Stuart Broad and James Anderson led a relentless bowling performance as England gained what could prove a crucial advantage on the second day of the second Test against South Africa at Newlands on Saturday.

South Africa were 215 for eight the close, still 54 runs behind England’s first innings total of 269 on a dry pitch which is likely to get more difficult for batsmen later in the match.

More than half of South Africa’s runs came in a 117-run fourth wicket partnership between Dean Elgar (88) and Rassie van der Dussen (68).

Anderson took three for 34, while Broad and Sam Curran took two wickets apiece.

Anderson took two wickets with the second new ball, bowling from the northern, Kelvin end.

Ben Stokes held four catches at second slip, three of them athletic diving efforts.

Off-spinner Dom Bess played an important role, bowling accurately from the northern end while England captain Joe Root rotated his faster bowlers from the more helpful end.

Bess had spells of nine and 14 overs and finished the day with one for 62 off 27 overs.

Bess made a vital breakthrough when Elgar lost patience and sliced the ball to Root, running back from mid-off.

Elgar and Van der Dussen rescued South Africa from a precarious 40 for three.

Broad took the first two wickets in a hostile six-over opening spell before Anderson was given a turn from the Wynberg end and dismissed South African captain Faf du Plessis.

Elgar played solidly in making his runs off 180 balls with ten fours but Van der Dussen had a precarious existence, especially early in his innings.

His first scoring shot was a four edged at catchable height through a gap in the slips cordon.

He was given out leg before wicket to Anderson but was reprieved on review because of an inside edge and gloved a catch behind off Broad only to be called back because of a no-ball.

He also survived a difficult chance to Stokes at second slip off Anderson. Curran took two wickets shortly before the second new ball was due, dismissing the dangerous Quinton de Kock before Van der Dussen fell to one of Stokes’ catches when the second new ball was only four overs away.

England earlier added only seven runs to their overnight total of 262 for nine before Anderson was caught at slip off Kagiso Rabada, leaving Ollie Pope unbeaten on 61.

Agence France-Presse

Scores at the close of play on the second day:

England, first innings (overnight 262-9)

Z Crawley c De Kock b Philander    4

D Sibley c De Kock b Rabada    34

J Denly b Maharaj    38

J Root c De Kock b Nortje    35

B Stokes c Elgar b Nortje    47

O Pope not out    61

J Buttler c De Kock b Pretorius    29

S Curran b Pretorius    9

D Bess c De Kock b Philander    0

S Broad b Rabada    1

J Anderson c Van der Dussen b Rabada4

Extras (b4, lb1, nb1, w1)    7

Total (91.5 overs)    269

Bowling: Philander 16-3-46-2, Rabada 19.5-3-68-3 (1nb), Nortje 18-2-56-2 (1w), Maharaj 27-6-68-1, Pretorius 11-5-26-2

South Africa, first innings

D Elgar c Root b Bess    88

P Malan c Root b Broad    5

Z Hamza c Stokes b Broad    5

F du Plessis c Stokes b Anderson    1

H van der Dussen c Stokes b Curran    68

Q de Kock c Anderson b Curran    20

V Philander not out    13

D Pretorius c Stokes b Anderson    4

K Maharaj c Sibley b Anderson    4

Extras (b4, lb2, nb1)    7

Total (8 wkts, 84.4 overs)    215

To bat: K Rabada, A Nortje

Bowling: Anderson 16.4-6-34-3, Broad 16-6-36-2 (1nb), Curran 13-3-39-2, Bess 27-3-62-1, Stokes 9-0-34-0, Root 3-1-4-0

South Africa trail by 54 runs with two wickets remaining in the first innings