183 – Amla and AB de Villiers added 183 for the third wicket, which is the sixth-best partnership for the wicket against England, and also the third highest against England for the third wicket at home. It took the normally free-flowing De Villiers 116 balls to post his half-century with a straight hit for four off Moeen Ali.
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Afterwards Stokes told Sky Sports: “I can’t really believe what I did”.
South Africa still trail the touring side by 276 runs, 77 short of avoiding the follow-on, with Amla on 157 and Faf du Plessis on 51.
Looking to muster an acceptable response, a clearly demoralised South Africa lost an early wicket when a terrible mix-up between openers Stiaan van Zyl and Dean Elgar led to the former being comprehensively run-out for just four by a combination of Nick Compton and Bairstow.
“There was a lot more emotion than I normally show when I got to the hundred but I just tried to keep on going”.
Among a series of significant statistics, Stokes’ brilliant double-hundred was the second fastest behind Nathan Astle’s 153-ball double-ton against England in 2001-2002.
He reached 250 with a six off Kagiso Rabada to become the fastest to the mark in Tests, beating Virender Sehwag’s effort for India against Sri Lanka in Mumbai in 2009 by 11 balls.
“We had different game-plans to get them out but it’s one of those days where you just have to take your cap off and say to them “well done, you won the battle”.
But the five-hour stand between Amla and De Villiers came to end when Anderson juggled the ball above his head off Finn to get rid of De Villiers.
The brutal batting from Stokes and Bairstow broke a host of other records as well as England declared on 629/6 before South Africa replied with 141/2 at the close of play on the second day.
“I will probably never play like this again in my life”.
Amla, who survived two chances, was unbeaten on 132, his first Test century since he made 208 against the West Indies in Centurion in December 2014.
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After a wicketless first session in which the SA batsmen’s stone-walling defensive strokes put the brakes on rampant England, James Anderson finally held on to a catch although he needed two attempts before he snaffled it at midwicket.
