50 for Ben Stokespublished at 45.5 overs

45.5 overs

Eng 288-5

And a single means that's fifty from Stokes from 33 balls.

The recalled Morne Morkel foxes Stokes with a slower-ball bouncer, but the Durham man clubs a single to deep square leg to move to 45. Moeen rotates the strike with a similar stroke. With third man and fine leg up, Stokes eyes up the boundaries again and smashes a four wide over mid-on.

Dan Manning: Simon Wilde please stay away from Twitter when the crickets on.

PD31: Simon Wilde did, indeed, provide the kiss of death.

Image source, Getty Images

David Wiese will become the first Proteas bowler to complete his 10-over spell - he's facing Ben Stokes in good touch (on 42 from 27 balls). The Durham all-rounder comes down the track to Wiese, but for now the boundaries evade him. Moeen can only chop a slower ball to the keeper - and while the SA fans are firing up their braais, external on the grassy banks, can England keep the heat turned up for the last five overs?

After a warm ovation for Root, Moeen Ali is the new batsman, and South Africa are going to try to smuggle another Behardien over through - which would mean they don't have to use Tahir again. England pick up several ones and twos, but it's only five from the over.

Simon Hughes
BBC Test Match Special

"What an outstanding innings from Joe Root. He has made the pitch look a belter. That was the only way he was going to get out, the bowlers couldn’t. I think that will be a match winning innings."

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"So unfortunate because he had played such a brilliant knock."

Neil Manthorp
BBC Test Match Special

"That is the biggest six. That has gone 13 rows back in the grandstand. Goodness me."

Eng 262-4published at 42.4 overs

42.4 overs

Wiese back as SA shuffle their seamers. Stokes smacks him for four wide of long-off as the diving Abbott can't cut it off - then lets fly with an enormous six which flies a dozen rows back into the stand at wide long-on. Biggest hit of the day.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"This team, the way they bat, there is no holding back. You look back to teams a few years ago and it is completely different."

Neil Manthorp
BBC Test Match Special

"That is an outrageous shot. Sometimes you doubt yourself and think 'did I just see that?'"

Tahir's off after the pummelling he's taken in the last couple of overs, and his replacement is the part-time medium pace of Farhaan Behardien, who might have expected to avoid having to bowl today. Stokes provocatively reverse-sweeps him for four with quick hands, then guides a single to fine leg. His 27 has come from 21 balls.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"The assault is on and if England can keep these two together then there will be some damage."

And suddenly, 350 doesn't look completely out of range...

Eng 248-4published at 40.3 overs

40.3 overs

A single means Root is breaking new ground with his highest ODI score, and Stokes is joining in the fun, despatching a half-tracker over mid-wicket for six.