South Africa defeated England by an innings and 12 runs on Day 3 of the first Test, taking a 1-0 series lead and solidifying their lead in the ICC World Test Championship Standings. This happened here on Friday.
South Africa moved one step closer to the ICC World Test Championship final next year with the crushing victory at Lord's. With six wins and two defeats this cycle, a win rate of 75%, they are in first place. Following them in the table are Australia and Sri Lanka, with England languishing at the seventh position after eight losses this cycle.
Beginning Day 3 at 289/7, South Africa didn't get off to a good start when Kagiso Rabada was caught by Stuart Broad at mid-wicket for a duck. Anrich Nortje gave Maco Jansen support, but the former was unable to get his first Test fifty since he was two runs short of the milestone.
As South Africa was bowled out for 326 in their first innings, taking a comfortable lead of 161 runs, Nrotje remained unbroken on 28.
Proteas captain Elgar pulled a rabbit out of his hat during England's second innings when he gave Keshav Maharaj a delivery before the new ball's gloss had faded. The left-arm spinner, who entered the game in the eighth over of England's innings, quickly handed South Africa control by taking two significant wickets before lunch.
Ollie Pope, the hero of the first innings, and Zak Crawley were both caught in front as South Africa increased the pressure on the hosts.
With the significant removal of Joe Root shortly after lunch, Lungi Ngidi gave South Africa a commanding lead. However, it was Nortje who ended England's chances of winning the Test with a 10-ball burst that produced three wickets and resulted in zero runs.
In order to finish the demolition job, Nortje sent back Jonny Bairstow for the second time in the Test match. She then dismissed Alex Lees and Ben Foakes in the following over.
South Africa continued their dominance at the Lord's since their readmission by bowling out England for 149 in their second innings and winning by an innings and 12 runs. Since 1992, the visitors have lost just one of their seven Tests there while winning five of them.
Brief scores: England 165 (Pope 73; Rabada 5-52, Nortje 3-63) & 149 (Lees 35, Broad 35; Nortje 3-47, Rabada 2-27) lost to South Africa 326 (Erwee 73, Jansen 48; Broad 3-71, Stokes 3-71) by an innings & 12 runs.