By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent

England's batsmen made a positive reply to South Africa's 343 before rain and bad light curtailed play for the second consecutive day, but the tourists will still be rueing the last wicket stand of 58 that gave South Africa the edge.

On a dank and dreary day, and with the floodlights on throughout, South Africa battled away in good bowling conditions to add 109 runs for the loss of three wickets in the morning.

Morkel had his revenge when he spectacularly splattered Strauss's stumps

But England struck immediately after the interval when Morne Morkel was lbw to Graeme Swann to leave South Africa 285-9 and England would have reckoned on dismissing Makhaya Ntini - a rabbit of some renown - before the score reached 300.

Instead, England's weakness at knocking over the tail was exposed again as Dale Steyn launched Swann for three sixes and Ntini, for once, got his head down and batted properly.

Strauss seemed to keep Swann on for too long - hoping, presumably, that he would take the final wicket to complete a well deserved five-wicket haul.

But this was no time for generosity as every run appears to be crucial and Swann conceded 32 runs from his last four overs to finish with 4-110.

The partnership of 58 was the largest Ntini has ever featured in during his career of 101 Tests!

He did, however, look well down on penetration again when he took the new ball and Strauss, in particular, tucked in with relish as light drizzle fell from the gloomy skies.

However the England captain was at the centre of a controversial incident involving the Review System.

Given lbw to Morkel on 50, he immediately called for a referral. However, the third umpire ruled that there had been an inside edge before the ball thumped into his inside thigh, but this took an eternity to establish with the live spectators - denied the pictures - and radio listeners (no stump mikes), who were left in the dark throughout.

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Mickey Arthur, the South African coach, looked thunderstruck, but Morkel had his revenge when he spectacularly splattered Strauss's stumps shortly afterwards for 54 - his fastest half-century in Tests.

One thing that might benefit England is the forecast for much brighter, even sunny weather for the third and fourth days, when they should be doing the bulk of their batting, but the pitch seems to be the type to offer some help to bowlers of every variety throughout the game.

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