Andrew Flintoff produced his best bowling spell for England since the 2005 Ashes when they needed it most against South Africa.

One particular 10-ball burst at Jacques Kallis was reminiscent of his match-tilting over against the Australians at Edgbaston three years ago, which included the dismissals of Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting.

This time, having had a plumb leg before appeal turned down by Pakistan official Aleem Dar, he sent the Birmingham crowd into raptures by cartwheeling Kallis' off-stump.

His evening spell of 6-2-15-2 from the Pavilion End dragged England back into a contest they must win if they are to be victorious in the npower series - the South Africans resume tomorrow on 256 for six, a lead of just 25 runs.

"When you're bowling against one of the best players in the world - like Kallis - it brings the best out of me and it probably did that tonight," said Flintoff, whose dismissal of Neil McKenzie earlier took him to the 200-mark in Tests.

"It was up there with one of my better spells," he said.

"It was an important hour for us when we came back out this evening.

"We scrapped all day and we needed to get wickets to get back into this game so from that point of view it was great."

Flintoff, playing only his second Test following an 18-month injury lay-off triggered by a fourth ankle operation, was clearly incensed by Dar's refusal to raise the finger in the 67th over of the innings but, undeterred, produced another searing yorker to devastating effect.

"Emotions were running quite high at that point," said Flintoff. "The decision got turned down and you can chunter as much as you want but you've got to get on with it haven't you?

"It did get me going a bit and to get rid of him in my next over was ideal.

"I can't remember what I was saying, I was just chuntering - it was just an aimless rant.

"But I've been in to see Aleem afterwards and I apologised. It's not something which I particularly like, it was just emotions taking over but we're friends again."

South Africa were well positioned on 205 for four at tea but an extended break due to one of a number of rain showers allowed bowling coach Ottis Gibson to discuss a change of policy for the attack.

Flintoff, 30, was the beneficiary as the South Africans clearly struggled to pick up deliveries speared into the blockhole.

"I think the yorker is perhaps under-used at times," said Flintoff. "I obviously bowl it a lot in Twenty20 and 50-over cricket and we'd tried everything else so I tried to slip a few in and it seemed to come out through the committee room window and they struggled to see it."

South Africa were hoping to negotiate an extension of the sightscreen at the pavilion end as a result but regulations state that once a match has started things cannot be altered.

"I don't think the light was an issue," said Kallis. "The dark windows above the sight screen, that was the issue.

"Let's hope common sense prevails and we get a sheet over there, otherwise we are going to get tall guys running up bowling yorkers all day.

"Hopefully the two captains can come together to sort that problem out."

With the pitch still offering assistance to the bowlers, South Africa view a lead of 100 as a potentially match-winning advantage.

But England answered coach Peter Moores cry to show their character, particularly Flintoff, who followed up Kallis' departure with a ferocious bouncer which AB de Villiers hooked straight to fine leg.

The intensity of the cricket sparked Kallis to highlight the special thrill of Tests in a modern age saturated with 20-over action.

"Any time you get good battles in Test cricket, it is great for the game," he said. "People are saying that with Twenty20 around Test cricket is going to die but I don't think it is anywhere near dying.

"With exciting afternoons like that, what more do you want?"

Flintoff became only the 10th man in history of Test cricket to complement 3000 runs with 200 wickets, extending his love of performing at this ground, where he struck his highest score to date, 167 against West Indies, and was man of the match against the Australians.

"If I'm honest it's taken a while but it's nice to get past 200, but I should have done it 15 or 20 Tests ago," he said, modestly.

"I enjoy playing here: it's somewhere I've scored runs and bowled alright too so I think you turn up somewhere where you've done well it often helps.

"But I want to take a lot more wickets and score a lot more runs.

"At this moment in time I am not driven by any stats or records, I just want to do well for myself and well for England."