Postpublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special
England are in control unless this new ball really, really talks.
Image source, Getty ImagesSummary
Broad ends 53-run stand between Bavuma & Rabada
Roland-Jones removes SA top four; two wickets for Anderson
Philander unlikely to bat - hospitalised with sickness
England bowled out for 353 - Stokes 112, Cook 88
Stokes hit three successive sixes as he brings up ton
Postpublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at The OvalFurther World Cup trophy news. That globe/ball on top has become very wobbly. Heather Knight is taking no blame.
Eng 256-5published at 12:33 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
80 overs - New ball available
Maharaj spins down an over, Stokes helps himself to a single. Send for the fourth umpire - a new cherry is required!
Image source, Reutersget involved Get Involvedpublished at 12:33 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
#bbccricket
Liam Johnson: Is Glen in Durham [12:23] forgetting Alastair Cook's wonderful bowling a few years ago?
Postpublished at 12:31 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on TMSThere can be no sensible discussion about four-day Tests until they are bowling 15 or preferably 16 overs per hour. Four-day Tests at 13 overs per hour just couldn't happen.
Eng 255-5published at 12:31 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Stokes 62, Bairstow 34
Morris bowls what will surely be the penultimate over with the old ball. We've only had 20 overs today in an hour and a half - TMS's Andrew Samson confirms that South Africa currently have the worst over-rate of all the international sides. Graeme Smith jokes: "Fine the bowlers". Just a single from the over.
Postpublished at 12:29 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match SpecialMorne Morkel is the most supple man I have ever met, he can put his legs behind his head. There's a lot of gluteal muscle there!
Postpublished at 12:27 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Here's how Ben Stokes reached his half-century:
Eng 254-5published at 12:27 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Plenty of schoolchildren in the crowd today, enjoying their day out at The Oval. Also enjoying himself is Ben Stokes, hammering Maharaj with a slog-sweep but the mid-wicket sweeper means it only brings him a single. Two more singles stretch this sixth-wicket stand to 71 in just 13-and-a-half overs.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match SpecialDu Plessis can't let the game drift he almost has to take the new ball. You'd probably give that to Rabada to bowl with Morkel so before that he might have to turn back to Morris. These two have got South Africa on the back foot without doing too much, there are bad balls on offer.
Eng 251-5published at 12:23 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Stokes 59, Bairstow 33
Geoffrey Boycott will be salivating for England's chances of plundering a few runs - as Chris Morris is back into the attack, and Bairstow brings up the 250 with a single. Morris looks a different bowler from the one who terrorised England at Trent Bridge - today, his bowling has been about as threatening as that you'd expect from the ex-Republic of Ireland full-back Chris Morris, or even The Day Today presenter Chris Morris. Stokes adds another single.
Three overs to the new ball.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 12:23 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
tms@bbc.co.uk
Out of the 11 playing this Test match, England have eight capable bowlers. Aside from the obvious, Malan and Jennings bowl regularly for their counties, Malan sometimes opens in T20, and Root is more than capable of a big wicket. Could be worth remembering in the fourth innings.
Glen in Durham
Postpublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match SpecialThe consistency for Rabada and Morris just hasn't been there like it has been for Morkel and Philander. I don't think Du Plessis can bowl them together.
Eng 249-5published at 12:19 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Stokes 58, Bairstow 32
Bairstow can't connect with a powerful sweep shot. Maharaj has him bottled up for a few deliveries, but the deadlock is eventually broken with a scrambled, swept single past the keeper.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at The OvalI had it whipped away from me before I could take a picture, but I can confirm that the Women's World Cup being paraded around is a specific 2017 edition, not the real thing.
Postpublished at 12:17 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match SpecialThe only thing Stokes needs to add to his game is the ability to play with soft hands, but when you see him playing attacking shots the timing is always immaculate. Anything above 350 puts England in a solid position on this surface.
Eng 248-5published at 12:16 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
75 overs
A firm cut brings Bairstow four through point, a tickle to the same area earns him two. There's no respite for Rabada as a single brings Stokes on strike. Collar up, Stokes is resolute in defence for now.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
#bbccricket
Jack: Cook looked absolutely plumb to me. They've been showing all morning he's been playing back in his crease. Great knock though.
Postpublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match SpecialThe challenge for South Africa now is that Philander has been off the field for almost half an hour and with the new ball due soon it doesn't look like he will be back to bowl with it.
Eng 241-5published at 12:12 British Summer Time 28 July 2017
Stokes 58, Bairstow 24
Maharaj has a slip and a short mid-wicket in catching positions for Stokes, who adds a single to his score. Bairstow nurdles one to short fine leg, this stand is now worth 58.
New ball available in six overs.