South Africa celebrates victory against England in the first Test.© AFP
South Africa defeated England by an innings and 12 runs in the first Test of their three-game series at the iconic Lord’s in London. South Africa’s bowlers blew the English away when the Dean Elgar-led side completed proceedings in three days. With the win, South Africa has consolidated their position on the World Test Championship points list. With six wins in eight games in the current cycle, the Proteas have 72 points and a points percentage of 75. England, with 31.37 per cent of points won, remain in 7th place, while their already bleak hopes of reaching the final are even bleaker is becoming.
Australia is currently in second place with 70 percent of the points offered, followed by Sri Lanka (53.33) and India (52.08).
Pakistan is fifth with 51.85 percentage points, followed by the West Indies (50) and England.
New Zealand (25.93) and Bangladesh (13.33) round out the rest of the table.
In the game at Lord’s, South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl. The decision proved fruitful as they knocked out England for 165. Kagiso Rabada shone and took five wicket away.
Then half a century of Sarel Erwee and crucial lower order runs from Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Anrich Nortje helped South Africa in exchange for post 326.
promoted
But it took them less than a day to bowl out England for the second time, as the hosts folded for 149. Nortje claimed three wickets, while Rabada, Jansen and Maharaj took two each.
The second test starts on August 25 in Manchester.
Topics mentioned in this article