"What do you reckon, Broady? Can we blame the ball?"

Image source, AFP

Joe Root continues. A slip, short leg and a deep leg slip. Tossed up and driven to the long-off boundary by Du Plessis. He picked his gap and struck that neatly.

George Gray: This is a demonstration that Moeen isn't the best spinner - brilliant all-rounder but in these conditions should do better.

Skiddy and wide from Moeen and it's cut by Amla for four. Too much space on that side of the wicket, and Amla seems to have all the time in the world to use that strong bottom hand.

That shot brings up the 100 partnership, 103 from just 163 balls.

Image source, Getty Images

The captain gives himself a bowl. Can he find the breakthrough?

No.

Amla and Du Plessis work Root around the field, picking up the ones and twos.

It's fine to say that Moeen Ali is tying up one end and letting the seamers do the work at the other, but unfortunately for England they are leaking a few boundaries here and there.

This reverse-sweep is doing the trick for Amla, who glances it very fine for two more.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

This is the best of Hashim Amla. Real skillful play.

If any youngster wants to know how to play on a pitch like this, just watch Amla.

He showed us his class at Trent Bridge but did not get a big score, could he do it today?

Benjamin Andrew Stokes continues and Hashim Mahomed Amla greets him with a terrific drive for four. On his back foot, onto his toes, then almost off the ground, he punches it through the point region. A real classy shot.

Brilliant! He does it again! This is almost better than the first. This time he takes a few strides across his stumps and bisects that off side field.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

So that building houses both the players and the media. Behind is a crane and on top, miles high, is a cameraman. Vertigo? He's even got a little St George's flag up there.

Back to spin we go as Moeen returns. A slip and a short leg in place. Sweep from Du Plessis brings Amla on strike.

The South African number three again uses the reverse-sweep to Moeen, but can't connect. He then opts to dance down the wicket to defend, taking spin out of the equation.

Remember, the rain delay this morning means tea will now be taken at 16:40 BST.

Image source, PA

Dan Stephens: I'm not sure Hales is the answer despite his current 150 for his club. What's clear is that Jennings needs to work on his game.

Cannot wait for that Team Boycott v Team Agnew match! 24th August, get it in your diaries. It will also be live on the BBC Red Button. Some great names there. Marcel Somerville - fella from Love Island. Apparently. So I've been told. I wouldn't know. Honest.

ANYWAY! Back to the cricket, Stokes does well with some good length deliveries but, yet again, he strays down that leg side and Hashim Amla, a man looking in form today, easily clips that for four fine runs.

Here are the confirmed line-ups for the TMS anniversary match later this month...

More on that game here.

Stuart Broad, sweatband on his left arm, steams in. That's a textbook cover drive from Du Plessis. He eyed it up, got his front foot forwards and swung into the shot. Four.

I mentioned the word 'concentration' not long ago. Play is scheduled to go on until 19:30 BST this evening. South Africa will need to be on the ball for a long time yet.

Alex Hales is doing his best to put himself into Test consideration, reaching 150 from 156 balls, with 27 fours and one six, for Notts against Derbyshire. He's still there too. Listen to the rest of his innings here.

Image source, Rex Features

Ben Stokes, trudges back and forth to his marker as he bowls four short of a length deliveries.

Stokes then goes full and a lapse in concentration from Amla who drives and edges! Fortunately for him, it bounces a couple of times and trickles through to second slip.

Joe Root, who is back on the field, and Alastair Cook have a chinwag in the slips. The new and old England skippers look to have a healthy working relationship, Root seeking the input from Cook when needed. The transition from captain to captain (from the outside) seems to have gone smoothly.

Image source, PA

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

People just need to leave Haseeb Hameed alone, he is only young and will come back into the England side.

Why blaze 97 and get out when you can dig in for 17?

You can follow that match here.

It's Stuart Broad to continue after the players take in some fluids.

There is potential for this pitch to misbehave, as a couple of deliveries jab the turf before rattling Faf du Plessis's hand and then his thigh pad.

Just the three off the over.