South Africa take charge as England wickets tumble

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 South Africa's Hashim Amla in action Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

NOTTINGHAM, England (Reuters) - South Africa took a firm grip on the second test at Trent Bridge after a see-saw second day in which 15 wickets tumbled and the fragility of England's fragile top-order batting was brutally exposed on Saturday.

The touring side reached 75-1 in their second innings at the close, a lead of 205, with Dean Elgar (38 not out) and Hashim Amla (23 not out) bringing some order to the final hour and ensuring their team are well-placed to force the victory that would level the four-match series at 1-1.

South Africa began the day on 309-6 in their first innings and from the first over, in which James Anderson claimed the wicket of Vernon Philander, the bowlers had the edge underneath grey skies on a pitch that responded to seam and spin.

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 South Africa's James Anderson in action Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Anderson mopped up the tail with a devastating spell of 4-4 in little more than half-an-hour to dismiss South Africa for 335.

But South Africa's attack proved equally potent, with seamer Chris Morris and spinner Keshav Maharaj picking up three wickets apiece.

Only Joe Root provided real resistance, rallying his side after Philander and Morne Morkel removed both openers to reduce England to 3-2.

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 South Africa's Dean Elgar in action Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

England's captain is never inclined to sit back and let the bowlers dominate and he responded with an impressive counter-attack to hit 78.

But just when Root looked in sight of a third successive test century at Trent Bridge, he fell to a loose shot off Morkel that gave keeper Quinton de Kock one of his four catches.

Gary Ballance (27) had helped him add 83 for the third wicket before Philander forced him to inside edge the ball on to his stumps just after lunch.

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 England's James Anderson celebrates the wicket of South Africa's Heino Kuhn with team mates Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

After Ben Stokes departed cheaply, Jonny Bairstow (45) took England in sight of 200 before falling to a wonderful delivery from Maharaj which pitched on middle and took out off stump.

Moeen Ali failed to reproduce his batting from Lord's and was caught in the covers for 18 off Morris, who trapped Stuart Broad lbw next ball.

By the time Morris finished off the innings on 205, having Mark Wood caught in the slips fending off a short ball, 14 wickets had fallen for just 231 runs.

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 South Africa's Hashim Amla celebrates the wicket of England's Liam Dawson Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

There was one more to come when Anderson drew an edge from Heino Kuhn and Root took a fine low catch at slip.

The Lancashire paceman was on a high after his five first-innings wickets - the seventh time he had reached the landmark in nine tests at Trent Bridge - but watchful batting extended South Africa's lead.

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 South Africa's Chris Morris celebrates the wicket of England's Mark Wood Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

(Reporting by Neil Robinson, editing by Ed Osmond)

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 England's James Anderson in action Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 South Africa's Keshav Maharaj celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of England's Liam Dawson Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 England's Moeen Ali looks dejected after losing his wicket Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 England's James Anderson celebrates catching out South Africa's Chris Morris Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 England's Joe Root in action Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 England's Joe Root celebrates his half century with Gary Ballance as they walk off at lunch Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 England's Gary Ballance looks dejected after losing his wicket Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 South Africa's Vernon Philander celebrates bowling England's Gary Ballance Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 South Africa's Vernon Philander celebrates bowling England's Gary Ballance Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 England's Alastair Cook Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 South Africa's Morne Morkel (C) celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of England's Keaton Jennings Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 England's Joe Root celebrates his half century Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 England's James Anderson celebrates the wicket of South Africa's Morne Morkel Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Cricket - England vs South Africa - Second Test - Nottingham, Britain - July 15, 2017 South Africa's Keshav Maharaj after being dismissed Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine