The Proteas have been on fire on the first day of play in their test against England. Kagiso Rabada spearheaded the South African bowling attack up front, and his partnership with Lungi Ngidi was vital in removing both English openers. Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen then took the keys of the South African express. That saw the Proteas knock the hosts to their knees.
Luckily for the English, rain came to the rescue, which allowed them to get back in the changing room and recoup. However, if day one is anything to go on, it will only delay the inevitable.
Here’s a look at the key moments of Day-one.
KG gets off to a flyer
Kagiso Rabada looked like his old self. He was spitting fire, and his attacking bowling brought about the early breakthrough for South Africa.
Rabada removed both English openers, Alex Lees and Zak Crawley, cheaply. This delivery to remove the former was an absolute beauty. It’s everything you would want from a test delivery. Solid pace, perfect length, and a more perfect line.
Who else but him?!
Kagiso Rabada delivers an absolute peach 🤯
Lees is back in the pavilion ☝
📺 Stream #ENGvSA live: https://t.co/0BMWdeEYT3 pic.twitter.com/s1CgCJloT4
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) August 17, 2022
Rabada clearly didn’t go to Lord’s to make friends and kept banging it in short. Joe Root had a tough time negating the heat the Proteas were packing, with Marco Jansen the man to remove the former England captain for eight.
ooph! 😤
Kagiso Rabada 🆚 Joe Root 🍿
📺 Stream #ENGvSA live: https://t.co/0BMWdeEYT3 pic.twitter.com/bS18uYU6lD
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) August 17, 2022
The one shining light in a dismal England scorecard has been Ollie Pope. While the wickets kept tumbling around him, the 24-year-old played with pure class.
Popey 🎬#ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/nU3Woz85l4
— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) August 17, 2022
The Chelsea man ended the day unbeaten on 61, and this the moment he got to his 8th test half century.
FIFTY for Popey! 👏
Live clips: https://t.co/2nFwGbDmqe
🏴 #ENGvSA 🇿🇦 @IGcom pic.twitter.com/ppl7SWkI70
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 17, 2022
With the Proteas were on a roll, rain came to England’s rescue. The heavens opened a half an hour before tea, and never let up. That resulted in stumps being called early, with the hosts on 116 for 6.
Unsurprisingly, play has been abandoned for the day ☔
🏴 #ENGvSA 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/UEFEmPK8rI
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 17, 2022
Want to see the exact moment the covers came on @HomeOfCricket ??
Of course you do!#LiveRain
Thanks to our correspondent on the scene.@englandcricket @legsidelizzy @bbctms @GeorgeDobell1 pic.twitter.com/RB3rm3EAkm
— Cricket in the Rain (@rainatcricket) August 17, 2022
Watch the highlights of Day 1 of the first test here:
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