The second day of the first Test between South Africa and England at the Centurion saw the home side race ahead with the advantage. South Africa’s innings ended on 284 runs early on day two and England thought they had a good chance of gaining a big lead.

However, their openers Burns (9) and Sibley (4) fell early, but then Denly (50), Joe Root (29) and Ben Stokes (35) took the innings to 142/4 when the actual collapse started. The instigator of the collapse was Vernon Philander, who ended up with figures of 14.2 overs, 8 maidens, 4 wickets for 16 runs. Kagiso Rabada picked 3/68, while Anrich Nortje grabbed 2/47. Though Sam Curran scored 20 and tried to save the England team, they folded for 181 runs, giving Proteas a lead of 103 runs.

In their second innings, South Africa lost Markram and Hamza early, but Elgar (22) and Du Plessis (20) rebuild the innings a bit. But Archer (2/37) and other England quicks reduced the home side to 72/4 at the end of the day’s play. Rassie van der Dussen remained unbeaten on 17 and Nortje on 4 at stumps.

BRIEF SCORES:
SA 284 (Q DE KOCK 95; S BROAD 4/58) & 72/4 (D ELGAR 22; J ARCHER 2/37) AND ENG 181 (J DENLY 50; V PHILANDER 4/16)
Stumps, Day 2: South Africa lead by 175 runs with 6 wickets remaining