Kagiso Rabada seized control of the third Test in Cape Town by striking twice in the very first over of Australia’s fourth-innings chase. Facing a daunting 288-run target to win the match and the series, Australia was dealt a severe blow when Rabada dismissed openers Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne within the opening delivery sequence. This aggressive start left the visitors in early trouble, shifting momentum decisively to the home side as they defended their lead.
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The feat places Rabada in an exclusive group of South African bowlers who have taken two wickets in the first over of a Test innings. He joins Allan Donald, who achieved this against India in Durban in 1996, Dale Steyn against New Zealand in Centurion in 2016, and Morne Morkel against Bangladesh in Potchefstroom in 2017. Notably, all four instances, including Rabada’s current performance, occurred during the fourth innings, highlighting the high-pressure nature of these decisive moments in Test cricket.
Rabada extended his dominance by dismissing Travis Head with the final ball of the seventh over, reducing Australia to three wickets down. Bowling at a pace of 143 kmph, Rabada delivered a full ball outside off stump that Head attempted to drive without moving his feet. The batter edged the ball to gully, where Marco Jansen secured the catch with both hands. This dismissal marked Rabada’s 350th Test wicket, cementing his status as a key figure in South Africa’s bowling attack.
Source: Yahoo Sports
