Jonathan Bairstow rewarded England’s decision to recall him in place of Kevin Pietersen with a maiden Test 50 as they fought back on the second day of their series finale with South Africa at Lord’s.
Bairstow came in Friday when England, just as the tourists had done in their first innings, collapsed to 4-54.
But by stumps the hosts were 5-208 after Bairstow (72no) combined with Ian Bell (58) and Matt Prior (22no) to stage a fightback.
However, that left England still 101 runs adrift of South Africa’s 309, with the Proteas, 1-0 up in the three-match series, only needing to avoid defeat to replace their hosts as the world’s top-ranked Test side.
Bairstow, dropped by England after making a mere 38 runs during his first three Tests against the West Indies earlier this season, was under severe pressure – especially following Pietersen’s 149 in the drawn second Test at Headingley.
Despite that brilliant innings, England axed the South Africa-born Pietersen after he sent “provocative” texts, believed to be critical of his teammates, to Proteas players.
Bell though insisted Bairstow was not under extra pressure after coming in for the controversial Pietersen.
“It was not on our minds. If we had thought like that, there would have been pressure on him,” Bell said.
“I think we got our way back into game with the back half of our batting. It would have been nice if I hadn’t got out.
“Every run is crucial. This wicket is just ‘nibbling’ a bit more than most Lord’s wickets.”
When the 22-year-old Bairstow walked out, Dale Steyn had taken two wickets for one run in four balls and fellow fast bowler Morne Morkel two for three in 11.
Morkel struck first when, off the last ball before lunch, he bowled England captain Andrew Strauss, playing his 100th Test and 50th as skipper, between bat and pad with a well-directed delivery from around the wicket.
Steyn then removed Jonathan Trott, lbw on review, and Alastair Cook, well caught by Jacques Kallis at second slip, for single figure scores.
Bairstow struggled with the short ball against the West Indies and South Africa tried to work the Yorkshireman over.
However, Bell said of Bairstow: “He handled himself brilliantly. He probably committed to one thing (more than he did against the West Indies).
“He got his hands out of the way and, when he wanted to take it on, he put the bad ball away.”
Bairstow, despite taking 13 balls to get off the mark and looking decidedly uncomfortable initially, settled and reached his 50 off 86 balls including eight fours to go with his hundred in a tour match for England Lions against Australia A last week.
It was not long before Bell, on a sunny day, followed Bairstow to 50 by steering Kallis behind point for a sixth four in 133 balls.
But all-rounder Vernon Philander, whose maiden Test half-century had earlier helped the Proteas past 300, broke the fifth-wicket partnership when he had Bell edging a good length ball to third slip Alviro Petersen.
Earlier, South Africa resumed on 7-262, with Philander adding 15 to his overnight score to end on 61, the joint highest-score of the innings.
Philander shared several useful lower order partnerships before his more than three hours of resistance ended when he was last man out, stumped trying to slog off-spinner Graeme Swann.
“It was satisfying to bail the team out,” said Philander. “Having been 54 for four on day one, 309 we’ll take that.”