England 60-2 at lunch after dismissing South Africa for 284

England's batsmen struggled on a tricky pitch after its bowlers dismissed South Africa for 284 on Day 2 of the first test on Friday.

England went to lunch on 60-2 after losing both openers in the first five overs of its first innings at SuperSport Park. Captain Joe Root is 23 not out and Joe Denly unbeaten on 17 but both have ridden their luck.

Root played and missed numerous times and was hit on the helmet by a quick ball from South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. Denly was dropped at first slip, also off Rabada, when he was still on 0. Denly took 28 balls to get off the mark as England was forced to graft on a green pitch marked with cracks.

Root and Denly fought through that tough opening period, though, to initially see off Rabada and Vernon Philander and give early signs of a fightback with their 45-run stand.

Rabada was bowling fast and Philander didn't concede a run in the five overs he bowled in the first session to have figures of 1-0 off five.

Root and Denly found it much easier going against South Africa change bowlers Dwaine Pretorius and Anrich Nortje.

Philander's unerring accuracy produced an outside edge from Rory Burns, who went for 9. Rabada responded to being clipped through midwicket for four by Dom Sibley with a rising delivery next ball that took a thin edge. Umpire Paul Reiffel initially didn't give Sibley out, the South Africans asked for a TV referral, and Sibley walked off when they did.

Earlier, England needed just two overs to finish off South Africa's first innings. Pace bowler Stuart Broad, who was bedridden with a flu-like illness for nearly a week in the buildup to the first test, wrapped it up with the wicket of Philander for 35, caught by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Broad and 21-year-old seamer Sam Curran finished with identical figures of 4-58, Curran's best in test cricket.

South Africa had resumed Friday on 277-9.