Stokes reached his 10th Test fifty and remains unbeaten on 64 from 112 balls, with seven fours.

Thankfully for England, talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes soon began to display his wide range of strokes, hitting some fluent boundaries to bolster the scoring rate.

It looked a bit ominous for England when the lynchpin Alastair Cook was trapped lbw having added only six to his overnight 82. The review was immediately called for but it was shown to be clipping the timbers and Cook had to depart. He is eight runs short of 1,000 in Tests at The Oval.

Thanks Mitch, apologies if this sounds like a "shout-out to my homies" but I must mention Dan Lincoln, esteemed goalkeeper of Vanarama side Bognor Regis Town. Dan, formerly of Reading FC, plundered 152 not out for Berkshire against Oxfordshire, 122 of which were in boundaries, including 11 sixes.

How many goalkeepers have played cricket to a high standard? Steve Ogrizovic, the giant ex-Coventry stopper, also played at minor counties level and once got Viv Richards out.

There have been plenty of cricketing footballers, CB Fry was probably the definitive polymath, was there anything he couldn't do? he could even leap backwards onto a mantelpiece from a standing position on the floor. He would surely have got the gold buzzer on Britain's Got Talent. But anyway, let's have a look at the highlights of the morning session.

So, stand by for the second part of "Our TMS" on your radios. And stand by for Jamie Lillywhite who's going to talk you through the afternoon.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

South Africa weren't quite at their best with the ball but the camera has panned to Joe Root and he will be delighted. The ball hasn't done as much but the application from Ben Stokes has been tremendous. If you'd said the score would be 269-6 at the start of the day the skipper would have grabbed your hand. This morning it has looked quite flat so England are giving themselves a real opportunity in the Test match.

With four minutes until lunch is due, and pace operating from both ends, this is probably the last over of the session. Moeen Ali pokes at Rabada, just a defensive shot but the ball disappears past the slip cordon for four.

As if South Africa's over-rate needs to get any worse, a fielding helmet is summoned for the last two balls of the session, donned by Temba Bavuma at short leg. An unruffled Moeen drives the last ball for three through the covers to reach double figures. That's lunch - 98 runs in the session, with two wickets having fallen.

Mike Bell‏: I still don't rate Bairstow as a Test batsman. No huge scores at all after many years. Or is it cos I is from Lancashire?

A half-hearted appeal from bowler and second slip (but not keeper or first slip) as Moeen is struck on the thigh pad by Morkel. Half-hearted, as the ball pitched a yard outside leg stump, ruling out the prospect of lbw. Moeen continues his progression in singles.

Meanwhile, we're hearing that Vernon Philander may struggle to get back on the field today because of his illness, which may hamper South Africa's bowling prospects.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's more on the news that Sussex and Scotland player Matt Machan has retired because of a wrist injury:

Machan, in a statement released by Sussex, said: “It is with great sadness and an extremely heavy heart that I have to announce my retirement from the professional game due to a wrist injury. Following medical advice, my long-term health is most important to me and I have to take that into account."

The 26-year-old played 23 ODIs for Scotland, including at the 2015 World Cup, with a top score of 114 against Kenya in 2013.

With England digging in ahead of lunch, Rabada probes outside Moeen's off stump, but a delivery on leg stump allows the bearded maestro to double his score with a single to fine leg.

Simon Mahon: I remember Du Plessis playing for Lancashire at the start of his career. Probably best fielder I've ever seen live.

Here's that slip catch which removed Bairstow:

A slight spring in the step of the South African fielders after that wicket, but Stokes is busy as he pushes Morkel for a quick single, while Moeen is off the mark too.

Some news from Sussex - Matt Machan has announced his retirement from cricket because of a wrist injury. Always sad when injury curtails someone's sporting career.

Paddy‏: It's a perfectly balanced team but England's problem is that two of our best batsmen are at 7 and 8 whilst our top order is a mess.

Moeen Ali joins fellow left-hander Stokes at the crease, he's up on his toes to defend the rest of Rabada's over.

We'll have lunch in about 15 minutes - when you can hear the second part of "Our TMS", celebrating the programme's 60th birthday.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Terrific ball, we saw a beauty from Rabada to get rid of Malan and this was another, on or around the off stump, some movement and a good catch by Faf du Plessis who has a real safe pair of hands at second slip. It's been a good innings and a nice partnership with Stokes. Again the Test match just sways, just four England wickets left. South Africa could bowl England out for 300 if they bowl well.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Ben Stokes yesterday looked like he was batting with a toothpick, the ball was doing plenty and he was probably thinking where does his next run come from. Today there are better conditions for batting and he has earned the right to get to the stage where the ball doesn't do as much.

Everything England didn't do at Trent Bridge they have tried to do here. This is the DNA I want England to go with. Whether it's the criticism they received after Trent Bridge or batting first, but whatever it is, let's do it on a more consistent basis.

New ball takenpublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 28 July 2017

12:38 BST 28 July 2017

Eng 256-5

Morne Morkel - he of the aforementioned supple limbs - gets first use of the new ball at his favoured Pavilion End. Stokes lets a couple go by outside off stump, Morkel not making him play, and that's a maiden over.