Andrew Flintoff failed to come to the rescue as England wickets tumbled at Headingley in the second Test against South Africa.

Flintoff made just 17 in his first Test innings for 18 months as England were dismissed for 203, after being inserted for the second time in the series.

All-rounder Flintoff was seventh out as the South African pace attack revelled in the gloomy conditions in Leeds.

Only Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell, centurions both last week in the draw at Lord's, appeared comfortable as ball dominated bat once South Africa were given a leg-up by an umpiring gaffe.

Alastair Cook was the victim of a poor Billy Bowden decision in the 12th over to end a defiant alliance with Andrew Strauss, which began seven minutes behind schedule due to morning drizzle.

Left-hander Cook was given out caught down the legside off Morne Morkel after the ball brushed the batsman's trousers on the way through.

Openers Strauss and Cook, who set the platform for England's massive 593 for eight declared in the first match of the series at Lord's, shared 26 runs for the first wicket.

But captain Michael Vaughan's 50th Test in charge was tinged with disappointment when, in the next over, he was forced to play at one a fraction outside off-stump from Dale Steyn and edged a straightforward chance to Graeme Smith at first slip.

That left England 27 for two with Pietersen, who hit a double hundred against West Indies at the same ground last year, hoping to continue his dominance over the country of his birth.

Once again Pietersen played some outrageous strokes, flicking full deliveries through the legside for four and hooking a Steyn bouncer for six.

He was fourth out when, after punching a back-foot drive for four, he attempted to dispatch a fuller delivery and nicked to Smith off Steyn.

His dismissal during a run flurry shortly after lunch followed that of Strauss before the interval, who fell caught behind off Morkel after earlier surviving off the same bowler when a thicker edge was claimed by AB de Villiers at third slip despite the ball bobbling onto the turf.

Having opted to recall Flintoff in place of Paul Collingwood, that meant South Africa were quickly into an extended England tail and a succession of edges - Bell unluckily chopped on for 31 - meant Darren Pattinson walked out for his maiden international innings before tea.

Nottinghamshire's Pattinson, a former roof tiler who was born in Grimsby but raised in Australia, made a shock debut having only joined up with the squad after net practice yesterday due to back soreness felt by James Anderson.

But with Ryan Sidebottom failing to recover from a back niggle, his 29-year-old county colleague was drafted into the XI.

Pattinson's ability to swing the ball at pace has earnt 29 first-class wickets in six appearances for his county this summer.

His inclusion, however, was even more of a surprise given that three of the lauded 2005 Ashes attack, Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard were overlooked.

And Chris Tremlett was effectively first reserve among the bowling unit after being called up as initial cover for Sidebottom.

The South Africans retained the same side which salvaged a draw in the opening match of the series despite following on.

One of their heroes last week, Neil McKenzie, overcame a groin problem to feature at a ground where the Proteas triumphed five years ago.

And he was set to bat in the final session after Pattinson was last man out to Steyn, who like fellow paceman Morkel finished with four wickets.