Joe Root scores 5,000th Test run on day one of fourth Test against South Africa

Joe Root became the fastest England player in the modern era to reach 5,000 Test runs, guiding his side to 260-6 against South Africa on a gripping opening day to the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

Root (52) reached the mark in his 105th innings before completing a fifty for the 10th Test in a row - the home side's tally swelled by Ben Stokes' 10th Test half-century before the all-rounder was bowled in the penultimate over of the day by Kagiso Rabada for 58.

Nightwatchman Toby Roland-Jones came in for the final over of a finely-balanced day but didn't face a ball as Jonny Bairstow closed unbeaten on 33.

South Africa, striving for a series-levelling win, kept England in check with a disciplined bowling display despite the absence of Vernon Philander and Chris Morris, ruled out with back spasms, as spinner Keshav Maharaj (1-54) reeled off 29 economical overs.

Root's decision to bat first meant that England's leading wicket-taker, James Anderson, was able to rest up on a day when Lancashire renamed the pavilion end after him.

Needing 46 runs to score his 5,000th Test run, Root reached the landmark with a driven three off Morne Morkel to follow in the footsteps of Jack Hobbs (91 innings), Wally Hammond (97), Ken Barrington (97) and Len Hutton (98).

England's captain should have fallen for 44 when he edged Morkel behind only for Quinton de Kock to freeze and allow the ball to go between himself and first slip.

It was a rare blemish from the wicketkeeper, who chalked up his 100th Test dismissal before tea when Tom Westley (29) edged Kagiso Rabada behind.

South Africa claimed just one wicket in a hard-fought opening session, that of Keaton Jennings (17) when the left-hander nibbled at a ball angled across him by the recalled Duanne Olivier.

Jennings barely improved his series average of 15.33 and could have fallen for just four when a bat-pad chance ballooned into the vacant short leg area and Rabada, in his follow through, couldn't quite complete the catch.

Alastair Cook had his own slice of luck when a gloved pull soared over De Kock's head for four but otherwise the former skipper was in typically punchy form, in particular down the ground, as he accumulated 46 off 103 balls before edging Maharaj behind.

Cook added 57 with Westley, who grew in confidence after scoring just two runs off his first 18 balls to strike a couple of boundaries off Morkel, including a well-timed on-drive.

Root and Dawid Malan reached their own 50-run stand in 37 fewer deliveries - Malan falling just before tea when he drove loosely at Morkel to depart for a hard-fought 18 off 44 balls.

South Africa bagged their fifth wicket when Root walked across his stumps aiming to hit Olivier through midwicket, but reviewed in vain after consulting with Stokes - the bowler earning a hug from De Kock, delighted his earlier mistake cost just eight runs.

Bairstow had just four when South Africa were convinced an inside-edge off Maharaj had carried to Dean Elgar at slip only for replays to show the ball didn't quite reach him before bouncing.

Together with Stokes, Bairstow safely negotiated tricky old-all spells from Morkel and Rabada - the pair consistently beating the bat with late movement.

Vice-captain Stokes followed up his first-innings century at The Oval with another mature display, striking eight fours off 96 balls faced only to be undone by a high-class Rabada yorker with the new ball with stumps in sight.

Live coverage of the fourth and final Test between England and South Africa continues on Sky Sports Cricket - with over-by-over commentary and in-play video clips on our digital platforms - from 10am on Saturday.