AFP - Centuries by Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope, followed by two late wickets, put England in a dominant position on the second day of the third Test against South Africa at St. George's Park today (17).

England declared on 499 for nine and South Africa were struggling on 60 for two when rain brought an early close to a day which the hosts would probably prefer to forget.

It started with the news that strike bowler Kagiso Rabada would miss the fourth and final Test in Johannesburg next week because of his fourth disciplinary transgression within 24 months.

Then, after taking a pummelling from the England batsmen, the day ended with the hosts facing an uphill battle to avoid going into that match one-down in a series which is tied at 1-1.

Off-spinner Dom Bess took both wickets for England, while Mark Wood bowled with electrifying pace and hit not out batsman Dean Elgar a painful blow on the left forearm.

England

1st innings

Z. Crawley c Van der Dussen b Nortje 44

D. Sibley c Elgar b Nortje 36

J. Denly lbw b Maharaj 25

J. Root b Rabada 27

B. Stokes c Elgar b Paterson 120

O. Pope not out 135

J. Buttler c and b Maharaj 01

S. Curran c Elgar b Maharaj 44

D. Bess c Malan b Maharaj 01

M. Wood c Nortje b Maharaj 42

Extras: (b2, lb14, nb4, w4) 24

Total: (9 wkts dec, 152 overs) 499

Fall: 1-70, 2-103, 3-134, 4-148, 5-351, 6-354, 7-413, 8-426, 9-499

Bowling: Philander 16-5-41-0, Paterson 24-3-62-1 (1w), Rabada 28-7-97-2 (4nb, 2w), Nortje 25-4-97-1 (1w), Maharaj 58-15-180-5, Elgar 1-0-6-0

South Africa

1st innings

D. Elgar not out 32

P. Malan c and b Bess 18

Z. Hamza c Pope b Bess 10

A. Nortje not out 00

Extras: 00

Total (2 wkts, 18 overs) 60

Fall: 1-50, 2-60

Bowling: Broad 4-1-18-0, Curran 5-0-25-0, Bess 6-1-12-2, Wood 3-2-5-0