South African pacer Kagiso Rabada became the fourth Proteas bowler to reach 200 Test wickets at home, joining an elite group of South African legends.
Rabada finished with figures of 2/33 in 12 overs after taking out Mitchell Starc and Nic Maddison in his first competitive cricket match since the Indian Premier League (IPL) final. Rabada has taken 200 wickets at an average of 20.06 in 38 home Test matches, including 10 five-wicket and 4 ten-wicket hauls. As of this writing, his best bowling numbers are 7/112. He has entered the elite group of bowlers that includes Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, and Dale Steyn.
Rabada Joins Elite Proteas List
With best figures of 7/112, he has taken 342 wickets at an average of 22.01 in 74 Test matches, including 17 five-wicket hauls and four ten-wicket hauls. He is the Proteas’ fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. After the Australians were dismissed for just 99 in their opening innings, the Proteas pulled off an incredible comeback and forced a follow-on.
Steven Smith (28 in 88 balls, with two fours) was the only batter to touch 20-run mark as Marco Jansen (5/33), Rabada (2/33) and Wiaan Mulder (2/13) demolished Aussie batting. Earlier, in their first innings, Proteas had sunk to 110/6 at one point on day three, with barely any action taking place on the first two days due to rain.
However, skipper (179 in 334 balls, with 18 fours and a six) dug deep, putting a 132-run stand with Marco Jansen (85 in 100 balls, with nine fours and three sixes) and then a 183-run stand with Simon Harmer (82 in 157 balls, with 10 fours and a six), taking Proteas to 425/9 declared, a score barely believable at one point when Scott Boland (5/81) was ripping apart the Proteas batting. The three-match series is currently in the hands of by 1-0, and Proteas have a fine chance to make it one-all with a day left in the Test match.