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Joe Root scored an unbeaten 106 and shared a swashbuckling partnership with Ben Stokes as England put the brakes on a hostile South African attack to reach 238 for five at the close of the second day of the third test on Friday.

Bad light and rain brought a premature end to the day’s play with England trailing the hosts’ first innings total by 75 runs, but with momentum having swung back in their favour at the Wanderers.

Root led an England fightback and Stokes scored 58 as the tourists piled on the runs after South Africa had seized the initiative with early wickets. The pair shared a rapid-fire fifth wicket partnership of 111 runs in just under 16 overs after England had been in trouble at 91-4 just after lunch. Hardus Viljoen took the wicket of England captain Alastair Cook with his first ball in test cricket and there were two wickets each for Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel as South Africa unleashed a barrage of pace.

Root, however, reached his ninth test century in just 126 balls with 16 boundaries and Stokes was equally severe on the bowling, scoring his 58 off 54 balls before being caught and bowled by Morkel.

Jonny Bairstow was not out on four when the players were taken off with just over an hour’s play left. Rain then began to fall and play was officially called off.

Earlier, Alex Hales, who has been struggling with a stomach virus, went for one when he edged Rabada to AB de Villiers at second slip and Cook’s poor form continued after edging Viljoen’s first ball down the leg side to be caught by wicket-keeper Dane Vilas for 18.

Nick Compton was caught in the slips by Dean Elgar off Rabada for 26 and James Taylor departed for seven, caught at short leg by Temba Bavuma off Morkel.

South Africa had resumed on 267 for seven overnight and England removed Chris Morris and Rabada for the addition of only 14 runs, both caught by wicket-keeper Bairstow off Stuart Broad and James Anderson, who claimed his first wicket after toiling for 22 overs without success. — Reuters.