The Proteas slipped to 79-3 at lunch on day one of the first Test against England at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday.
Visiting captain Joe Root’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss enjoyed an early reward, as opener Dean Elgar perished to the first delivery of the series. Elgar glanced a loose opening delivery from fast bowler James Anderson down the leg-side. Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler was at hand for a straightforward catch.
Opener Aiden Markram fell nine overs later, chipping an innocuous leg-side delivery from left-arm seamer Sam Curran to midwicket fielder Jonny Bairstow.
The young Zubayr Hamza remained resolute throughout, collecting a fluid 39, which featured six fours. He was ultimately undone shortly before the interval, as seamer Stuart Broad forced an edge to slip fielder Ben Stokes.
Captain Faf du Plessis and debutant Rassie van der Dussen will resume after the break.
This is the 150th Test between South Africa and England. This is also Anderson’s 150th Test.
New magazine issue: Why De Kock must bat at four
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Dwaine Pretorius, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje.
England: Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Joe Denly, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
Photo: BackPagePix
