Zak Crawley twirls his bat in his hands waiting for Lungi Ngidi to run in.

The Kent man leaves Ngidi's third ball and his heart must have been his mouth when the ball jagged back and just flashes past his off stump.

The three balls Crawley shows the maker's name to confidently defend, taking a single off the final delivery of the over to keep the strike.

Alison Mitchell
BBC Radio commentator

South Africa have so much pace in their line-up but the change they did make means there is no left-armer. Marco Jansen was the player to miss out.

Amen to that, Victor.

Ollie Pope has looked busy at the crease, and a man who has a clearly-defined plan about how he will counter the South Africa bowlers.

He sees off a maiden from Kagiso Rabada.

Vic Marks
Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Zak Crawley is not looking to cover drive and keep second slip involved if he can possibly help it. Make them bowl to you.

Andy Zaltzman
BBC Test Match Special statistician

It's now seven consecutive single-figure scores for England's openers. They've never previously had more than two consecutive matches in their Test history without at least one double-figure score from one of their openers.

A good nut from Lungi Ngidi to account for Alex Lees.

Zak Crawley, collar turned up, stands tall at the crease. Lungi Ngidi drifts on to his pads with his third ball and the England opener flicks it down to the fine leg boundary for four.

Risk-free cricket from the big Kent man so far. No sign of that big booming cover drive just yet.

Vic Marks
Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Pope is certainly getting something of a baptism as a relatively new number three. He doesn't have to wait too long to come out and face that hard new ball.

And that's a lovely shot, he likes it there. Well timed and it goes away with great speed.

Ollie Pope is the new batter. He pinches the strike off the last ball of Lungi Ngidi's to keep the strike. He is happy to leave and defend for the first five balls from Kagiso Rabada in the next over.

However, Rabada strays on to Pope's pads with his final delivery and the Surrey man leans into the delivery and clips it through midwicket for a classy four.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport chief cricket writer at Emirates Old Trafford

Yesterday, Ben Stokes was asked about Zak Crawley and, quite unprompted, mentioned Alex Lees' relative lack of runs. The focus on Crawley has taken some heat of Lees (who actually batted very well as recently as the win over India), but it was interesting that Stokes raised it.

Vic Marks
Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

It's a classic dismissal. Fullish in length, you felt he had to play it and it did move just a fraction off the pitch. Lees was statuesque at the crease. This game is moving fast.

Phil Tufnell
Former England spinner on BBC Two

With the game underway, if you can get absorbed in the match situation as a batter, you play the game so much better. It's quite difficult to get to that mindset instead of thinking of personal goals; you can certainly do that in the fourth innings when you can play a situation, but now is the challenge for the England batters.

Second ball from Lungi Ngidi and big Zak prods through the covers and sets off for a single. The crowd cheer.

Paul Cunningham: After moving to the US, I do miss good old fashioned English cynicism, thank you Matthew Place (16:27), but I hope you’re wrong.

Jon: Lees and Crawley to get a hundred partnership today.

Zak Crawley, gulp, on strike as Lungi Ngidi goes through a few more loosening motions.

South Africa's innings brought to a close a few moments ago when Kagiso Rabada played a big waft to Jack Leach and was caught at slip.

A nice red cherry of a cricket ball for Kagiso Rabada to bowl with. The lacquer on the ball glistening in the sunshine.

Rabada's second delivery is shorter and wider and Alex Lees goes against his instincts to chase it and gets four with a slice through the cordon.

Jack Rule: Right the bowling has worked well let’s see how well the batting goes now. How long will Zak Crawley last in this innings?

Totum: England openers on their way out. Time to hide behind the sofa.

Kagiso Rabada is at the top of his mark. Alex Lees will face. Zak Crawley is stood at the non-striker's end.