Cook expecting scrappy game

The tourists reached the close at Cape Town on 241-7 after bowling South Africa out for 291 early in the morning session.

Cook, who top-scored with 65 in England's reply, said: "It was a tough day's cricket.

"South Africa bowled well and didn't let us get away from them and it is definitely going to turn into a scrappy game.

"They came out here and bowled less bad balls, putting us under some pressure.

"The game situation is set up nicely for a one-innings game come tomorrow. It is going to be a really good game over the next couple of days."

England, with Matt Prior unbeaten on 52 and Graeme Swann five, will now hope to push towards parity on the third morning.

Cook added: "We don't want to be chasing too many but we have seen in recent games pitches don't deteriorate as much as you think they will.

South Africa's Jacques Kallis is hoping for a repeat dose of quick wickets to start day three.

"If we can knock over the England tail, like they did to us, and get through the new ball we'll feel we are probably on top of the game," he said.

"We are feeling pretty upbeat in the changing room at the moment. If you keep the opposition under pressure and struggling to score, then when the bad balls do come they sometimes try and hit them too hard.

"We created a lot of pressure – which led to wickets falling."