Foakes and Stokes build steady lead of 61 as England advance to 212-5

Ben Foakes and Ben Stokes build steady lead after Anrich Nortje dismissed Johnny Bairstow and Zak Crawley early on, as England advance to 212-5, with a lead of 61

• Zak Crawley and Johnny Bairstow fell in a quick spell from Anrich Nortje 
• Ben Foakes and Ben Stokes then fought back well to take England into the lead
• The only concern for England will be a knee injury picked up by Stokes 

England remain in control of the second Test against South Africa after an unbeaten 65-run partnership from Ben Stokes (34*) and Ben Foakes (33*) took them into a healthy 61-run-lead lead at Old Trafford.

Anrich Nortje dismissed both overnight batters in a ferocious opening spell, but England fought back with a measured hour of batting from Foakes and Stokes.

Bairstow was dismissed for 49 as Nortje found some deserved succour on an intriguing second morning of the second Test.

Anrich Nortje took dismissed both overnight batters in an excellent opening spell

Ben Stokes batted nicely for his 34* but picked up a knee injury while running

While Crawley squirted a four through the slips then got a leading edge off Nortje which ballooned over the head of the point fielder, Bairstow inside edged Kagiso Rabada close to his stumps.

Bairstow whipped the same bowler off his pads for four but Nortje capitalised on some early-morning movement to snare the outside edge of the England batter, with Sarel Erwee clinging on in the slips.

It was a deserved breakthrough for Nortje, who dropped to his knees in celebration, even if England were fast closing in on South Africa’s first-innings 151, trailing by just 17 at Emirates Old Trafford at the time of Bairstow’s departure.

Crawley attracted plaudits for battling through a testing phase on the first evening although there were moments of fortune along the way and when he resumed his innings, including an attempt to withdraw his bat but getting a tickle through the slips for another four.

He was seen by the physio on the pitch but was able to continue batting

He put away Rabada’s next delivery when the fast bowler strayed on to his pads but Crawley’s stay was ended on 38 from his 101st delivery after another snorter from Nortje, who induced a feather of an edge which was graciously snaffled by Kyle Verreynne.

England moved into the lead as Ben Foakes’ attempted cut off the expensive Rabada took an edge and disappeared for four.

Ben Stokes slog swept the first ball he faced from off-spinner Simon Harmer for six but there were concerns when he collapsed to the ground holding his left knee, which has troubled him in the past.

After dashing through to complete a quick single he innocuously transferred his weight on the leg before grimacing and going down before getting treatment as drinks were taken. His movement in the moments after the resumption did not appear to suggest a major issue.

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