England stretch lead to 216 runs after Alastair Cook half-century

Broad’s innings did a lot to wrestle momentum England’s way, but I was impressed with the way stand in skipper Dean Elgar was able to clear his mind and play what was a very composed and important innings himself to get South Africa off to a reasonable start. Elgar followed his England counterpart in leading the way with the bat but Broad and Moeen winkled out a wicket apiece during the middle session.

Even so‚ how South Africa might go about engineering victory is hard to fathom‚ especially as they will bat last on a pitch that is deteriorating quickly.

Moeen had missed out on his first Lord’s hundred but passed 2000 Test runs during his innings of 87.

If the Proteas were to now pull off an improbable win they needed a major innings from Hashim Amla.

Moeen Ali’s match-winning performance in England’s first Test against South Africa at Lord’s could be a “watershed’ moment, according to Trevor Bayliss”. After playing a crucial role with the bat in the first innings, Moeen Ali proved his mettle as he scalped a four-wicket haul.

But with the ball turning exclusively into the two left-handers, their prod-and-sweep methods were productive if rarely pretty until Jennings succumbed to Morkel when he got an inside-edge behind off the back foot.

Broad had Kuhn, on debut, caught at first slip by Alastair Cook shortly after lunch before Elgar and Amla shared a careful second-wicket partnership of 72.

Moeen was then bowled by a Maharaj delivery that ripped out of the footmarks as he came down the pitch, before Liam Dawson completed a pair when he was bowled by a Rabada full toss – apparently unsighted only for it to hit the top of middle stump.

The live broadcast of Day 4 of England vs South Africa 1st Test match will start at 3.30 PM (IST).

The bowlers have a second new ball and fresh legs to look ahead to on day two on Friday, which could be a defining day in the match if England’s batsmen continue to keep the scoreboard ticking.

However, Root was ready for South Africa – who haven’t lost an away Test series in 10 years – to come back strongly.

Moeen became the seventh England all-rounder to achieve the 2,000 runs/100 wickets double and the second-quickest in 38 Tests, just one more than Tony Greig and four fewer than Ian Botham.

But, as he chiselled run after run, Cook performed the effective task of nudging England closer to victory in the Investec First Test. South Africa need to improve at this and quickly. At 314-8, South Africa’s lunch had soured. Gary Ballance was unbeaten at stumps, on 22.

Philander had earlier scored a gritty 52 at number nine to eke out vital runs onto the Proteas total but before he scored a run he was hit on the right hand by a James Anderson delivery.