South Africa are on top with England on 38-2 thanks to two wickets from Keshav Maharaj in the 1st session on Day 3 of the 1st Test at Lord’s.

As I walked into Lord’s this morning there was a great buzz about, as fans waited in anticipation for the start of Day 3 of the LV= Insurance First Test between England and South Africa.

Matthew Potts opened the bowling for England on Day 3, from the Nursery end, dismissing Kagiso Rabada off just the third ball of the day. Rabada tried to clear mid-wicket, but Stuart Broad took a one-handed leaping catch, securing the ball in his right mitt.

Marco Jansen fell just two runs short of what would have been his first Test 50, off the bowling of Broad, taken by Zak Crawley at second slip. Broad couldn’t stay out of the action, taking the final South African wicket, dismissing Lungi Ngidi for a duck. Ngidi edged the ball to Jonny Bairstow who juggled it before finally taking it one-handed. Broad ended with figures of 3-71.

The Proteas were dismissed for 326 with a healthy lead of 161 runs.

Rabada created an early opportunity in his second over, nicking Alex Lees off, but was dropped in the slip cordon. Keegan Petersen at third slip grassed it as he dove across Aiden Markram at second, who would’ve taken a comfortable catch.

Lees got a reprieve and there were “ooohs” and “aaahs” for every consequent run, as the England fans tried to cheer their batters on.

Keshav Maharaj was introduced for the first time in the Test, coming on for the start of the seventh over. He picked up the wicket of Zak Crawley on the third ball of his first over, who was trapped lbw plum in front trying to play a sweep shot and missing, for just 13 runs. His poor form continues.

Lees (12*) and Ollie Pope started steadying the ship for England until Pope was dismissed for 5 off the last ball of the final over before lunch.

Maharaj picked up another lbw, but not before sending it upstairs. The original decision was not out as Richard Illingworth perhaps thought that there was too much doubt about whether the ball was going to hit the stumps, however, the review showed that it was crashing into leg-stump.

Maharaj and the Proteas were elated, contrary to England and their fans, as they picked up a wicket on the stroke of lunch.

South Africa will definitely be the happier of the two teams, going into lunch with England on 38-2 and trailing by 123 runs.