England Lions v South Africa A: Match scores and reports from the four-day clash

Match scores: Close of play day two (Canterbury)

South Africa A trail England Lions by 159 runs with 3wickets remaining 

England Lions 1st inns: 386 (109.4 overs. Foakes 127 no, Stoneman 58, Jennings 57; Dala 3-63)

South Africa A 1st inns: 227-7 (64 overs. Kuhn 105, Markram 71; Porter 3-41, Overton 2-27)

Day two report

England Lions stunned South Africa A with a late burst of six wickets in 16 overs to capitalise on a superb unbeaten century by Ben Foakes on a fluctuating second day of the first-class match in Canterbury.

Foakes, who was on 77 overnight, ended unbeaten on 127 in a total of 386, his first Lions century and his seventh in first-class cricket.

The tourists responded with an aggressive opening partnership of 164 inside 41 overs between their young captain Aiden Markram and Heino Kuhn, a 33-year-old who has made seven T20 international appearances.

But Jamie Overton dragged the Lions back into the game with a superb spell from the Pavilion End in the evening session.

Then Jamie Porter followed up with a burst of three wickets in three overs - his first for the Lions.

Tom Helm chipped in with the prize scalp of Temba Bavuma, and when Sam Curran trapped Dane Piedt lbw, the tourists had lost six wickets for 31. They will resume on Friday on 227 for seven - still 159 behind.

Overton's first wicket was a gift from Markram, who top-edged a pull to long leg where Helm took a cool catch.

But Overton then stunned Kuhn with a rapid yorker which won an lbw decision, shortly after he had reached a 114-ball century.

The Somerset bowler could easily have had at least one more wicket but it was Porter who claimed the third breakthrough as Theunis de Bruyn, another of the six members of this South African team with senior international experience, pulled a short ball to Haseeb Hameed at mid wicket.

The 23-year-old Essex seamer then dismissed Khaya Zondo and Heinrich Klaasen in the space of four balls, both snapped up at second slip by Lions captain Keaton Jennings.

Earlier Foakes had continued to play with positive intent, punching the first two balls of the morning for Beuran Hendricks through the covers for four.

He reached his century from 151 balls with 13 fours and added four more, helped by lower order support from Helm and Jack Leach in stands of 44 and 53 respectively - although the morning session was interrupted by a violent electrical storm.

Porter fell quickly to leave Foakes 14 short of his career best, and after 284 minutes at the crease he trotted back to the pavilion to change into his wicketkeeping gear - meaning he has now been on the field for every ball of well over four sessions.

Day one report

Haseeb Hameed failed to further his Test chances as he was dismissed for an 11-ball duck on the opening morning of England Lions' four-day clash with South Africa A.

Hameed is in contention to partner Alastair Cook at the top of England's order for the Test series against the Proteas' first string, beginning next month, but his miserable summer continued at Canterbury.

The 20-year-old's struggles allowed rivals Mark Stoneman and Keaton Jennings to enhance their claims for the opener's slot, with the pair making fifties as the Lions closed on 302 for seven after winning the toss.

Hameed was a rare bright spot for England during a chastening Test tour of India last winter but, having recovered from hand surgery that curtailed his involvement in the subcontinent, has struggled for form ever since.

A half-century in this season's Specsavers County Championship has eluded him while his edge into the slips off a wide delivery here was the fourth time this year he has failed to get off the mark.

Surrey's Stoneman and Lions captain Jennings, team-mates at Durham up until last year, batted well in a 105-run stand but while they were able to pass their half-centuries neither pushed on to make an irresistible case for senior selection.

Stoneman was first to go for 58 while Jennings made one run fewer as the Lions teetered on 144 for four, and they relied on an unbeaten 77 from highly-rated wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes to end the day on a positive note.