This isn't particularly brisk stuff from Vernon Philander. Most deliveries are around 80mph mark. But he is giving the England batsmen, and Jonny Bairstow in particular, a stern examination. The ball is nibbling about off the seam and swinging.

Bairstow plays with hard hands and edges a drive off Philander's second ball of the over. South Africa's slip cordon are a little too deep, though, and the ball does not carry. Bairstow puffs out his chest and reherses the shot. He knows he got away with one there.

Dukkhaboy: Watching Gary Ballance bat in Tests is like watching a young no.8 & hoping he'll grow into a genuine no.6 later in his career.

Andy Harley: I'm sure Ballance is a nice guy and a good team man but he just doesn't cut it at this level. No foot movement Have to learn

Rich Price: Gary Ballance is the Einstein definition of insanity. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Morne Morkel keeps Joe Root pinned back in the crease with a tight over. Eventually the England captain is able to push one of his hips for a single down to fine leg. England just need to consolidate in this first hour after lunch following Ballance's dismissal.

Jonny Bairstow is cut in two by Vernon Philander delivery and the ball whistles down to the boundary for four byes. A couple of balls later the England wicketkeeper gets his first runs off the bat as he confidently plays off his legs to cushion the ball over the rope for four.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

It's a poor shot. He was playing it slightly on the up - if he'd have been on 0, he'd have blocked it. It's because he's got 27 runs and he's feeling good. You have to start again after lunch. Just block it!

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

This could be a defining session. England will get 100 runs in this session, so it's about how many wickets South Africa get in that time.

Morne Morkel bowls the first over after luncheon. South Africa with three slips and a gully hoping to nip out Joe Root, but the England captain, in contrast with this morning, is watchful. Perhaps Root is mindful of the fact he produce a match-defining innings here.

Over in Bristol, England have set West Indies 221 to win in their final group game. Heather Knight's side have already qualified for the semi-finals but victory would prevent them from facing Australia in the semi-finals.

If they do top the group, they will face the winner of India v New Zealand. In that game, India are 173-4 - Mithali Raj unbeaten on 83.

Full scorecard of every match here.

Thanks Matt, that was some counter attack in the morning by Joe Root wasn't it? If he can continue in the same vein the momentum may well and truly be back with England by stumps.

Ok, I'm going to hand over to Timothy Abraham who will see you through the afternoon session...

Image source, AFP

To keep you in the loop with another Test match being played further afield, Sri Lanka are 293-7 in their first innings in Colombo at close on the second day. Upul Tharanga has top-scored with 71 as the hosts try and reach parity with Zimbabwe's 356 all out - Craig Ervine hitting 160 and Rangana Herath returning 5-116. Full scorecard here.

Here's Joe Root bringing up his 28th Test fifty. What a player!

Joe Root strode to the crease with his side 3-2 and the ball hooping round corners. Not a problem for the skipper!

He peeled off a 40-ball 50 and steered his side to 85-2 at lunch. Gary Ballance is alongside him on 26 not out.

South Africa probably didn't mind getting the ball in their hands considering the clouds overhead. And they soon made the perfect start - removing both openers.

And once big Vernon was dismissed, Jimmy ran through the South Africa tail like a hot knive through butter...

Vernon Philander hit a classy half-century last night, but he didn't last long on the second morning against James Anderson...