England seamers rattle South Africa after Dean Elgar fifty in Cape Town Test

Proteas reduced to 215-8 on Saturday, still trail visitors by 54 runs

England's Sam Curran, left, celebrates the wicket of Quinton De Kock during day two of the Cape Town Test against South Africa. AP

England seamers plugged away to gain the upper hand on the second day of the Cape Town Test against South Africa.

Seamer Stuart Broad struck twice in a testing opening spell to leave the hosts reeling at 40-3. But fighting fifties from opener Dean Elgar (88) and Rassie van der Dussen (68) steadied the ship.

But the visitors kept pushing to eventually taste success and restrict the Proteas to 215-8 by stumps.

Broad picked up 2-36, Sam Curran took the crucial wickets of Van der Dussen and Quinton de Kock, and veteran James Anderson picked up a wicket of what turned out to be last ball of the day to finish with 3-34.

The first three South African wickets fell to catches in the slips as the bounce and movement off the pitch provided danger on what was expected to be a more placid second-day wicket.

Broad had debutant opener Pieter Malan caught by Joe Root at first slip for five, the South African providing no footwork in his maiden innings on his home ground.

Zubayr Hamza (5) could only edge a Broad delivery to Ben Stokes at second slip and the all-rounder took another fine diving catch to his right.

Veteran James Anderson then removed South Africa captain Faf du Plessis (1), with Stokes taking his second catch.

Van der Dussen was given out leg before wicket off Anderson but on review it was shown that he got an inside edge. He was also caught off a no-ball from Broad when on 16.

Amid numerous plays and misses and close calls, Elgar and Van der Dussen added 117 for the fourth wicket before off-spinner Dom Bess got Elgar to miscue a check drive to long on.

From there, the wheels started to come of for South Africa. Left-arm seamer Curran then deceived the dangerous Quinton de Kock (20) with a slower ball before dismissing Van der Dussen.

Anderson picked up the wicket of Keshav Maharaj from what turned out to be the last ball of the day, getting an inside edge off to slip.

England all-rounder Stokes was a star on the field, plucking four difficult chances at second slip. However, he was lucky that umpires did not call a number of no-balls that he bowled throughout the day.

Earlier, England resumed their first innings on 262-9 but Anderson (4) was caught by Van der Dussen at first slip off Kagiso Rabada (3-68) in what was a sign of things to come.

Ollie Pope finished the innings not out on 61, his second Test half-century in seven innings. South Africa won the first Test in the four-match series in Centurion by 107 runs.