Stokes and Foakes build England’s lead after Nortje’s morning strikes

Lunch England 212 for 5 (Stokes 34*, Foakes 33*, Bairstow 49, Crawley 38, Nortje 3-41) lead South Africa 151 by 61 runs

After squandering their own first innings by collapsing for 151, the onus was on South Africa to hit back hard as England resumed on 111 for 3 on day two, and with Nortje and Kagiso Rabada to the fore, they did their utmost to oblige.

Nortje in particular was a menace from the outset. Touching speeds in excess of 90mph, he found reverse swing allied to a tight line to the right-handers to hurry both Bairstow and Crawley, whose overnight 17 from 77 balls had been marked by his determination to stay patient in the channel outside off stump.

Bairstow, whose twin failures at Lord’s had ended a remarkable run of four centuries and a fifty in his previous five Test innings, was on the verge of another half-century when Nortje – with extra pace and each-way movement – found a thin edge from back of a length as he bent the ball back into the right-hander. Bairstow was gone for 49, and at 134 for 4, England were still in arrears.

Crawley had been England’s main source of runs in the first hour – not all of them controlled, but opportunistically picked off whenever Nortje in particular strayed too full into his legs. But having added 21 runs in 24 balls, he was undone by an exceptional piece of bowling. Nortje hit the perfect line and length at 90mph, found a modicum of away movement, and Crawley – resolutely forward to defend his off stump – feathered the slenderest of nicks through to Kyle Verreynne for 38.

At first, Foakes and Stokes had only survival on their minds, and Foakes got away with one when he under-edged an off-balance chop at Rabada, away past the keeper for four. But South Africa’s spearheads could not continue forever, and the introduction of Simon Harmer in particular gave England a chance to loosen the shackles and stretch their innings.

Harmer’s solitary over on the first evening hadn’t given much away about his impending impact, although his reputation precedes him following his exploits for Essex. However, his first delivery to Foakes was a juicy full toss, stroked through the covers for four, while Stokes – moments after easing Rabada through the off side for his first boundary – immediately lapped Harmer clean over midwicket for six, the 101st of his Test career.

Lungi Ngidi joined the fray in a double-change, charged with keeping England in check, but Stokes, having shrugged off the pain of his left knee, which gave way beneath him while turning for a second run, picked him off for two more fours, including one exceptional straight drive after a premeditated charge to the pitch.

There was a late scare in the session for Foakes, when Keshav Maharaj thumped him on the pads with his first delivery, only for the lbw verdict to be overturned on review. And when he capped the session by slapping another full toss from Harmer through midwicket, England had added 101 runs in the session to cement their authority.