50 for De Villiers (off 116 balls)published at 65 overs

65 overs

SA 180-2

Was James Anderson standing too close to catch that? If he was, he's not for shifting as he stands in the same position for Moeen, who is belted back over his head by AB de Villiers. Four runs. His 39th Test fifty. His 8,002nd Test run.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"This pair are batting as if to say they don't trust the rest of the South African batting line-up. They're the kingpins."

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

"Amla couldn't resist the drive and it hit the hands of Jimmy Anderson, almost as if he was shielding his body with his hands."

Amla dropped on 76published at 63.1 overs

63.1 overs

SA 176-2

Oh dear! Hashim Amla drives the first ball sent down by Joe Root and gets an outside edge to first slip James Anderson who is hurried and can't get his hands to the ball quickly enough. Of course, Root dropped a catch off Anderson's bowling yesterday. Quits?

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Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Long after he's dead they'll be able to show that Ben Stokes innings and that's the wonderful thing about television.

"I tried to watch footage of Wally Hammond and all the greats but there's hardly anything.

"You can talk about these legends but when you show them the footage, then they'll believe."

The sound of gentle chatter and overhead aeroplanes envelops a patient, sedate Newlands. A crowd's mood is so intrinsically linked to the action in the middle. Calm batting makes for calm spectators. The type of carnage produced by Ben Stokes brings with it all sorts of football-style chants and frivolity. 

Moeen Ali is turned over for a couple of singles.

AB de Villiers is spending his time at the non-striker's end with his helmet placed underneath his armpit. It's hot work out there. Some might say thirsty work...

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"They've made the decision in the South African dressing room to play carefully and sensibly. The England total is huge and they don't want to get bowled out for 200 trying to get up to it quickly. They want to get a few safe runs but take up a lot of time in the match."

Dale B: At what stage today do we start saying that this is not a great Test match pitch because it's too easy to bat on for both teams?

Image source, AFP/GETTY

AB De Villiers has a slip and a short leg for company as Moeen Ali continues to wheel away over the wicket. The batsman, though, is showing as much restraint as those starting their post-Christmas diets today. But can he last until the end of the day? Will you last until the end of the day? Maiden.

How can we jinx South Africa here? My Dad used to walk out of the room if he wanted his football team to score - tempting fate etc. Perhaps I could invoke the commentator's curse?

Here we go then: 'Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers look as comfortable as sleeping babies here'.

Has it worked? We'll give it 15 minutes...

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"I would've batted for 700 yesterday. The more scoreboard pressure you can have on a flat pitch, the better."

Oli Cary: I don't know if my exam later today or this South African pairing is giving me more anxiety this morning.

Image source, Getty Images

Is this AB de Villiers slipping through the gears? he plays a reverse sweep to the spinner which wrongfoots James Anderson at first slip and runs away for four.

Interestingly, by the way, we had 21 runs in 14 overs in the first hour. Yesterday with Stokes and Bairstow in full flow there were 103 in 13 overs in the first hour. 

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Before that boundary, De Villiers had scored just four singles in 36 balls."

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

"I sense De Villiers will want a release soon. He can obviously adapt but he will want to find some momentum soon."

Image source, AFP/GETTY

At times like this, England's attack looks a little one-dimensional. They've got four seamers who all bowl right-arm over the wicket at 85mph. The alternative is Mark Footitt, who bowls at 90mph from left-arm over the wicket.

Stuart Broad continues to skillfully probe away, but the moment he pitches the ball up AB de Villiers drive him down the ground for four. Nice shot.