Kagiso Rabada Surpasses Allan Donald in Historic WTC Final Performance

Kagiso Rabada made headlines on Day 1 of the World Test Championship final by surpassing Allan Donald to become South Africa's fourth-highest Test wicket-taker. With a stellar performance of 5/51 against Australia, he not only helped his team restrict their opponents but also joined an elite group of bowlers with five-wicket hauls in WTC finals. Rabada's insights on the atmosphere and pitch conditions further highlight his commitment to the game. Discover more about his remarkable achievements and what they mean for South African cricket.
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Kagiso Rabada Surpasses Allan Donald in Historic WTC Final Performance

Kagiso Rabada Achieves New Milestone

On the opening day of the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's, Kagiso Rabada marked a significant achievement in his career by surpassing the legendary Allan Donald. With a remarkable bowling performance, he secured figures of 5/51 against Australia, helping the Proteas restrict their opponents to 212 runs.


Rabada Reflects on His Achievement

"It means a lot to surpass Allan Donald, a true legend of the game," Rabada expressed following his impressive spell. He emphasized the importance of his role, stating, "My main focus is to keep running in and performing my duties."


Insights on Atmosphere and Pitch Conditions

Rabada shared his thoughts on the atmosphere, noting, "Arriving here a week ago, I could already sense the excitement. The support feels like a home game, and it means everything to represent South Africa. I give my all every time I step onto the field."


Discussing the pitch, he remarked, "The ball was moving a bit. Initially, it was challenging to score with the new ball. As it softened, they managed to score some runs, but it always felt like any delivery could lead to a wicket, especially given their approach."


Rabada Joins Elite Company

With this performance, Rabada has now taken 332 wickets in 71 Tests, moving past Allan Donald's record of 330 wickets in 72 matches. This achievement places him fourth on South Africa's all-time Test wicket-takers list.


His five-wicket haul also places him in an exclusive group, as he becomes only the second bowler to achieve this feat in a WTC final, following New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson, who did so against India in 2021. Additionally, he is the second South African, after Jacques Kallis, to take a five-wicket haul in a major ICC tournament final.


Rabada's Knockout Match Record

Rabada's performance in ICC knockout matches continues to shine, with 11 wickets in five matches at an impressive average of 19.27. His five-wicket haul at Lord's is now his best in ICC knockout games, placing him third on South Africa's all-time list for wicket-takers in ICC knockouts, behind Jacques Kallis (14) and tied with Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald (12 each).


Dominance at Lord's

Rabada has found great success at Lord's, claiming 18 wickets in just three Tests at the venue, boasting an average of 16.83 and a strike rate of 30.2. His latest performance against Australia has made him the South African bowler with the most Test wickets at Lord's, surpassing Morne Morkel's tally of 15. Furthermore, 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.


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