Hales has a peculiar stance. A tall chap, he hunches over his bat initially before standing tall as the bowler runs in, his bat almost perpendicular in his backlift, periscope-like. A sort of exaggerated Graham Gooch. You can tell he is keen to keep it moving, but that's a maiden from Piedt.

Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Rex Features

"If I was out there I'd probably be niggling Compton a little bit. I'd definitely be counting the dot balls that he'd faced. He's the type of guy who looks like he spends a lot of time analysing his game and thinking about it."

And a change of bowling, Chris Morris replacing Kagiso Rabada. He has skittish Compton playing and missing as he aims an expansive drive, then beats him again later in the over, with the batsman's feet stuck in porridge. Moral victories for the bowler but no more.

Tidy from Piedt. Just the one run from the over. South Africa steadying themselves after that frantic start to the afternoon session.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"If you get a platform in the morning session by the batsmen playing sensibly, even if you lose one wicket, at 79-1 you've got a platform.  At 80-3 there are wobbles and that's where England have been too often. If you get a platform, the afternoon and evening session is for the batsmen then."

Image source, Rex Features

AB de Villiers, at second slip, fiddles with his floppy hat like a wedding guest ensuring her fascinator is perfectly placed. Rabada, youthful and loose limbed, charges in at the tall Hales, who plays some high-elbowed drives into the cover ring. Just a single from the over.

Image source, AFP

Victory of sorts for Dane Piedt as he pushes one past the outside edge of Nick Compton - I think that's the first time that Compton has been beaten since the lunch break. Apart from that, it looks rather straightforward for England at the moment.

Charles Rowlands: Nick Compton just hit a four and a six in 3 balls. Frankly, would have been less surprised to see Denis Compton do it.

Hans Pinkard: So Compton can't "go through the gears", eh? Whatever that means.

Richard Higgins: Hales and Compton must have had had the Big Bash on in the lunch break!

Fetch that! Rabada, now armed with three slips, is driven imperiously through cover for four by Compton, who even allowed himself the full follow-through.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Hales' fifty is the first half-century by an opening partner of Alastair Cook in 10 Test matches going back to Adam Lyth's century against New Zealand at Headingley last summer."

Eng 104-1published at 31 overs

31 overs

Image source, Reuters

Compton's at it again, sweeping Piedt for four before drilling him back over his head for a resounding six. England fairly rattling along after lunch.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Hales played nicely this morning - there's no need for that flurry. It's not a good sign for other Test matches to come."

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"Hales is talking animatedly with Compton - he knows he's living dangerously."

50 for Halespublished at 20 overs

20 overs

Eng 93-1

Image source, AFP

A maiden Test half-century for Hales, courtesy of his ninth four. Again, it's anything but convincing - an edged drive that would have gone straight to third slip. Rabada deserved better for that.

Maybe Hales and Compton shared a can of Red Bull during the break. What on earth is going on? Compton, having made three off 32 balls before lunch, charges off-spinner Dane Piedt's first ball and heaves him wide of mid-on for a very ugly two. Urgh.