Elgar hails 'special bunch' after hammering England: 'We play bloody good cricket'

South Africa captain Dean Elgar saluted his "special bunch" of players after they overpowered England by an innings and 12 runs in the first Test at Lord's on Friday.

South Africa were utterly dominant, triumphing inside three days against an England team who had won all four of their previous Tests under a new leadership duo of captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

The match was in fact effectively over in six sessions after rain washed out most of Wednesday's first day.

"As a playing group it's a special bunch and we play bloody good cricket when we're playing well," said Elgar.

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South Africa, already top of the World Test Championship table, were in command from the start.

Their powerful pace attack backed up Elgar's decision to field first in overcast conditions by dismissing England for 165, with fast bowler Kagiso Rabada taking 5-52 to gain a coveted place on the Lord's honours board.

The Proteas then strengthened their grip on the game by making 326 in reply for a first-innings lead of 161, with opener Sarel Erwee's painstaking 73 laying a solid foundation.

What turned out to be South Africa's lone innings of the match ended during Friday's morning session and there was still time for spinner Keshav Maharaj, who didn't bowl in the first innings, to strike twice as England slumped to 38-2 at lunch.

'Absolute machine' Rabada

Fast bowler Anrich Nortje ensured the collapse continued with a superb burst of three wickets for no runs in 10 balls before England were dismissed before tea for 149 inside 38 overs, with the innings lasting a mere three hours.

This was South Africa's eighth win in 10 Tests since Elgar was