Kagiso Rabada orchestrated a brilliant bowling display on Day 1 of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia, finishing with figures of 5/51 in 15.4 overs. This outstanding effort allowed South Africa to dismiss the defending champions for a mere 212 at Lord’s, giving his side a significant edge in the high-stakes contest.
The five-wicket haul was not only crucial for the match but also cemented Rabada’s place in the history books. He surpassed the legendary Allan Donald’s record, becoming South Africa’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, with a total of 332 wickets in 71 Tests, surpassing Donald’s 330 wickets in 72 matches.
This performance also gave Rabada a unique WTC final record, as he became only the second bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a WTC Final. Kyle Jamieson of New Zealand was the first to achieve this feat against India in 2021. Rabada’s performance is now a standout moment in the history of bowling performances in WTC finals.
Rabada’s reputation for performing under pressure is well-earned. He has taken 11 wickets in five ICC knockout games with an excellent average of 19.27. His recent performance at Lord’s was his career-best in an ICC final, putting him joint-third on South Africa’s list of knockout match wicket-takers with Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald.
Lord’s continues to be a favorable ground for Rabada. He has claimed 18 wickets in only three Tests at the iconic venue, with an average of 16.83. He has also overtaken Morne Morkel’s record (15 wickets) to become South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in Tests at Lord’s. Rabada also joins Allan Donald and Makhaya Ntini with two five-wicket hauls at the ground.