Where Allan Donald and Morkel couldn’t: Kagiso Rabada joins Steyn and Pollock in elite Test club

ByTech Word News

Kagiso Rabada bowls from South Africa Kagiso Rabada struck twice in the first over of Australia’s fourth innings on Saturday to put South Africa in control of the third Test in Cape Town. Australia opened play on the final day needing 288 runs to win the match and the series, but Rabada dismissed opener Matt Renshaw and No.3 batsman Marnus Labuschagne in the first match to leave the visitors in early trouble.Two wickets in 1st over of Test innings for SA:

  • Allan Donald vs IND, Durban, 1996 (4th Inn)
  • Dale Steyn vs NZ, Centurion, 2016 (4th Inn)
  • Morne Morkel vs BAN, Potchefstroom, 2017 (4th Inn)
  • Kagiso Rabada vs AUS, Cape Town, 2026 (4th Inn)*

Rabada became only the fourth South African bowler to take two wickets in the first over of a Test innings. The previous instances were Allan Donald against India in Durban in 1996, Dale Steyn against New Zealand in Centurion in 2016 and Morne Morkel against Bangladesh in Potchefstroom in 2017. All three instances, like Rabada, came in the fourth innings.Rabada then dismissed Travis Head with the last ball of the seventh over to reduce Australia to three wickets. Bowling at a speed of 143 kmph, Rabada shot a full ball outside the off stump. The head shot out without moving its legs and headed for the gully where Marco Jansen grabbed onto it with both hands.Head’s appeal also brought up Rabada’s 350th Test wicket, making him only the fourth South African bowler to reach the milestone. Dale Steyn leads the list with 439 wickets, followed by Shaun Pollock (421) and Makhaya Ntini (390). Allan Donald ended his Test career with 330 wickets, while Morne Morkel took 309.WATCH LIVEEarlier, centuries from Wiaan Mulder and Ryan Rickelton helped South Africa recover on Day 4 and set Australia a target of 288. The hosts were bowled out for 387 in their second innings in the final of the day after taking a 100-run lead in the first innings.Rickelton scored 101 off 219 balls while Mulder made 115 off 221 deliveries to put South Africa in a position to challenge Australia in the series.