Cape Town - England captain Joe Root and all-rounder Ben Stokes wrestled the advantage back from the Proteas during the second session on day one of the first Test at Lords with the home side going to tea on 182 for 4.
The pair resumed after lunch with England in trouble at 82 for four with Vernon Philander (3/26) and Morne Morkel (1/27) doing the damage for the visitors.
Root (79*) and Stokes (52*) mixed caution with aggression with Stokes in particular prepared to look for boundaries whenever possible.
Morkel though he had Stokes on 44 when he bowled the English batsman only to find that he had overstepped the mark with a no ball signalled by the umpire.
Other than that, the pair look in very little trouble, extending their partnership to 106 runs.
Brief scores
England 182/4
Root 79*
Stokes 52*
Philander 3/28