England respond in style to take early advantage

Jonny Bairstow has led England to within 40 runs of South Africa's first innings total, with seven wickets in hand, after the first day of the second Test at Old Trafford.

England were 3-111 at the close on Thursday with Bairstow 38 not out and opener Zak Crawley playing a crucial supporting role on 17 from 77 balls.

The fourth-wicket partnership of 68 put England in a promising position after they had struggled early on, left at 43-3 after key man Joe Root was dismissed for nine.

South Africa had been bowled out for 151 after losing five wickets before lunch, with England's James Anderson and Stuart Broad picking up three wickets apiece.

The tourists, who lead the three-Test series 1-0, knew they needed to deliver with the ball and enjoyed some early success when Alex Lees edged Lungi Ngidi to keeper Kyle Verreynne.

Anrich Nortje's pace was then too much for Ollie Pope who was bowled by a delivery which nipped back off the seam.

Kagiso Rabada claimed the prize scalp of Root, caught by Sarel Erwee at the fourth attempt after juggling the ball at first slip.

Out-of-form Crawley played with focus and determination against both pace and the later spin of Keshav Maharaj.

Bairstow was more confident and willing to play his shots but for all the talk of England's new cavalier 'Bazball' style, this was an appropriately conservative approach.

The tourists had been reeling at 8-108 for eight before Rabada and Nortje put on 35 in their ninth wicket partnership - the longest of the innings.

Earlier, South Africa skipper Dean Elgar won the toss and opted to bat despite what appeared difficult conditions after overnight rain.

Anderson, bowling on his home ground, grabbed the breakthrough when he found Erwee's inside edge and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes dived to make a superb catch.

After two lbw decisions were turned down, Broad removed Elgar for 12 with a full length delivery which was edged to Bairstow at third slip.

Broad then removed Keegan Petersen for 21, Root snaffling up the catch at first slip to leave South Africa on 3-41.

England skipper Ben Stokes brought himself into the attack and struck with his third delivery -- a loose short ball which Aiden Markram (14) attempted to pull but only managed to sky for a simple high catch from the grateful Foakes.

Stokes struck again just before lunch, trapping Rassie van der Dussen (16) lbw.

Anderson, bowling at the end of the ground named in his honour, was on a hat-trick after lunch, trapping Simon Harmer and Maharaj both leg before.

Broad also picked up his third wicket with Verreynne (21) edging to Foakes before Rabada restored some stability to the innings.

Robinson finally got his deserved reward, removing Nortje lbw with the first ball after tea and then Jack Leash finally got rid of Rabada for 36.

After their shaky start, England are in a strong position to build a significant first innings lead on Friday.