Asa Tribe demonstrated his durability and mental fortitude with a patient unbeaten 88 as England Lions fought back against South Africa A on day two of their unofficial Test.

Glamorgan batter Tribe ground the Lions from a first-innings deficit of 174 – after Proteas captain Marques Ackerman had whacked a scintillating 173 – into a slender lead.

Tribe, whose name was in the mix for this summer’s Test series against New Zealand, nullified South Africa’s impressive attack with a delicate 178-ball innings over almost three hours.

He found Ben Mayes to stick around with him as England reached close at a sweltering Arundel with a lead of 39 and six second innings wickets in hand.

Tribe broke into the England conversation last season after scoring four centuries in five matches, but was pipped to receiving his maiden senior call-up by Emilio Gay and James Rew.

His solid start to the season of 323 runs at 32, but without a ton, was overshadowed by Gay’s trio of hundreds and Rew’s four 50s and a century.

But many consider him the next cab off the ranks, and this battling, self-possessed knock proved why he is highly rated.

The Jersey-born batter is particularly well-known by South Africans after a star turn in the SA20 over the winter. He enjoyed a testing battle with his Paarl Royals team-mate Mokoena – a 20-year-old tearaway quick.

Jason Smith thought he had Tribe out after chopping on, but the batter held his ground, and the umpires agreed that the ball had bounced back off the wicketkeeper’s foot and onto the stumps.

It was the only misstep from Tribe, who found the precocious 18-year-old Mayes and his 35 runs as a comforting partner in an unbroken 80-run stand that took England to close.

After 17 wickets had fallen on the first day, the true nature of the pitch shone through, with the day one pace in the wicket flattening out and benefitting the batters.

The first player to cash in was Ackerman, as he made it a chastening morning for England’s young fast bowlers – who had played 37 first-class matches between them to Ackerman’s 81.

The Dolphins batter took them off their lines and flailed them all around the picturesque Arundel Castle Ground, adding more and more flourishes and inventiveness along the way.

His century was his 14th in first-class cricket and third for South Africa A – all have been comfortably with a strike-rate in excess of 100. His 150 was brought up with a massive flicked six and his eventual 173 was his country’s 13th best at this level.

Ackerman added 103 for the ninth wicket with the equally extravagant Dane Paterson to take the visitors into a handsome lead.

It took until a delayed lunch for England to finally take the last of three needed on the second day. Alfie Ogborne had Nqobani Mokoena lbw, before Dan Mousley bowled both Ackerman and Ottniel Baartman.

Despite things getting easier for batters, only Ackerman had passed 30 in the first innings. His score alone would have given South Africa a lead of 17; with his team-mates, it was worth 174 despite being 54 for five at one point.

Durham’s Ben McKinney immediately broke the 30 ceiling with a punchy 32 full of well-timed pushes but a guide to fourth slip was his undoing.

Mousley and Ben Geddes failed to kick on after getting starts, and Charlie Allison was run out after stumbling but Tribe bedded in.