England vs South Africa LIVE: Cricket result from first Test as England thrashed by an innings after batting collapse
England were all out for 149 in the second innings to lose by an innings and 12 runs at Lord’s
England were blown away by South Africa inside three days to lose the first Test of the series by and innings and 12 runs.
The humbling defeat at Lord’s is the first of the new Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum era and puts the Proteas 1-0 up with two Tests to play.
England were firmly behind from the get-go after losing the toss on day one and coming up short with the bat mustering just 165 in the first innings.
A resolute first dig of 326 in reply by Dean Elgar’s tourists put them firmly in control with a lead of 161 on first innings before they comprehensively ran through the hosts’ batting order again dismissing them for 149 with Anrich Nortje’s three wickets doing the bulk of the damage.
Victory was brought up inside six sessions of play and before tea on the third day without them having to bat again. Follow the reaction and analysis from the first Test below:
England 165 & 98-6 (trail by 63) - Broad 3, Stokes 9; South Africa 326
30th over: Maharaj continuing to bowl. Big appeal from the first ball post-drinks for lbw, not given, then Broad almost run out at the non-striker’s end before an overthrow. Now it’s going to be a REVIEW!
Not given. Umpire’s call on impact and it was missing the stumps anyway. Does mean Broad is on strike though. He sweeps for two and then nudges the final delivery to leg. A single that they consider turning down to put Stokes on strike for Nortje but they do take it.
WATCH: England lose sixth wicket
Here’s how England went six wickets down, as Ben Foakes came and went very quickly...
England 94-6 (trail by 67) - Broad 0, Stokes 9; South Africa 326; England 165
29th over: Stokes pushes a couple of runs through mid-on and then gets a single to backward point. Broad probably didn’t want that as we now get two balls of Nortje vs Broad!
First one dug into the body and he defends it well and edges the second but it falls short of the slips. He survives at least! And that’s DRINKS.
England 91-6 (trail by 70) - Broad 0, Stokes 6; South Africa 326; England 165
28th over: Stuart Broad comes to the crease with the look of a man who doesn’t want to be here... This could be over by tea if England aren’t careful.
Maharaj still spinning away from the Pavilion End. He’s a quality bowler but it must feel like a reprieve between Nortje overs! Just pace bowling at it’s very best.
Anyway, Stokes punches the first ball for FOUR before reverse sweeping a single to backward point. Now a REVIEW for lbw as Broad’s reverse sweep misses and it raps the pad. Pitching and impact are red lights but on height it’s umpire’s call! Broad survives...
WICKET! Foakes c Verreynne b Nortje 0. England 86-6 (trail by 75)
27th over: Ben Foakes is in and England’s long tail is suddenly waiting. These two are going to have to do something special you feel but Nortje is on a tear.
Foakes survives one ball but the second ball is another WICKET! Rinse, repeat. He wafts outside off, gets an edge and the keeper pouches it. Off he trudges for a duck. What a spell by Nortje
WICKET! Lees c Verreynne b Nortje 35. England 86-5 (trail by 75)
27th over: Oh dear, oh dear. This is going from bad to worse for England. WICKET! Nortje is absolutely flying here, as he angles one in, Lees tries to defend but it finds edge through to the keeper.
86-5 and the set batter has gone. A brilliant spell of pace bowling by Nortje.
England 86-4 (trail by 75) - Lees 35, Stokes 1; South Africa 326; England 165
26th over: The spinner Maharaj continuing. Once again, England need to rebuild. Lees has watched partners fall with regularity.
A couple of singles before Lees sweeps for three off the final ball, down towards the fine leg boundary.
WATCH: Bairstow removed by Nortje
Jonny Bairstow got an edge off Nortje and it was held behind the stumps. A bad moment for England.
England 81-4 (trail by 80) - Lees 31, Stokes 0; South Africa 326; England 165
25th over: Big celebration from Nortje and why not. A massive wicket. Ben Stokes the next man in and I feel like he might get some chin music after what he delivered to Nortje when he was batting...
Short, into the body with the first ball and snarls in with the next deliveries as well He’s hitting 94/95mph. Stokes survives for now but that wicket was another blow for the hosts
WICKET! Bairstow c Verreynne b Nortje 18. England 81-4 (trail by 80)
25th over: Lovely drive from Bairstow, backwards of point, and it’s crunched for FOUR. Next ball is a play-and-miss but he makes contact with the third and it’s a WICKET!
Great ball by Nortje, right in the corridor of uncertainty, Bairstow gets an edge on the way through to Verreynne behind the stumps. More bad news for England.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments