Summary

  • South Africa slip to 88-6

  • Three wickets for Wood

  • Wood strikes with final ball of day

  • De Kock 32*, Elgar 26, Malan 15

  • England 400: Root 59, Pope 56

  • Broad 43 (28), Wood 35* (39)

  • Last-wicket stand of 82 off 50 balls

  • Nortje 5-110 - maiden five-wicket haul

  • Fourth Test, day two, Johannesburg

  • England lead 2-1 in four-Test series

  1. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 10:13 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Curran c De Kock b Nortje 0 (Eng 269-7)

    First ball! What are you doing, Sam Curran?

    That is a dreadful shot first up. It was full and even wider than the Root wicket and Curran just wafts his bat lazily. There's a thick edge and it is snuffled behind the stumps. Nortje is delighted. The crowd is alive. Suddenly South Africa are right back in it.

    Sam CurranImage source, Getty Images
  2. Postpublished at 10:13 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Paul Farbrace
    Ex-England assistant coach on The Cricket Social

    I'm not sure the wicket has opened the door hugely for South Africa, they've got enough batting to get a good score.

    But Root has missed out on a chance to cement this Test for England.

  3. Postpublished at 10:13 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent in Johannesburg

    That was a rather casual drive outside the off stump. Root is absolutely furious as he walks off.

    This game is alive.

  4. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 10:11 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Root c De Kock b Nortje 59 (Eng 269-6)

    Joe Root is out this time! He will not make South Africa pay for the dropped catch and it looks like he has not learnt. The dismissal is almost identical to how he should have been out when he was dropped - driving and edging a full ball from Nortje. This time Quinton de Kock safely takes the catch. Relief for Faf du Plessis.

    Joe RootImage source, Getty Images
  5. Eng 269-5published at 73.2 overs

    Can Joe Root now make South Africa pay? Nortje's anger levels nudge up to a good 12 out of 10 when Root ramps him for four.

  6. Postpublished at 10:08 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Adam Mountford
    BBC Test Match Special in Johannesburg

    It looks like one extra security guard positioned at the tunnel entrance today where Ben Stokes got involved in his altercation yesterday. There are also perhaps a few more stewards about. But I wouldn’t say there is evidence that security has been significantly enhanced today. England reported not just Ben Stokes, but also backroom staff were subjected to personal abuse during and after play yesterday.

    TunnelImage source, BBC Sport
  7. Eng 265-5published at 73 overs

    Root 55, Buttler 4

    It looks like Faf almost had too much time. He was trying to take the catch while shimmying to his right.

  8. Postpublished at 10:04 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Daniel Norcross
    The Cricket Social

    That would have been a big wicket with the new ball due in eight overs time.

  9. Postpublished at 10:04 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Niall O'Brien
    Former Ireland wicketkeeper on The Cricket Social

    His eyes weren't level. He's a good catcher normally, I'm very surprised. Maybe he was just thinking of a bowling change or something.

  10. dropped catch

    Root dropped on 53published at 72 overs

    A big, big drop from South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis. He has put down his opposite number Joe Root at slip.

    You're not going to get many easier catchers at slip. It was just to his right at a good height after Root edged a drive.

    Nortje should have two in as many overs.

    Faf du PlessisImage source, Getty Images
  11. Postpublished at 09:59 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Paul Farbrace
    Ex-England assistant coach on The Cricket Social

    Jos knows, and will have thought a lot about, the fact that he needs to score runs. He's been crying out for England to have these starts so he can come in and play his way.

    He needs to just play as instinctively as he can.

  12. Eng 263-5published at 71 overs

    Root 53, Buttler 4

    Jos Buttler has Dwaine Pretorius to face now who is just finding a little bit of movement around 75mph with his seamers.

    Buttler is much more watchful in letting the ball go by outside off.

  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Text 81111

    Literally the first ball I listen to in this match... wicket. Radio safely turned off now I promise.

    Laura

  14. Eng 262-5published at 70 overs

    Is this a sign of how Buttler is going to play under pressure or just punishment of a bad ball?

    The fourth ball he receives is very wide from Nortje and Buttler crunches it for four.

  15. Postpublished at 09:54 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Niall O'Brien
    Former Ireland wicketkeeper on The Cricket Social

    England still way ahead of the game but with Jos Buttler coming in now, this is a big moment for him and his Test career.

    A lot of wicketkeepers will be watching on eagerly, both in South Africa and at home in England.

  16. Postpublished at 09:54 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Here's Jos Buttler who Paul Farbrace said earlier is playing for his Test career.

  17. Postpublished at 09:52 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Niall O'Brien
    Former Ireland wicketkeeper on The Cricket Social

    It's a huge wicket. You have a break, have a drink and then just switch off for a second. It's a horrible dismissal, probably one of the worst ways you can get out.

    Ollie PopeImage source, Reuters
  18. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 69.1 overs

    Pope b Nortje 56 (Eng 258-5)

    First ball after drinks! Ollie Pope has to drag himself from the middle. He wanted so many more. Was he not quite back in the zone after the break in play?

    Pope tries to leave a full ball from Nortje but is a little late in doing so and gets an inside edge onto his stumps as he pulls the bat away.

    There's a big, angry punch of the air from Nortje. South Africa needed that.

    Ollie PopeImage source, Getty Images
  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:49 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Text 81111

    Steve Smith watches Ollie Pope compilations on YouTube.

    Alex

    Ollie PopeImage source, Getty Images
  20. drinks break

    Drinks breakpublished at 09:48 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    That is drinks after a very satisfying first hour for England.

    They've scored 66 runs in 14.4 overs.