Cricket England v South AfricaEngland's battle to salvage a draw from the opening Test against South Africa remained in the balance despite Michael Vaughan's timely return to form with a brilliant century at Edgbaston.

Having been dominated by the tourists from the very start of the rain-affected encounter, England had looked on course to easily save the follow on.

But just as Vaughan had his sights set on the maiden double century of his career, he fell for 156 and England slipped to 374 for seven by the close, still 21 runs adrift of saving the follow on.

With a minimum of 105 overs to survive on the final day, it leaves England facing a tense battle to prevent the tourists taking an early advantage in the five-Test series only days after they were written off as being in disarray and there for the taking.

The late dramas were compounded by a worrying injury sustained by wicketkeeper Alec Stewart, which forced him to bat with a runner after suffering a badly bruised left leg from the bottom edge of an attempted pull.

For large parts of the day England had progressed impressively towards the follow on target of 395 after resuming on 25 without loss with Vaughan initially playing a cautious innings before opening up.

The loss of three wickets either side of lunch seemed to rejuvenate him. Marcus Trescothick had looked comfortable despite batting with a fractured right index finger until his off-stump was removed by an outswinging Ntini yorker while both Mark Butcher and captain Nasser Hussain fell to leg before decisions.

With Anthony McGrath, his captain at Yorkshire, for company Vaughan hit a six and 24 other boundaries during an innings lasting nearly seven hours. England's three remaining tail-enders face a tough task on today's final day.