England vs South Africa LIVE: Cricket score and second Test updates from Old Trafford today

A much improved first day from England, asked to bowl this morning by South Africa but taking full advantage of a pitch favouring seam. James Anderson and Stuart Broad led the way with three apiece a England’s attack dismantled South Africa for 151 despite some late fight from Kagiso Rabada.

South Africa equally started well with the ball, reducing England to 43-3 as Alex Lees, Ollie Pope and Joe Root each fell reasonably cheaply, but a confident knock from Jonny Bairstow and battling innings from Zak Crawley ensure it would be very much England’s day.

A little bit of turn and a little bit of bounce for the tall Harmer, who does tend to get plenty of over-spin on the ball with his long fingers. Zak Crawley is securely forward to the final two balls, and England end the day just 40 behind with seven wickets still in hand.

And to bowl the final over of the day will be Simon Harmer, who has found English soil so fertile over the last five years. Old Trafford should be a surface that suits him – can he break the game back open in the final set of six of the evening?

Stroke by stroke his confidence begins to build, too, sweeping confidently as Maharaj strays too straight.

One more over to survive before stumps which means, alas, England’s unveiling of the “Nighthawk” will have to wait.

This has been much better from Zak Crawley, who for all the talk of England liking his natural style has adopted a different approach and found a way to survive. The manner in which he is playing within himself rather evokes memories of both Joe Denly and, looking further back, Chris Tavare, two players who were far more free-scoring for Kent than England. Neither was world-beater, of course, but Crawley deserves a lot of credit for the manner in which he has gone about this.

Two balls down leg from Maharaj grant Crawley a nudged single and Bairstow a swept four. The latter is ticking along rather nicely and not having to take unncessary risks – England within 50 of South Africa with ten minutes until the close.

Stuart Broad has his pads on, England’s so-called “Nighthawk” with licence to give it a whack until the close if required. For now, though, it is Bairstow playing the agressor, benefitting from a pretty ropey bit of fielding from the usually secure Keshav Maharaj at backward point. Cut away for four, which brings up the 50 partnership from 62 balls, with Bairstow and extras the heavy contributors.

Cleanly struck! Over-pitched by Ngidi and into it climbs Bairstow, little in the way of a follow through but enough on it to beat Dean Elgar to the extra cover cushion.

Brief shouts of excitement from the close-in fielders as the ball springs up to short leg, but it was straight off Crawley’s knee with bat safely out of the way. The square leg umpire sends a hopeful appeal for a stumping upstairs for a check, but the batter’s back foot never lifted – as, I think, Kyle Verreynne rather knew.

This partnership is rattling along not far short of a run a ball, which might have prompted Elgar to look to his two tidiest bowlers. Lungi Ngidi delivers for his captain, the only runs of his over an effective push straight of mid-off by Bairstow which is reeled in ten yards short of the boundary.

Yep, it is a double change – Lungi Ngidi recalled to the attack for a second spell.