Rabada sets up Proteas win
Port Elizabeth, March 12: Kagiso Rabada put aside his disciplinary concerns to set up a series- levelling win for South Africa on the fourth day of the second Test against Australia at St George’s Park on Monday.
The fast bowler, who faces a ban from the remaining two Tests of the series, took 6/ 54 as Australia were bowled out for 239 in their second innings. South Africa lost four wickets before Theunis de Bruyn hit the winning runs.
AB de Villiers, whose 126 not out enabled South Africa to lead by 139 runs on the first innings, hit a quick 28 off 26 balls before he was caught at short leg off Nathan Lyon with 20 runs still needed. Rabada took the first three of the five Australian wickets that fell for the addition of 59 runs on Monday. He had match figures of 11 for 150 - the fourth time in his 28Test career that he had ten or more wickets in a match.
There was a shadow hanging over the 22- yearold fast bowler, however. He attended a disciplinary meeting convened by match referee Jeff Crowe on Sunday night after being charged with a level two offence following an incident in which his shoulder made with Australian Steve Smith on day.
The verdict was expected to be announced after the match. If found guilty Rabada will face a two- Test ban because of previous offences on his record. Rabada was hit with a further charge on Monday, a level one offence, following a send- off of David Warner on Sunday.
Rabada struck in the first over of the morning when he bowled Mitchell Marsh for 45 with a ball which swung in sharply. Pat Cummins fell to a sharp catch at gully by Theunis de Bruyn and Mitchell Starc edged a drive to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.
Lyon was caught behind off Lungi Ngidi and last man Josh Hazlewood hit a quick 17 before being caught in the deep off leftarm spinner Keshav Maharaj. 5- 173, 6- 186, contact captain the first Australia ( 1st innings): 243
South Africa ( 1st innings): 382
Australia ( 2nd innings): C. Bancroft b Ngidi 24, D. Warner b Rabada 13, U. Khawaja lbw b Rabada 75, S. Smith c De Kock b Maharaj 11, S. Marsh c De Kock b Rabada 1, M. Marsh b Rabada 45, T. Paine ( not out) 28, P. Cummins c De Bruyn b Rabada 5, M. Starc c De Kock b Rabada 1, N. Lyon c De Kock b Ngidi 5, J. Hazlewood c Ngidi b Maharaj 17. Extras: ( b2, lb10, w2) 14. Total: ( in 79 overs) 239. FoW: 1- 27, 2- 62, 3- 77, 4- 86, 204, 9- 211. Bowling: Philander 18- 5- 56- 0, Rabada 22- 9- 54- 6 ( 1w), Maharaj 23- 2- 90- 2, Ngidi 13- 5- 24- 2, Markram 31- 3- 0.
South Africa ( 2nd innings): A. Markram c Smith b Hazlewood 21, D. Elgar c and b Lyon 5, H. Amla c Paine b Cummins 27, A. de Villiers c Bancroft b Lyon 28, F. du Plessis ( not out) 2, T. de Bruyn ( not out) 15. Extras: ( b4) 4. Total: ( for 4 wkts, in 22.5 overs) 102. FoW: 1- 22, 2- 32, 3- 81, 4- 81.
Bowling: Starc 3- 0- 15- 0, Hazlewood 6- 0- 26- 1, Lyon 90- 44- 2, Cummins 4.5- 0- 13- 1. 7- 202, 8-