Smith passed Bradman's 254 Photos from day three

England were left staring at a humiliating loss after another dominant display by South Africa at Lord's.

The visitors compiled a record total of 682-6 with the bat, eclipsing their previous Test best of 622, set against Australia in Durban.

And when skipper Graeme Smith finally declared with a 509 first innings lead, his bowlers answered the call teasing out the wickets of England openers Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick.

Not-out batsmen Nasser Hussain (36) and Mark Butcher (33) at least salvaged some hope with a tenacious stand of 69.

But Smith was once again the hero under gloriously-sunny skies on a day extended to compensate for Friday's rain.

The 22-year-old whistled past Sir Don Bradman's 254 to post the second-best innings at Lord's.

And he was slightly unlucky to get out moments later for 259 after playing on to James Anderson, still well adrift of Graham Gooch's ground record of 333.

BEST TEST TOTALS BY COUNTRY Sri Lanka: 952-6 v Ind England: 903-7 v Aus West Indies: 790-3 v Pak Australia: 758-8 v WI Pakistan: 708 v Eng South Africa: 682-6 v Eng India: 676-7 v SL New Zealand: 671-4 v SL Zimbabwe: 563-9 v WI Bangladesh: 400 v Ind

Smith has already scored 621 runs in this series, tying Dudley Nourse's South Africa record, which was accumulated over a full five Tests.

And he forged another sparkling century partnership on Saturday, this time with Boeta Dippenaar, who reached 92 before slicing an Ashley Giles delivery to Mark Butcher.

That dismissal came as relief to the fielders involved, both of whom had been guilty of dropping Dippenaar at slip.

Smith might also have lost his wicket earlier than he did.

A spinning delivery from Giles caught a foot-hole and shot up to hit wicket-keeper Alec Stewart in the face with Smith ripe for the stumping.

No fault could really be laid on Stewart, who then left the field to get medical attention, passing the gloves temporarily to the inexperienced Anthony McGrath.

Vaughan: Plenty to ponder

England's fielders could have been forgiven for thinking that the worst was behind them.

But Boucher piled on the agony with a virtuoso knock in the run-up to tea, before he was eventually bowled by Anderson for 68.

The home side's bowling - particularly that of Andrew Flintoff - was not bad in spells.

But it was at never as effective as South Africa's attack soon showed itself to be.

Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini started in determined mood, but it was unsung Andrew Hall who broke through.

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He tempted Vaughan into two edges, the second of which was taken by Pollock, who had been guilty of dropping the first.

The expensive Ntini then got into the act, claiming Trescothick thanks to a brilliant back-pedalling catch from Paul Adams.

But both England openers could be accused of throwing away their wickets.

Their carelessness is a luxury the rest of order can ill afford if they are to have any chance of saving the match.

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