Summary

  • Morris (26*) & Rabada (20*) add 42

  • South Africa slip from 117-1 to 225-7

  • Elgar 46, Amla 40, De Villiers 36

  • Two wickets apiece for Stokes & Finn

  • Every batsman reaches double figures

  • England lead 1-0 in four-Test series

Live Reporting

Marc Higginson and Stephan Shemilt

  1. Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    Joe Root and Alex HalesRex Features

    "We still don't know if it's a poor score until England have batted."

  2. SA 229-7

    Nothing to see here. Move along please, gentlemen.

  3. Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    "They went straight up for the review. But not a sausage on Snicko. The ball went past the outside edge and the bat is nowhere near the pad."

  4. England review

    Has Kagiso Rabada feathered behind here? Everyone in the ground thinks not, except Jonny Bairstow who asks for a review.

  5. SA 229-7 (Morris 9, Rabada 1)

    Hashim Amla has spent the evening session supping brews and sporting dark shades. A cool customer on and off the pitch. England encourage each other between deliveries, desperate not to let the day coast to a conclusion.

  6. Get Involved

    #bbccricket

    Peter Eastwood: Re 08:25. I'd like to publicly apologise to my mother after this morning, got back from the dogs promptly and have seen all 7 wickets.

  7. SA 227-7 (Moeen 15-3-44-1)

    Moeen Ali is racing through his overs here - making sure England get as close to the 90 as is possible before time is called at 16:00 GMT.

  8. England Lions win warm-up game

    James VinceGetty Images

    James Vince hit 88 to lead England Lions to a comfortable five-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates in their first 50-over warm-up game in Dubai.

    The Lions, captained by Sam Billings as Vince stood down to allow him leadership experience, overhauled a target of 211 with eight overs to spare.

    Tom Westley helped seal victory with an unbeaten 57, after Jamie Overton and Liam Dawson claimed two wickets apiece for the tourists.

    The Lions face the UAE again on Saturday before a five-match one-day series against Pakistan A starts on 20 January.

    Full scorecard

  9. SA 227-7 (SA won toss)

    My fellow Lancastrian Phil McNulty (BBC Sport's chief football writer) has been in touch. He's much more optimistic than myself. He reckons England will pile up 500 on this track with Alastair Cook serving up 150. 

    South Africa's bowling attack is a little green without Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander. Maybe he's right? England appeal for another when Stuart Broad beats Kagiso Rabada's outside edge. Close, but no cigar.

  10. Get involved

    tms@bbc.co.uk

    If England can bowl them out for less that 300 I reckon England will have a first-innings lead which will prove decisive. 2-0 on the cards - who predicted that before the first Test?

    Jack Wellby

  11. SA 225-7 (Morris 6, Rabada 0)

    Maiden for Moeenlitharan, as I've heard England's premier spinner is now nicknamed. Let's go with it.

  12. Get Involved

    #bbccricket

    Ben Dalton: Every South African player out has made double figures but they're yet to hit 230. Restarting more than my knackered laptop.

  13. SA 225-7 (Broad 14-3-54-1)

    Let's not kid ourselves, the South Africa pacemen will be handy on this surface. We could be on course for one of those 250-plays-250 matches which come down to a narrow victory for either side. A la Edgbaston 2005.

  14. Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    "It's been gifts all afternoon for England. Vilas had done the hard work - and only 5.2 overs remaining before the second new ball. England have got a great chance to get the last three wickets tonight. South Africa are going to be a long way short of the par score of 315."

  15. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC Test Match Special

    "Moeen took that pretty well. He had to wait a long, long time for that ball to come down, looking up into the sun. Another gift for England."

  16. wicket

    WICKET

    Vilas c Moeen b Broad 26 (SA 225-7)

    Steven Finn and Moeen Ali celebrateRex Features

    I think we can safely assume England will be batting before the close of play (16:00 GMT). South Africa are folding like a deck of cards - this time Dane Vilas taking on a ball which wasn't short enough to pull and top-edging to Moeen Ali at long leg. A good catch, since the sun was in his eyes. I told you Moeen always wins! (see 66 overs).

  17. SA 220-6 (Vilas 26, Morris 1)

    Dane Vilas looks a well organised player, punching Moeen through the covers for two more. I suppose he had to be organised to get from one end of South Africa to the other in a matter of hours this morning.

  18. Best mates doing great things

    #bbccricket

    Ron Elliott: Me & mate Keith Scott, openers for Nepotists CC both got 5-fors vs Tipton St John while on tour. Oppo renamed Tipton St Rabbits.

    Damon Morris: Would have to go a long way to beat sitting through the dreadful movie Cats & Dogs 2: Revenge of Kitty Galore

  19. SA 218-6 (run-rate 2.99)

    England have got a pogo stick-like spring in their step now. They sense an opportunity to grab the game by the short and curlies.

    Dane Vilas has a lot to make up for and he drives Stuart Broad through the covers for four. Sweetly timed, and he split the field like a man shelling peas.

  20. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC Test Match Special

    "I've got England more than just a nose ahead."