Hammond also got well under way to put up a magnificent exhibition of cover-driving and leg-sweeps, completing his century after 209 minutes' play, with nine boundaries to his credit.
At lunch time, Hammond's score stood at 106, and Ames' at 76, to make a total score of 265 for three wickets, After lunch, the number of spectators rose to 11,000, this total constituting a ground record.
Ames did not last long after the interval, his wicket falling after a tricky delivery by Gordon, His score when he was dismissed stood at 115, and the total score at 336 for four—g record stand against South Africa, beating the 151 score achieved by Hammond and Leyland in 1935.
Ames had accounted for 13 boundaries within 144 minutes during his innings.
"Edrich was dismissed for a duck second ball from Gordon, altering England's standing to 338 for five wickets.
Gordon bowled cleverly, putting down first fast, then medium balls.
With Hammond's score standing at 1€4, and Valentine's at 13, Melville, South Africa's skipper, was struck in the thigh, and retired from the field, Mitchell taking over the captaincy.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.