LONDON: The Proteas produced one of their most emphatic bowling displays in recent memory to complete a brilliant innings and 12-run win over England before tea on day three of the first Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Friday. 

Anrich Nortje lead the way with three wickets in a fiery post-lunch spell, with doubles for Player of the Match Kagiso Rabada (2/27), Marco Jansen (2/13) and Keshav Maharaj (2/35) as the hosts were blown away for 149 in 37.4 overs. 

There was also a wicket Lungi Ngidi (1/15) on day three, completing a result that was made even more remarkable considering most of day one was washed out on account of the weather.  

Across the two innings England faced only 82.4 overs, making it the third-shortest amount of time they had batted in a home Test defeat. 

This was also only their fourth ever innings defeat at the ‘Home of Cricket’, the Proteas now being responsible for two of those thumping wins including the last one that came by Graeme Smith’s lead team in 2003. 

Mark Boucher’s side, currently top of the ICC World Test Championship, will now take a 1-0 lead into the second match starting at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester next Thursday. 

And they were full value for their win in the series opener too. 

Inspired by Rabada’s five for 52 in the first innings, they shot out England for a poor 165, before resuming on the third morning on 289 for seven. 

However, they lost their three remaining wickets for just 37 despite a career-best 48 from Jansen – South Africa’s lead at the changeover nonetheless being a substantial 161. 

It was then over to the bowlers once more, and after a tight opening, the early introduction of Maharaj surprised the opposition as the spinner dismissed both Zak Crawley (13) and Ollie Pope (5) cheaply. 

Ngidi then removed the dangerous Joe Root for only six after lunch to leave England on 57 for three.

A fired-up Nortje was too quick for Jonny Bairstow (18) and Alex Lees (35), both edging behind to Kyle Verreynne, during a period where the speedster grabbed three wickets for no runs in 10 balls. 

By that stage it was already 86 for six, and despite the best attempts of Stuart Broad (35) and Ben Stokes (20) to make the South Africans bat again, they fell short in a famous win for the tourists. 

Proteas Test squad against England 

Dean Elgar (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Marco Jansen (Gbets Warriors), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Gbets Warriors), Keegan Petersen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kagiso Rabada (Imperial Lions), Ryan Rickelton (Imperial Lions), Lutho Sipamla (Imperial Lions), Rassie van der Dussen (Imperial Lions), Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper, Six Gun Grill Western Province), Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Glenton Stuurman (Gbets Warriors).  

South Africa Test Tour to England Itinerary 

Four-Day Tour Match 

09 – 12 August   

Lions beat South Africa by an innings and 56 runs – The Spitfire Ground St Lawrence, Canterbury   

Tests 

17 – 21 August   

England lost to South Africa by an innings and 12 runs – Lord’s Cricket Ground, London   

25 – 29 August   

England vs South Africa – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester   

08 – 12 September  

England vs South Africa – Kia Oval, London    

ENDS