Follow UsIn what could go down as a potential legacy-defining performance, Kagiso Rabada produced one of the best ever spells of his career on the first day of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia, picking the 17th five-wicket haul of his career to put South Africa in pole position to clinch their first major title of the century.
In a truly astonishing showing which proved precisely why Rabada is one of the greatest fast bowlers in history, the 30-year-old finished with figures of 5/51, gunning down a star-studded Australian batting line-up with some unplayable bowling.
Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bowl in overcast conditions, and Rabada gave the Proteas an instant head-start, removing both Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in the seventh over in the space of four balls. Both batters were caught in the slip cordon as the Proteas speedster tormented the batters by utilising the slope.
Rabada was negated by the pair of Steve Smith and Beau Webster after the initial burst — the latter survived an LBW call which would have been out had South Africa reviewed — but the right-armer kept relentlessly asking questions and got rewarded for the same as a stupendous spell post-Tea saw him run through the Australian batting line-up as the Kangaroos collapsed from 192/5 to 212.
3/15 in 3.4 overs read Rabada’s figures post Tea, and he started the session by castling Pat Cummins with an absolute peach. The well-set Webster then took Rabada down with a pair of fours, but the Proteas talisman had the last laugh as he got one to seam away sharply, catching the outside edge of the big Tasmanian all-rounder.
Rabada then fittingly finished off things in style, knocking over Mitchell Starc to bowl the Aussies out.
With the five-fer, Rabada surpassed Allan Donald in the all-time wicket-taking list for South Africa (332). He also became only the second-ever bowler, after Kyle Jamieson, to take a five-wicket haul in the WTC Final.
Best figures in ICC WTC Final
5/31 - Kyle Jamieson vs IND, Southampton, 2021
5/51 - Kagiso Rabada vs AUS, Lord's, 2025
4/41 - Nathan Lyon vs IND, The Oval, 2023
4/48 - Tim Southee vs IND, Southampton, 2021