England captain Michael Vaughan targeted McKenzie's second-wicket partner Hashim Amla in particular with a variety of unconventional manoeuvres - all to no avail as the tourists moved from 242 for one to 272 without further loss.

They were therefore only 74 adrift after following on two days ago 346 behind and looking sure to be beaten.

Overnight fears that England might be without Ryan Sidebottom, after a recurrence of his stiff back, were almost instantly allayed this morning.

The Yorkshireman was into the attack from the nursery end after a solitary exploratory over from Monty Panesar - which included a bat-pad appeal against McKenzie (121no) and then a cover-drive for four from the same batsman.

Vaughan deployed James Anderson to try to unsettle Amla with a succession of short balls and a five-four leg-side field in case of anything aerial off the pads.

The plan was upgraded to a six-three, all in catching positions and two behind square - with Anderson coming round the wicket.

It was a field setting almost from a bygone era but these were tactics which, like yesterday's, bore no fruit.

The nearest England came, on a sunny morning and with the pitch more than ever lacking pace to trouble the batsmen, was an unsuccessful appeal by Anderson for a catch behind down the leg-side against Amla on 24.