Rabada gets South Africa close to win
PORT ELIZABETH (South Africa): Kagiso Rabada shrugged aside a possible ban hanging over him to bowl South Africa to the brink of a serieslevelling victory in the second Test against Australia at St George’s on Monday.
The fast bowler, who could miss the remaining two Tests for his reaction to dismissing Australian captain Steve Smith, took six for 54 as Australia were bowled out for 239 in their second innings on the fourth day.
Set to make 101 to win, South Africa were 22 for one at lunch.
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 28-Test career that he had ten or more wickets in a match.
There was a shadow hanging over the 22-year-old fast bowler, however. He attended a disciplinary meeting convened by match referee Jeff Crowe on Sunday after being charged with a level two offence following an incident in which his shoulder made contact with Smith on the first 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 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.
Nathan Lyon was caught behind off Lungi Ngidi and last man Josh Hazlewood hit a quick 17 before being caught in the deep off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.
Tim Paine was left unbeaten on 28.
Aiden Markram had an escape in the second over of South Africa’s chase. With his score on six he was dropped at first slip by Mitchell Marsh off Hazlewood.
Lyon was brought on for the last over before lunch and with his first ball caught Dean Elgar for five off a leading edge as the left-handed batsman stretched forward. It was a near-replica of Elgar’s dismissal to the offspinner in the first innings of the first Test in Durban.
Markram was unbeaten on 17. - AFP