And so we come to now. After Ben Stokes fell on his sword, Joe Root ploughed on and brought up his century with the the classiest of cover drives. All top hat and tail. Phwoar.

We're currently off for bad light, with play scheduled to finish at 16:00 GMT.

Image source, Getty Images

Then a Rooster happened.

A Rooster is the name we've given to a Root and Stokes partnership.

They put their foot down in exhilarating style - whacking boundary after boundary to turn South Africa's lion-hearted bowlers into mere kittens. Their partnership of 111 came at seven an over.

It was blow-your-mind stuff on a track which is sporting to the bowlers and with a dirty, dark cloud hanging overhead.

South Africa's 313 all out looked further away than a Kevin Pietersen recall when England fell to 91-4. Alex Hales and Nick Compton nicked off to the slips and Alastair Cook was caught behind. James Taylor also fell cheaply as the tourists stuttered.

The Proteas unleashed fast bowler GC Viljoen on England and he roared in like a furious lion - much like when Simba gets his revenge on Scar in the Lion King.

He was rapid and fearsome... getting Cook with his first ball in Test cricket.

Peter M: Re Jack Lennon-French - I am grown up and I still want to be Ben Stokes.

Jeremy Leese:@BeefyBotham, external wears Ben Stokes pyjamas! #legendinthemaking, external

If you're just joining us after a busy afternoon at work, let me recap what's happened. It's been good.

First of all England took three wickets this morning to end South Africa's innings for a grand total of 313. Ben Stokes, as Ben Stokes does, took just one ball to take the one wicket needed when he came on to bowl. Special.

I don't know if it's because I just finished the last of the office mince pies (well past their best before date) or if this is actually quite funny... but it made me giggle.

Rob: Top, top knock from Joe Root. The guy always gets his runs when it matters.

Tom Mansell: Super hundred from Joe Root keep it going.

Joel Fentem: Someone needs to check Joe Roots passport as he can't be English. We don't produce players as good as this, utterly astounding

Rumours (started by me) that Joe Root walked into the dressing room and said let there be light. And there was light.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

"It's been a chastening afternoon for South Africa. They were on top, but then came Stokes and Root."

England 238-5 from 52.4 overs

Batsmen: Root 110, Bairstow 4

Fall of wickets: 10-1 (Hales 1), 22-2 (Cook 18), 74-3 (Compton 26), 91-4 (Taylor 7), 202-5 (Stokes 58)

Bowling figures: Morris 13-1-62-0, Rabada 14.4-5-48-2, Morkel 14-0-63-2, Viljoen 11-0-57-1

South Africa first innings: 313 (Elgar 46, Stokes 3-53)

South Africa won toss

Full scorecard

Hmmmm. It's dark. Dark enough for the umpires to take the players off for bad light. The decision was made while Root was getting his helmet changed. Maybe a player taking one to the head got the umpires a little twitchy.

I've just had visual confirmation that Joe Root is human after all. He's sconned by a Kagiso Rabada bouncer and the ball runs for four (he edged it on to his helmet).

Tristan Watson: England have been in some bad situations over the years in Test cricket. Just think how it would have been without Root!

Joe Root celebrated his hundred by shaking his fist and then embracing his long-time mate Jonny Bairstow. This was certainly one of the best of his career.

He backs it up with a delicious four back down the ground. He's playing shots which are more beautiful to the eye than a portrait of my children.

Well, almost. I may be getting carried away. Possibly. 

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

"That is a magnificent hundred from Root in really tough circumstances."

Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"What a knock from Joe Root. He's looked a class above on this surface, with energy and intensity. He's pounced on anything loose."

100 for Joe Root (off 126 balls)published at 51.2 overs

51.2 overs

Eng 227-5

If I ever walk in to bat against a rampant South Africa team in a ground nicknamed the Bullring, and seize the initiative with a counter-attacking innings, I'd like to think I'd bring up three figures with a dreamy cover shot to the boundary. Gorgeous.