Rabada’s dismissal of Stokes in the penultimate over of the day was huge for South Africa

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England and South Africa battled hard on the first day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, but neither side were able to claim the upper hand.

Electing to bat first, England lost opener Keaton Jennings early on as he was caught behind off the bowling of Duanne Olivier for 17.

However, Alastair Cook and Tom Westley made up for the loss of Jennings with a 57-run partnership before the Proteas struck twice in quick succession.

Cook fell first as he was caught behind off the bowling of Keshav Maharaj for 46. Westley, who made 29, was on his way back to the pavilion three overs later and got out in the same fashion as Cook, but only off the bowling of Rabada.

England captain Joe Root and Dawid Malan steadied things with a 52-run stand before Malan was caught by South Africa captain Faf du Plessis at second slip off the bowling of Morne Morkel for 18.

Root went on to make 52 off 101 balls, which included six boundaries, before he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Olivier.

Root struck his 30th half-century in Test cricket

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Despite losing Malan and Root, England fought back through Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow’s 65-run partnership, during which Stokes surpassed his fifty.

Stokes scored his 10th Test fifty

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

However, on the last ball of the penultimate over of the day, Rabada gave South Africa a major breakthrough as he clean bowled Stokes for 58, which came off 96 balls and included eight boundaries.

Bairstow and Toby Roland-Jones saw out the last over and put together an eight-run stand before stumps was called.

Bairstow finished on 33 off 72 balls, which included four boundaries, while Roland-Jones has yet to face a single ball.

Olivier and Rabada picked up two wickets apiece, while Morkel and Maharaj claimed one wicket each.

England ended day one on 260/6 and will continue batting on Saturday at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.