South Africa checked England's progress with two wickets in quick succession after lunch on the first day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Friday.

Alastair Cook (46) and Essex team-mate Tom Westley (29) both fell with the score on 92 as England saw two wickets go down for no runs in 19 balls.

Dawid Malan helped England captain Joe Root put on 52 for the fourth wicket before, having battled hard, he fell to Morne Morkel for 18.

At tea, England were 147 for four, with star batsman Root 34 not out after winning the toss.

Ben Stokes, fresh from his man-of-the-match winning century in England's 239-run victory in the third Test at The Oval, was one not out after facing just three balls on Friday. 

 © AFP
England's Alastair Cook made 46 before he was dismissed on day one of the fourth Test against South Africa at Old Trafford on August 4, 2017 
© AFP Paul ELLIS
A South Africa attack missing injured seamers Vernon Philander and Chris Morris, both ruled out with lower back strains, had done well to restrict England.

The hosts were making steady progress when former captain Cook tried to drive left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj but instead got a thin edge to wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock.

Left-handed opener Cook, England's all-time leading Test run-scorer, faced 103 balls including six fours.

Westley, fresh from a second-innings fifty on debut at The Oval, scored 20 of his 29 runs in boundaries.

source:AFP