Dominic Cork was no stranger to the Lord’s Honours Boards, having sealed his place at the very first opportunity on debut against the West Indies in 1995, but he repeated the feat in 1996 with a six-wicket haul against South Africa.

Rain had delayed play until 1.30pm on the opening day which prompted England captain Alec Stewart to field first when he won the toss. Cork duly decimated the Proteas’ top-order, reducing the visitors to 46 for 4 with his aggressive outswing.

A partnership of 184 for the fifth wicket between Hansie Cronje and Jonty Rhodes arrested South Africa’s slump, and when Cork sealed his Honours Board spot with the wicket of Shaun Pollock, the visitors were well on their way to a total of 360 all out.

Cork ended the innings with figures of 6 for 119 but England’s poor batting performance, which saw them dismissed for 110 and then 264 following on, meant they were comfortably defeated by ten wickets.