Smith hit his second double-ton of the series Photos from day two

Graeme Smith bettered the entire England batting line-up as South Africa took a lead of 239 in the second Test at Lord's.

The left-hander is the fourth batsman ever to score double-centuries in successive Tests.

Australian legend Don Bradman and England's Walter Hammond achieved the feat twice, and Indian Vinod Kambli passed 200 against England and Zimbabwe in 1993.

Dropped on eight by Nasser Hussain on the first day, Smith began the second morning 80 not out, after a 75-minute delay for rain, moving quickly to his century off 155 balls.

His next hundred, although apparently less aggressive, took 132 deliveries.

It's amazing; I would have never guessed it coming into the Test series Graeme Smith More reaction

And there was some surprise - and a welcome relief for the hosts - when he accepted an offer of bad light from the umpires an hour early.

After making 277 and 85 in the opening Test of the series, an unbeaten 214 took his aggregate to 576.

England did not take a wicket until mid-way through the evening session, when Kirsten played on to Anthony McGrath shortly after completing his 17th Test century.

The 11th South African wicket to fall in the series brought an end to a 257-run second wicket partnership lasting four-and-a-half hours.

Medium-pacer McGrath, who took 3-16 against Zimbabwe in his last match at Lord's, was bowling just his second over of the match after being ignored by new England captain Michael Vaughan.

Boeta Dippenaar hit two boundaries to go to stumps 11 not out.

Anderson is a shadow of his former self and inexperience makes it hard to bounce back quickly Read Agnew's view

Prior to that breakthrough, England's only chance came in mid-afternoon, when second slip Mark Butcher dropped a simple chance off Andrew Flintoff's bowling when Kirsten had made 54.

Most miserable among England's bowlers was James Anderson, who consistently erred down leg side in conceding 42 runs from seven overs on day two and did not bowl after tea.

Of the front-line pace bowlers, only Andrew Flintoff looked likely to make a breakthrough, bowling with a more consistent line than his colleagues and gaining a little.

Vaughan's frustration was evident when he used five different bowlers, including medium-pacer Mark Butcher, in the first 10 overs with the second new ball, without success.

England: Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan (captain), Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain, Alec Stewart, Anthony McGrath, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, James Anderson, Steve Harmison.