overs.

James Anderson shouldered much of the blame, an inconsistent line being plundered for 31 runs in five overs.

Hall built on them with 87-ball innings that included 15 fours and two sixes, but he was left stranded as last man Dewald Pretorius was bowled by James Kirtley.

The highlight of his innings was a single over from Flintoff which yielded 14, including a hoisted six over midwicket.

England's bowling was so bad that it needed to be seen to be believed Read Agnew's verdict

It was just the fifth time in Test history that a batsman has been left one short of a century, but he had at least topped his previous best of 70 on debut against Australia.

He took over after two wickets for Flintoff: McKenzie caught brilliantly by mid-on Martin Bicknell off a mis-timed pull for 38 and Boucher caught behind off an expansive drive for 39.

Four bowlers were tried with the second new ball before Monde Zondeki could be dislodged, after a partnership of 49 with Hall for the eighth wicket.

And Makhaya Ntini made eight in a partnership of 30 with Hall before he was lbw to Kabir Ali.

England: MP Vaughan (capt), ME Trescothick, MA Butcher, N Hussain, ET Smith, AJ Stewart (wkt), A Flintoff, JM Anderson, RJ Kirtley, Kabir Ali, M Bicknell.