Skipper Graeme Smith and South Africa sent records tumbling Saturday to leave England facing defeat in Michael Vaughan's captaincy debut in the second cricket test at Lord's.
England needs to bat six sessions over the last two days to salvage an unlikely draw after Smith's 259 inspired South Africa to a record 682 for six declared in 12 1/2 hours.
The home side also has to score 509 runs to avoid an embarrassing innings defeat.
England was bundled out for 173 after being asked to bat on the third day as the innings lasted 48.4 overs in under two sessions.
Openers Marcus Trescothick and Vaughan fell in the space of eight runs to close Saturday on 129 for two.
Mark Butcher and former captain Nasser Hussain, who resigned during the first test at Edgbaston, will resume Sunday on 33 and 36 not out, respectively.
The pair came together at 60 for two and denied the South Africans further inroads to the innings. They batted stubbornly for 79 minutes, each hitting six boundaries.
Vaughan drove carelessly against medium paceman Andrew Hall and edged to first slip Shaun Pollock, who had dropped England's prized batsman two balls earlier.
Trescothick then hooked fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, and Paul Adams -- running back and looking over his shoulder -- took a brilliant catch.
Faced with a similar situation last year against Sri Lanka, England, forced to follow-on, escaped with a draw after Trescothick (75) and Vaughan (115) led England to 529 for five.
But against the South Africans, England will be lucky to escape with a draw. Four washed out sessions deprived the tourists of a likely victory at Edgbaston, but no rain is forecast the next two days.
South Africa, looking to take the lead in the five-match series, will have a minimum 216 overs to dismiss England in the second innings.
Resuming the day on an already imposing 412 for two, the Proteas eclipsed the 622 for nine recorded against Australia in February 1970. That was the last series before 21 years of isolation because of the country's apartheid policy.
South Africa's highest total in 276 tests was second only in a Lord's test to Australia's 729 for six on the 1930 tour.
After Smith was finally out after batting for 25 minutes short of 10 hours, vice captain Mark Boucher hit a quick 68 off 51 balls with six and a dozen boundaries to hurry the declaration after tea.
Boeta Dippenaar scored 92 after being dropped on 15 and 36. He drove a catch to Mark Butcher at extra cover off leftarm spinner Ashley Giles. England finally caught one after drooping five, to go with a missed stumping and a run out.
The 22-year-old Smith was bowled by James Anderson, 2-90, after playing on to the swing bowler's third delivery of the morning. But his 259 was the highest individual score by an overseas player at Lord's, passing legendary Australian Don Bradman's 254, a score that stood for 73 years.
Smith failed to emulate the South African-best 277 he scored in the first test. He hit 34 boundaries off 370 balls.
He led from the front with three century stands -- 133 with fellow opener Herschelle Gibbs (49), a record 253 for the second wicket with veteran left hander Gary Kirsten, who scored 108 runs, and 123 for the third with Dippenaar.
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