Kagiso Rabada Shines with Five-Wicket Haul in WTC Final Against Australia

Rabada's Stellar Performance at Lord's

On June 11, in London, Kagiso Rabada showcased an outstanding display during the first day of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. He not only took five wickets but also solidified his legacy in South African cricket.

Rabada's impressive bowling figures of 5/51 in 15.4 overs were crucial in bowling Australia out for a total of 212 runs. His explosive performance played a key role in shifting the match's momentum in favor of South Africa at Lord's.

With this achievement, Rabada has now surpassed the legendary Allan Donald in the rankings of South Africa's top wicket-takers in Test cricket. The 30-year-old has accumulated 332 wickets in 71 Tests, overtaking Donald's record of 330 wickets in 72 matches. He currently ranks fourth among South Africa's all-time Test wicket-takers.

This five-wicket haul also places Rabada in the record books, as he becomes only the second bowler to achieve a five-for in a WTC final, following New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson, who accomplished this against India in the 2021 final. Furthermore, Rabada is now the second South African bowler, after Jacques Kallis, to take a five-wicket haul in the final of a major ICC tournament, with Kallis having taken 5/30 in the ICC Knockout Trophy final in 1998.

Rabada's performance in ICC knockout matches is noteworthy, as he has now taken 11 wickets across five such matches, boasting an impressive average of 19.27. His five-wicket haul at Lord's marks his best performance in an ICC knockout game, placing him third on South Africa's all-time list of wicket-takers in ICC knockouts, behind Jacques Kallis (14) and tied with Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald (12 each).

Lord's has proven to be a favorable venue for Rabada, where he has taken 18 wickets in just three Tests, averaging an impressive 16.83 with a strike rate of 30.2. His latest performance against Australia has propelled him ahead of Morne Morkel (15 wickets) to become the South African bowler with the most Test wickets at Lord's. Additionally, he is now one of only three South African bowlers to have multiple five-wicket hauls at this historic ground, joining the ranks of Allan Donald and Makhaya Ntini.