South Africa National Cricket Team fast bowler Kagiso Rabada produced a stunning performance with the new ball on Day 5 of the third and final Test against Australia in Cape Town on Saturday (October 31). Kagiso Rabada has troubled the Australian batting line-up and gave his team a dream start by picking up three big wickets in his first four overs.
The Proteas speedster’s brilliant spell also helped him achieve a major milestone in Test cricket. The 31-year-old became the second-fastest South African bowler to complete 350 Test wickets during the Test series decider against Australia in Cape Town. Earlier, Ryan Rickelton opened up on a run-out involving Wiaan Mulder in the SA vs AUS 3rd Test.
Kagiso Rabada scripts history with fiery spell against Australia
Kagiso Rabada started the attack by dismissing Matt Renshaw for a duck. The Australian opener missed his glance and was caught behind down the leg side. In the same over, Rabada trapped Marnus Labuschagne leg before wicket for just four runs.
Labuschagne once again failed to make an impact after misjudging an incoming delivery. The South African pacer was not finished yet. In his fourth over, he removed Travis Head for 14. Head tried to drive a wide delivery but ended up giving a catch to the fielder at gully.
Rabada has not only put Australia under serious pressure but also reached 350 Test wickets with this spell in Cape Town. He became the fastest bowler to reach 350 wickets in terms of balls bowled. The South African fast bowler achieved this incredible milestone in just 13808 deliveries.
Fewest balls bowled to complete 350 Test wickets:
- Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) – 13,808 balls
- Dale Steyn (South Africa) – 14,719 balls
- Waqar Younis (Pakistan) – 14,905 balls
- Malcolm Marshall (West Indies) – 16,285 balls
- Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 16,908 balls
Rabada becomes South Africa’s second-fastest to 350 Test wickets
Apart from setting a new record for the fewest balls taken to reach 350 Test wickets, Rabada also achieved another special milestone during his 75th Test for South Africa. He became the second fastest South African to take 350 Test wickets.
Only legendary pacer Dale Steyn reached the mark faster among South African bowlers, taking 69 Tests to complete 350 wickets. Amid this, ‘Happy retirement Marnus Labuschagne’: Batter receives ‘career over’ verdict after 49 innings without ton.
Fastest South African bowlers to 350 Test wickets:
- Dale Steyn – 69 Tests
- Kagiso Rabada – 75 Tests
- Shaun Pollock – 86 Tests
- Makhaya Ntini – 90 Tests
Kagiso Rabada joins Test cricket legends after reaching 350 wickets in 75 matches
Rabada has also joined an elite list of legends who have taken 350 Test wickets in the fewest games. New Zealand legend Richard Hadlee and Dale Steyn hold the record for the fastest 350 Test wickets among fast bowlers, achieving the milestone in 69 matches.
Australia’s Dennis Lillee reached it in 70 Tests, while Glenn McGrath took 74 matches. Malcolm Marshall and Rabada both reached the 350-wicket mark in 75 Tests.
However, the overall world record belongs to Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan, who reached 350 Test wickets in just 66 matches. India’s Ravichandran Ashwin later matched that record in 2019.
Fastest bowlers to 350 Test wickets:
- Muttiah Muralitharan – 66 Tests
- Ravichandran Ashwin – 66 Tests
- Richard Hadlee – 69 Tests
- Dale Steyn – 69 Tests
- Dennis Lillee – 70 Tests
- Glenn McGrath – 74 Tests
- Malcolm Marshall – 75 Tests
- Rangana Herath – 75 Tests
- Kagiso Rabada – 75 Tests
Rabada is also on the verge of achieving two more records in Cape Town. If he takes at least five wickets in Australia’s second innings, he will break Allan Donald’s 602 Test wickets and become South Africa’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in the format.
If he managed a six-wicket haul, Rabada would move past Dale Steyn and become South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in Test matches against Australia.
Source: cricketaddictor.com
