Pope, Stokes centuries move England into the ascendancy

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Having impressed the previous evening with an unbeaten 76-run stand, the pair did not relent in the morning, with both easing to half-centuries and looking untroubled against South Africa’s attack.

Stokes was sublime to watch as he continued his strong run of form, bringing up his hundred before the lunch break, and by the time the interval was reached the pair had stamped their dominance over the session, finishing it with England on 335/4.

While Dane Paterson was handed his maiden Test wicket after removing Stokes, and Jos Buttler tamely chipped one back to Keshav Maharaj, Pope continued to tick along in company with his county colleague Sam Curran.

Curran was the aggressor in their partnership, sweetly punching and driving his way to 44, his highest Test score since his breakout 2018.

Pope eventually brought up his maiden Test century with a gorgeous flick through midwicket and frustrated South Africa with his extravagant ramps as he toyed with Faf du Plessis’ field settings.

South Africa’s misery was compounded by a shellacking display of hitting from Mark Wood, and their state of affairs was summed up when Kagiso Rabada overstepped on his way to dismissing Wood, leading to Joe Root reversing his decision to declare.

After England finally brought their innings to a halt on 499/9, South Africa’s openers made a decent start, putting on a fifty partnership.

But on a pitch that had offered Maharaj plenty of turn – the South African tweaker finished with five wickets – Dom Bess was the key man for England and dismissed both Pieter Malan and Zubayr Hamza to make a good day for the visitors great.

With Mark Wood causing trouble with pace from the other end, England will enter day three in a healthy position.