Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada helps South Africa win the 1st Test match by 107 runs

Thanks to brilliant pace bowling by Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada, South Africa defeated England by 107 runs on the 4^th day of 1^st Test match played at Super Sports Park, Centurion on Sunday. After losing 3 successive matches in ICC Test championship, South Africa opened their account and earned 30 points.

Starting on the overnight score of 121 for 1, Rory Burns and Joe Denly looked uncomfortable against Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander. Anrich Nortje provided the breakthrough for South Africa getting rid of Rory Burns with a good bouncer which went straight into the hands of Kagiso Rabada . Burns and Denly added 47 runs for the 2^nd wicket. England captain Joe Root played some lovely strokes. Dwaine Pretorius struck to dismiss Joe Denly to put the visitors under pressure. Ben Stokes and Joe Root steadied the England innings as they went into lunch break at 171 for 3.

In the 2^nd session, Stokes and Root looked comfortable with good stroke play. Keshav Maharaj provided the big breakthrough getting the wicket of Ben Stokes which turned in and hit the inside edge. Stokes and Root added 46 runs for the 4^th wicket. South Africa took the 2^nd new ball immediately and soon Kagiso Rabada struck to get the wicket of Jonny Bairstow. Anrich Nortje dismissed Joe Root to end the hopes of England winning. Nortje and Rabada did the job for South Africa.  Jos Buttler was caught at the boundary by Pretorius in attempt to hit a big shot . Rabada castled Stuart Broad to help South Africa bowl out England for 268

It was a great performance by the South African team. From being 111 for 5, South Africa recovered to 284 and then bowled out England for 111.

South Africa 284 in 84.3 overs ( Quinton de Kock 95, Hamza 39, Stuart Broad 4/58, Sam Curran 4/58) and 272 in 61.4 overs ( Van der Dussen 51, Vernon Philander 46, Dean Elgar 22, Faf du Plessis 20, Jofra Archer 5/102, Ben Stokes 2/22) beat England 181 in 52 overs ( Joe Denly 50, Ben Stokes 35, Vernon Philander 4/16, Kagiso Rabada 3/68) and 268 in 93 overs ( Rory Burns 84, Joe Root 48, Kagiso Rabada 4/103, Anrich Nortje 3/56) by 107 runs.

Quinton de Kock has been named the man of the match for his brilliance in the first innings. South Africa takes a 1-0 lead in the 4 match series. The 2^nd Test match will be played from 3^rd January 2019 at Cape Town.