England made a positive start to their tour of South Africa in Potchefstroom where they are currently facing the SA Invitational XI with a demanding batting and bowling display in the first two days of the three day warm up match.

The match against the SA Invitational XI started on Tuesday at Senwes Park and will conclude today with England well in the driving seat after good performances from Stuart Broad, Ben Stokes and James Taylor.

England batted first and scored 470/7 dec after the first day. The scorecard might have been much different if Taylor and Stokes had not scored big centuries, especially since SA’s Thando Mnyaka and Junior Dala were on fire from early on. The two bowlers got rid of England captain, Alastair Cook and Alex Hales early on to leave the English on 10-2.

The in form Joe Root came to the crease and struck a number of scintillating boundaries in his 28 (26), but hit one shot too many and was out to the bowling of Andile Phehlukwayo.

That wicket brought in Taylor and with Stokes they shared in a fast paced 195 run partnership which the SA XI had no answer for Taylor (114) and Stokes (158) both retired not out.

The SA XI’s batsman also had no answer for England’s experienced and ruthless pace attack with Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Mark Footitt taking wickets at regular intervals.

Only Heinrich Klaasen (48) and Qaasim Adams (34) showed some resistance against the English bowlers. At the end of the second days play England had resumed their second innings and were on 99/3 with a 381 run lead going in today’s third and final day.

Here are pictures of the action at Senwes Park. Photos – Wouter Pienaar and Mario van de Wall