South Africa claimed two early wickets in the morning session but Ben Stokes (34*) and Ben Foakes (33*) added a potentially crucial 60 runs for the sixth wicket to lead England to 212-5 and a lead of 61 at lunch on the second day of the second test at Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday.
England resumed on 111-3 and quick runs came the way of Jonny Bairstow and Zak Crawley before Bairstow, who resumed on 38, was beaten for pace by Anrich Nortje and edged a rising delivery to Sarel Erwee at first slip to depart for a bright 49 from 63 balls with seven boundaries.
Crawley escaped with an early leading edge against Nortje which ballooned over cover point the fast bowler eventually claimed his wicket with a snorter of a delivery which reverse-swung into the opener before straightening to find the outside edge to ‘keeper Kyle Verreynne. Crawley’s 38 spanned 101 balls and contained five fours.
At 147-5 England were still four runs in arrears but the two Bens played positively, even aggressively against the seamers and used their feet against offspinner Simon Harmer who was enjoying prodigious turn.
Stokes played some glorious attacking shots including a straight six against Harmer to reach 34 from 65 deliveries with three fours and the six while Foakes chipped and clipped his way to 33 from 62 deliveries with four fours.
Keshav Maharaj was given just a single over before the break and might have claimed a wicket with his first delivery when Foakes was given out lbw only for DRS to reprieve him with replays showing the ball to have pitched marginally outside leg stump and spinning enough to miss off stump.
Nortje was the standout bowler of the session and took lunch with figures of 3-41 from 11 overs while Harmer (10-2-31-0) and Maharaj (7-2-23-0) were threatening but wicketless.
ENGLAND: Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (capt), Ben Foakes (wk), Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, James Anderson
SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar (capt), Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi.