Moeen Ali stars as England thrash South Africa by 241 runs to take series lead

England have sealed the first Test against South Africa in comprehensive fashion with Moeen Ali leading the charge on the final day in Durban.

South Africa began the day chasing a huge target of 415 but were swept away by a blistering start from England, who took four wickets for seven runs in the first nine overs as they eventually sealed the win by a huge 241-run margin.

Spinner Moeen set the tone for the morning when he removed AB de Villiers (37) lbw with the third ball of the morning. Temba Bavuma soon followed without troubling the scorers when he was stumped by Jonny Bairstow off Ali's bowling.

Steven Finn then made light work of Dale Steyn, dismissing the batsman for just two with a stunning delivery. Kyle Abbot didn't fare much better when Moeen claimed his third wicket of the day to leave South Africa's hopes in tatters.

James Taylor was given an easy catch at short leg after Dane Piedt edged Chris Woakes' delivery into his grateful arms to leave South Africa on the brink – it was Woakes' only wicket of the match. Morne Morkel, who was so lethal with the ball on Sunday, was given the unenviable task of providing resistance until he was lbw for eight off Stuart Broad, handing England just their second Test victory away from home since 2012.

South Africa meanwhile have now gone seven matches without a Test win, their longest run since their readmission to international cricket in 1991. The second match of their four-Test series begins in Cape Town on Saturday 2 January.