England v South Africa LIVE: Cricket score and updates from second Test today as England hunt wickets

England put themselves in firm control of the second Test against South Africa after centuries by England skipper Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes left them with a commanding first-innings lead at the close of the second day of the second Test.

Stokes declared at 415-9, with South Africa trailing by 241 runs at the close after surviving a tricky nine-over spell before stumps. The tourists, who lead the three-match series 1-0, reached 23 without loss in their second innings with Sarel Erwee on 12 and Dean Elgar on 11 but they now face a real battle against England’s attack today.

Foakes’ first ton had come on his debut against Sri Lanka in Galle in November 2018 and he was delighted to grab his second against a South Africa attack that had ripped England apart in the first test at Lords. “It was a bit of relief. I was overjoyed getting a Test hundred. I’ve had a bit of a wait and I realised how hard they are to come by, so I think I celebrated this one a bit more,” he said.

Who will win the second Test in Manchester? Follow all the latest score updates and live commentary from Old Trafford below.

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OUT! Dean Elgar b Anderson 11 (38); South Africa 33-1 (12.5)

If South African wickets fall, it will be interesting to see if Rassie van der Dussen can bat. He picked up a finger injury earlier in the Test- and is spotted on the pavilion balcony with a finger splint.

Anderson gets one to nip back and Erwee shapes it off the pads well for a single. He then beats Elgar all ends up with one that goes through to Foakes before a WICKET! A gem from Jimmy! He sends off-stump cartwheeling with a beauty that pitches just outside and beats the South Africa captain’s defence. England are rolling!

South Africa 32-0 (12); S Erwee 20*, D Elgar 11*

It’s actually Root to continue and he gets a lot of turn off the first delivery as he lands the ball in a huge patch of rough outside off stump (for the left-handers).

Elgar forced into defensive mode, especially when the penultimate delivery rears up at him and he evades. Tidy maiden for the ex-England skipper with a couple of balls just to get the Proteas thinking.

South Africa 32-0 (11); S Erwee 20*, D Elgar 11*

More conventional from the other end as Jimmy Anderson opens up from the James Anderson end. Fitting… That Root over may have been to switch Jack Leach’s ends – we’ll see.

Erwee shoulders arms a couple before a nice cover drive runs away for three, with Leach giving chase and just preventing the boundary with a dive. A single off the pads is then Dean Elgar’s first run of the morning.

South Africa 28-0 (10); S Erwee 17*, D Elgar 11*

Erm… It’s Joe Root to open the bowling… Turning the ball away from the lefties – fair enough I guess. First ball of the day, Erwee misses the ball and a big APPEAL! Pitching outside leg though and the umpire is unmoved.

Erwee more watchful on the next couple before crunching an over-pitched delivery through the covers for FOUR!

England vs South Africa – day three

We’re about five minutes away from the start of play. England’s bowlers will want to make early inroads into South Africa’s batting line-up.

Can the Proteas stay alive in this Test match?

Saturday weather forecast

Great news at Old Trafford in that the weather is set fair today. There should be no rain breaks and England can really make hay while the sun shines.

Could they even finish the game today?

WATCH: Day two highlights

Missed any of the action on day two? Catch up by watching highlights here.

Stokes closing in on his boss

A captain’s innings balancing purpose and poise from Ben Stokes lifted England firmly into the ascendancy on day two.

Three sixes during the innings took him on to 103 for his Test career – moving him above Adam Gilchrist and up to second in the all-time list.

Only current England Test head coach Brendon McCullum, with 107, is now ahead of Stokes, who may fancy his chances of overhauling the Kiwi before this summer is out.

Ben Foakes makes second century to match Jos Buttler

Foakes came into this Test with an average of 20.9 in 13 innings since his recall earlier this year. Maybe because he has been a reliable presence behind the stumps or there is greater scrutiny on those up the order, but Foakes’ drought with the bat has flown under the radar.

On day two, he was a useful foil in a 173-run union with Stokes before marshalling the tail en route to his first Test hundred at home.

It was his second overall as he matched his predecessor in the wicketkeeping job: Jos Buttler, who was thought to have a greater ceiling as a batter.

It was part of the reason why Foakes was kept on ice. But while they are now level on Test centuries, Buttler played 57 matches and Foakes is into his 16th.

Ben Foakes made a second Test century

Ben Foakes savours England Test ton with licence to play own way by Ben Stokes

Ben Foakes savoured his second Test hundred after being given licence to play his own way by England cricket team captain and fellow centurion Ben Stokes.

Since Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum took charge at the start of the summer, there has been a clear emphasis on playing thrill-a-minute cricket, particularly with the bat.

But Foakes carved out a different path on day two of the second Test against South Africa, making 113 not out from 217 deliveries as he occupied the crease for five hours at Emirates Old Trafford.

Foakes admitted he was not the kind of player who could rely on producing fireworks but revealed Stokes was happy to see him wear the tourists down.

“Ben was quite clear. He said ‘we can absorb as well, this is a difficult phase’,” Foakes revealed, after the pair came together at 147-5.

“He said ‘let’s make it up and score where we can, let’s be busy, but don’t do anything stupid’. That’s what we went with. Attacking cricket is obviously what people expect, but once the ball got old, it was actually pretty difficult to score.”

Ben Foakes savours England Test ton with licence to play own way by Ben Stokes

Foakes carved out a different path on day two of the second LV= Test against South Africa, making 113 not out from 217 deliveries

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