At lunch, on the third day, South Africa were 516 for three after Smith had made 259 a lead of 343.

Boeta Dippenaar was 46 not out and Jacques Rudolph three not out.

Smith's innings was the second-highest individual score in a Lord's Test behind Graham Gooch of England.

Gooch, who made 333 against India in 1990, had posted a bigger solo total in all the 106 Tests played at Lord's.

Smith's innings was the best by an overseas player in a Lord's Test, surpassing Australia great Don Bradman's 254 against England in 1930.

Smith, at 22, South Africa's youngest ever captain, took his tally for the series to 621 from just three innings equalling Dudley Nourse's 56-year-old record for the most runs by a South African in a Test series against England.

He also surpassed West Indian great Gary Sobers all-time record for runs amassed in three successive Test innings, Sobers having made 599 against Pakistan in the 1957-58 series.

Batting with an injured hand, left-hander Smith was at the crease for nearly 10 hours before he played on to fast bowler James Anderson's third ball of the morning.

Western Province run machine Smith faced 370 balls including 34 fours, South Africa 516 for three.

As if that was not enough for England to worry about they lost 40-year-old wicketkeeper Alec Stewart, in the 16th over of the day with South Africa on 479 for two.

South Africa started Saturday on 412 for two, a lead of 239 after they had bowled England out for just 173 on Thursday.

The sunny conditions were ideal for batting compared to Friday's grey skies.

Smith, who on Friday became only the fourth batsman in history to Make double hundreds in successive Tests, resumed on 214.

Dippenaar 11 not out overnight, was dropped on 15 when he edged paceman Andrew Flintoff to Ashley Giles at first slip.

He was dropped again, on 36, by Mark Butcher at second slip off Darren Gough.

These errors came after former captain Nasser Hussain had dropped an easy cover catch when Smith was on eight on Thursday and Mark Butcher put down Gary Kirsten, then 54, in the slips on Saturday.

Kirsten, South Africa's most capped player, went on to make 108.

None of the chances were difficult by Test standards and South Africa made England pay for every one of them.