Elgar: I think we're okay

Johannesburg - The fact that Proteas opener Dean Elgar was his side's top scorer says a lot about how frustrating the first day of the third Test against England was for the hosts. 

Elgar scored 46 in what was a well-constructed knock, but that score would remain the highest throughout the day despite all of South Africa's top seven batsmen getting starts. 

It meant that the Proteas finished the day on 267/7 after having been 117/1, but Elgar thinks that they are in good shape heading into Friday's second day.

"All in all I think it was a good day for us, especially being quite a hard-fought session and a half or two sessions up front with the bat," he said.

"So I think in the end we’ll take the score we have on that wicket."

Asked what he thought was a 'par' score on this Wanderers strip, the first-Test centurion said it was difficult to say.

"I think both teams have to bat to have a clear indication. If there’s a ball-park figure I think we have to look at something above 300," he said.

"I think that will put us in a really good position. The nature of the wicket might quicken up a little bit and play into our favour."

Going past 300 now looks very much on the cards, thanks largely to an undefeated 42-run eighth-wicket partnership between Chris Morris (26*) and Kagiso Rabada (20*)

"It’s a focal point that we’ve been working on in our batting unit … for our lower order to came in and make a contribution," said Elgar.

"It was brilliant for Chris and Kagiso to do what we’ve been talking about for a while now."