With the Proteas winning the toss and surprisingly electing to bowl first, they made much headway to restrict England to 116/6 at stumps on day one of their first Test encounter at Lord’s today, which was affected considerably by rain.

Kagiso Rabada struck early on, sending a beamer Alex Lees’s way at the end of the third over. The delivery went down outside off for Lees to feather it and for wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne to claim behind the stumps.

The English opener was sent walking for 5, as Rabada and Lungi Ngidi bowled in tandem during the opening stanza.

The English batting looked rather iffy during this period as the wicket showed considerable turn.

Rabada took full advantage of this and made haste in claiming the other opener, Zak Crawley’s scalp, at the end of the ninth over for 9. Crawley sliced at a delivery down off-stump and was found wanting.

Boundaries came in few and far between as the South African openers looked to rattle the English batters from the outset. Marco Jansen then claimed danger man, Joe Root’s wicket, in the 14th over for an LBW.

Root reviewed it – and it was a good attempt to do so – but the ball tracker showed that it was on its way to clipping leg-stump, albeit showing some swing. He departed for 8.

Anrich Nortje then joined in on the party, beating Jonny Bairstow’s defences and sending a full delivery straight through him in the 17th over. Bairstow was bowled for a duck.

The 26th and final over of the morning session was eventful. Ollie Pope was dropped in the slips by Keegan Petersen, before knocking a four and getting his half-century the next ball. The over concluded with Nortje’s wicket of Ben Stokes, who edged the ball to Petersen, who this time held on to it. Stokes was dismissed for 20 as England were on 100/5 at lunch.

Nortje continued SA’s surge after the break, bowling Ben Foakes on off-stump for 6 in the 32nd over, as the heavens opened at the end of that over, saving England’s dismay for the day. Pope is currently on 61*, batting with Stuart Broad, who is new to the crease.