South Africa remain firmly in control of the first Test against England after bowling the hosts out for just 165 and then reaching 289-7 at the close of play to establish a 124-run lead, thanks to Sarel Erwee's 73 and a 72-run partnership between Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj.
Having been reduced to 116-6 on day one, England were going to be reliant on Ollie Pope if they were to get close to the 200 mark. However, he was dismissed for 73 after adding just 12 runs to his overnight score as Kagiso Rabada picked up his 12th five-wicket haul in Test match cricket.
After getting rid of England's tail cheaply, South Africa got off to an excellent start in response as Dean Elgar and Erwee shared an important 85-run opening partnership against a largely disappointing bowling display. Elgar was eventually dismissed by James Anderson for 47 after the ball deflected off him and back onto the stumps, before Keegan Petersen was removed for 24 by Matthew Potts.
However, South Africa looked well in control at 158-2 when the game paused for tea. After the break, though, England began their fightback as they picked up four wickets for just 50 runs. Spinner Jack Leach found some turn and dismissed Aiden Markram for 16 with an excellent delivery, before Stokes made two hugely important.
He first bounced out Erwee, ending his excellent innings, and then trapped Rassie van der Dussen lbw for 19. Stuart Broad then got in on the act to remove Kyle Verreynne for 11, his 100th wicket at Lord's.
However, Jansen and Maharaj absorbed some pressure before launching a counter-attack that stretched South Africa's lead beyond three figures. The pair shared a 72-run partnership, with Maharaj eventually falling to Stokes for 41 and Jansen remaining unbeaten on 41.
Here are six talking points from the day's play...
Red for Ruth day
Day two of the Test marked 'Red for Ruth' day where players, commentators and fans are all encouraged to wear red to support the Ruth Strauss Foundation. The charity was set up by former England captain Sir Andrew Strauss in memory of his wife Ruth, who passed away in 2018 aged 46 after being diagnosed with an incurable form of lung cancer.
The foundation aims to support families who are facing the death of a parent and Lord's has turned red every year since 2019 to raise funds and awareness, with £1.2m raised at last year's event. "It is so important for those families that are going through this, to have that professional help," Strauss said last year.
"They're at a time where they often feel completely lost, all at sea, scared and fearful and incredibly emotional, so I'm really heartened and it warms my soul to see that we're actually delivering on what we promised. Making a worthwhile legacy for Ruth's name is very satisfying."
You can make a donation to the foundation at ruthstraussfoundation.com.
Pope falls early
After standing alone with an excellent unbeaten 61 on day one, Pope was the key if England wanted to get anywhere close to a competitive first innings score. However, South Africa removed him early on day two, with Rabada finally getting his man after seeing Erwee almost comically put down a catch at first slip while Pope was on 67 after having four goes at taking it.
However, Rabada dismissed him in his next over, with Pope chopping on for a well-made 73 to leave England 134-7. And they managed to add just 31 more runs before getting bowled out for a lacklustre total.
"Well bowled, Rabada," former England spinner Phil Tufnell told BBC Test Match Special. "Pope didn't get himself into a good position, but he has at least given England a sniff and something to bowl out. It could have been very messy yesterday."
Rabada stars
Having been an injury doubt ahead of this game with an ankle issue, Rabada led South Africa's attack brilliantly at Lord's as they skittled England for just 165. He picked up excellent figures of 5-52 from 19 overs, his first five-wicket haul at the Home of Cricket.
Rabada is one of the best bowlers in the world right now and he bookended the innings perfectly, removing both of England's openers in a quality new ball spell before returning to dismiss a set Pope plus Broad and Anderson.
"He seems to be able extract movement off the pitch even when there isn't much - that's why his strike rate is up there with the best ever in the game," Strauss told Sky Sports. "He thoroughly deserved his five wickets. And you could see it on his face, getting on that honours board such a special thing."
Former South Africa quick Morne Morkel tweeted: "Genius with ball in hand.. Congrats @kgrabada!! What a special achievement.."
Elgar's bizarre dismissal
After sharing a solid 85-run opening partnership alongside Erwee, the South African captain was out in bizarre fashion as he was denied a 23rd Test fifty. Having battled to 47, Elgar was dismissed by Anderson after the ball ricocheted off his thigh pad and his arm and back onto the stumps.
Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook told BBC Test Match Special "It's Jimmy's first wicket as a 40-year-old - he'll hate me for mentioning it but I had to! It hit Dean Elgar's thigh pad, hit his gloves and has rolled back towards the stumps.
"He's tried to knock it away with his bat but he wasn't quick enough. Sometimes as a batsman you are unlucky and that is an unlucky dismissal."
Erwee impresses
Back in 2020, Erwee contemplated retiring from cricket, but ultimately fell back in love with the game after working with a sports psychologist during the coronavirus pandemic and continued his career. He made his international debut at the start of the year against New Zealand and scored an impressive hundred in his second Test at Christchurch and now has a half-century at Lord's.
Speaking before the series began, Erwee told the BBC : "It had nothing to do with my stats or feeling I was never going to play for South Africa. It was a case of what was going on in my personal life, away from the cricket field that was influencing my energies and mindset."
His subsequent success is a remarkable story and his innings in this Test was an excellent one, with the 32-year-old unlucky not to have reached three figures as he eventually succumbed to an excellent short ball from Stokes.
Stokes leads brief England fightback
With South Africa looking set to build an imposing first innings lead at 187-3, Stokes brought himself on and took two wickets in quick succession. First he removed the set Erwee for 73 with a brilliant bouncer and he then pinned Van der Dussen lbw for 19.
They were two crucial breakthroughs for England and looked to have dragged them back into the game, before Jansen and Maharaj began their counterattack. "A lovely bit of bowling," Tufnell said of Stokes' spell on BBC Test Match Special.
" Ben Stokes does make things happen and England like getting themselves in a hole and then fighting back." Former South Africa seamer Vernon Philander added: "An exciting passage of play for England, in many ways dragging themselves back into the contest."
