Ben Stokes hits first century as captain as England take control against SA

Ben Stokes made his first century as England captain as he and Ben Foakes put the hosts in a commanding position on day two of the second LV= Insurance Test against South Africa.

Stokes made 103 on day two at Emirates Old Trafford, powering his team into a handsome lead of 169 before holing out six balls later.

England were still four runs behind when he came together with Foakes (69no) in the morning session, with the pair eventually parted on 320 for six.

Stokes hit three sixes and six fours, but a strike-rate of 63.19 told a better story about the balance he was able to strike between power and poise.

England started the day on 111 for three, still 40 behind, with Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow hoping to cash in on their hard work the previous evening.

Crawley had ground out just 17 runs from 77 balls, but there was an early sign that things would be different in his first scoring shot, a thick edge that disappeared through the slip cordon for four.

He also found himself squared up by Anrich Nortje, with a loopy leading edge somehow failing to go to hand at cover.

Nortje, not the for the first time this series, was hitting his straps and asking searching questions at venomous pace. It was a heady mix and enough to account for both overnight batters before the deficit had been cleared.

Bairstow was first to go for 49, nicking a reverse-swinging delivery to slip to end a stand worth 91. Crawley marginally outlasted him, and picked off a couple of boundary balls from Kagiso Rabada, but was undone for 38 when Nortje forced him to defend on off stump and found just enough shape to flick the edge.

South Africa led by 17 when Stokes emerged and four when Foakes joined him, but the duo settled neatly into the job of building