Day two report More photos Full scorecard

"All you ask for is consistency and we don't feel there's been that much consistency today," he said afterwards.

"Throughout the morning session it was pretty dark and we could quite easily have come off.

"It's probably the best light we've had all day and we're off in the dressing-room sitting down."

We've got a great chance to move on in the morning and put some pressure on Michael Vaughan

Vaughan claimed South African captain Graeme Smith had complained about the light to the umpires.

In a statement through South Africa's media manager however, Bucknor said the umpires had come to the decision alone, after offering the light to the batsmen.

England were in trouble after losing three quick wickets at the start of the day, putting Vaughan in mind of a nightmare debut at the same ground five years ago.

But they had recovered to 411-8, with Vaughan 82 not out and tailender Steve Harmison frustrating the home side's bowlers with an unbeaten 30.

"It was a bit of deja-vu with the ball seaming about and the light not too great but we're delighted to be in the position that we're in now," said Vaughan.

"We've got a great chance to move on in the morning and put some pressure on the South Africans.

I thought Michael Vaughan played well, but Harmison and Giles chanced their arms Shaun Pollock

Vaughan joked that he looked like a "man batting with a toothpick" early in his innings as he scratched his way to nine not out overnight.

"I looked at a lot of video last night and realised there was a technical error in my make-up that I've tried to put right," he added.

Pace bowler Shaun Pollock said much of South Africa's initiative had been wrested away in the final session.

"I thought Michael Vaughan played well, but Harmison and [Ashley] Giles chanced their arms and got away with it," said Pollock after the trio added 118 from 20 overs in 97 minutes.

"But that's how you'd expect them to play on that sort of pitch.