Thanks Higgy. A warning to you all: I won't be able to match all that excitement.

Eng 558-5 (Stokes 232, Bairstow 110)published at 121 overs

121 overs

"Could the person sat in Row Z, seat 134 please return the ball."

Ben Stokes plant another into the stands, hammering Stiaan van Zyl for a maximum over wide long-on.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to hand over to Justin Goulding.  

Kagiso Rabada is the only home bowler to have impressed in this innings. He keeps a handle on the scoring with some one-day style yorkers and bumpers... three coming from the over.

Ben Stokes looks a little tired now. He occasionally crouches at the non-striker's end and grimaces when taking guard. It's been a phenomenal effort in the heat.

Crucially part-time off-break bowler Dean Elgar beats Jonny Bairstow's big swing with a hint of turn. Moeen Ali must be licking his lips.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"It's been a very mature innings from Bairstow. His game has developed in the last couple of years - he has improved against quicker bowling and improved against spin. Batting with Stokes, he just went about his business this morning."

Will Jonny Bairstow open his shoulders now too? He deserves plenty of credit... England were 223-5 when he walked to the crease. It could quite easily have been South Africa's chance to get on top... but they hadn't banked on the power of England's ginger giants.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"You won't find a more popular individual. He can't resist the thought of his father looking down. He's blinking away tears. What a wonderful moment."

Bairstow's father, David, a wicketkeeper who played four Tests for England and had a glittering Yorkshire career, died in 1998, aged 46.

100 for Jonny Bairstow (off 161 balls)published at 118 overs

118 overs

Eng 542-5

Image source, Reuters

The crowd cheers as Jonny Bairstow takes strike on 99 not out. Stiaan van Zyl ambles in and Jonny Bairstow cuts him for four... bellowing with delight the moment the ball pierced the field.

Well done, young man. There's the hint of a tear in the eye of Bairstow as he look skywards. A special moment.

Jonny Bairstow just doesn't want to give this away. He pushes more part-time bowling from Dean Elgar for a single to mid-on. Everyone is willing him to the three figures. He deserves it.

At the other end, Ben Stokes gets on one knee and smears four over square leg.

Buffet bowling.

Jonny Bairstow is teasing us. Standing on the cusp of his maiden Test century, he leaves one, blocks another and just plays out another over of line and length, village-style bowling from Stiaan van Zyl.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Image source, Getty Images

"The 300 partnership came up in 285 balls, the quickest in Test history - beating Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid (343 balls) for India against Pakistan in Lahore in 2006."