England are taking no chances against Nonkululeko Mlaba and Amy Jones plays out a maiden.

There was a drag-down to finish but Jones slaps it straight to the fielder at cover.

Sune Luus hasn't carried the same threat as Mlaba but she is providing excellent support by not allowing England to relieve the pressure at the other end.

Just a couple of singles from her latest as South Africa try to claw their way back.

Henry Moeran
Test Match Special commentator

There's a buzz amongst the South Africa fielders, you can hear it around the stumps. That last wicket seems to have given them a lift.

Turn and bounce once again for Nonkululeko Mlaba to start the over and Amy Jones is beaten.

England wicketkeeper-batter has seen enough and decides it is time to take action, skipping down and hitting the next ball just over the bowler's head for four.

This is an enthralling passage of play.

Srinivas Vijaykumar
Cricviz analyst

Nat Sciver-Brunt v Nonkululeko Mlaba on this tour

• 4 innings
• 81 runs
• 59 balls
• 0 dismissals
• 137.3 strike rate

Lydia Greenway
Former England batter on BBC Test Match Special

South Africa will be glad to see the back of Danni Wyatt-Hodge because when she gets going, she can be destructive.

The 300 comes up for England as Nat Sciver-Brunt pushes into the covers for a single off the back foot.

Amy Jones then gets off the mark with a pull shot to deep mid-wicket as Sune Luus drags one down.

There is a lot more energy from South Africa in the field after that wicket of Danni Wyatt-Hodge, they feel this is there time to hit back after the visitors dominated the first couple of sessions.

Nearly two in two for Nonkululeko Mlaba with another fine delivery.

Once again, the batter - this time the newly-arrived Amy Jones - is dragged forward before the ball turns sharply to take the outside edge.

A thicker nick goes towards Sune Luus at slip but drops just short.

Wicket maiden and things happening for South Africa's premier spinner.

Tidy over from Sune Luus. The spinner restricts England to just a Danni Wyatt-Hodge single from the over.

Slowly the tourists' scoring rate is a start for South Africa but it's wickets they need.

England pick up where they left off as Nat Sciver-Brunt sweeps fine for four as Nonkululeko Mlaba drifts a ball down leg.

Better from the left-arm spinner to end the over but it's still six runs from it and England on the cusp of 300.

Lydia Greenway
Former England batter on BBC Test Match Special

England were very good against the new ball early on, apart from the Tammy Beaumont wicket. They have earned the right to be in this position and still look strong.

Right then, the players are back out for the evening session and Nonkululeko Mlaba will bowl the first over after tea.

Srinivas Vijaykumar
Cricviz analyst

Highest partnerships for England in women's Tests:

• Molly Hide & Betty Snowball: 235 v New Zealand, Christchurch, Feb 1935
• Jan Brittin & Carole Hodges: 207 V India, Worcester, Jul 1986
• Alice Davidson-Richards & Nat Sciver-Brunt: 207 v South Africa, Taunton, Jun 2022
• Lydia Greenway & Claire Taylor: 203 v South Africa, Shenley, Aug 2003
• Caroline Atkins & Arran Brindle: 200 v India, Lucknow, Jan 2002
• Caroline Atkins & Charlotte Edwards: 178 v India, Taunton, Aug 2006
• Maia Bouchier & Nat Sciver-Brunt: 174 v South Africa, Today

Image source, Getty Images

Australia all-rounder Cooper Connolly smashed 64 off 51 balls as Perth Scorchers beat Melbourne Stars by six wickets in the opening game of the 2024-25 Big Bash League.

Chasing 147 to win, Scorchers were struggling at 37-3 but Connolly hit four fours and three sixes to swing the game in their favour.

He was dismissed with 42 required but Ashton Turner (37*) and Nick Hobson (27*) sealed the win with 17 balls to spare.

Stars posted 146-9 with Tom Curran hitting 37 off 19 balls and Marcus Stoinis 37 off 33.

Notts' Joe Clarke, who is deputising for Ben Duckett for the opening two games, made a nine-ball duck.

Curran took 1-25 in Scorchers' chase, while Lancashire's Keaton Jennings and Matty Hurst both scored just four for the five-time winners.

I don't want to speak too soon but there also seems to be good news for both sides on the weather front.

We were told that there was a reasonable chance of a storm hitting Mangaung Oval this afternoon but, for all that the wind has continued to gust, it has not yet blown any rain the way of this Test match.

The pitch remains uncovered over tea so it is looking good for an uninterrupted first day as things stand. Huge in terms of trying to get a result in four days.

Srinivas Vijaykumar
Cricviz analyst

Fastest hundreds in women's Tests:

• 96 balls - Nat Sciver-Brunt v South Africa, Today
• 113 balls - Shefali Verma v South Africa, Chennai, 2024
• 122 balls - Smriti Mandhana v South Africa, Chennai, 2024
• 124 balls - Maia Bouchier v South Africa, Today
• 137 balls - Jan Brittin v Australia, Perth, 1984

Thanks, Ffion.

What a session that was for England. After losing Heather Knight three balls after lunch, they proceeded to plunder 189 runs in the session.

On debut, Maia Bouchier scored England's fastest Test century, a record she held for all of 31 minutes before it was broken by the ever-impressive Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Bouchier might have fallen before the break but the tourists are in control of this match and South Africa have a lot of work to do if they are to alter that fact.

Well, after a completely dominant session from England, it's time for me to take a break.

I'll leave you with Sam Drury to take you through the rest of England's innings.

Kevin Howells
BBC Test Match Special commentator

England have taken a real grip of things out there. They have dominated and Bouchier has been such a driving force for this team.