South Africa made a good beginning in the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 after captain Temba Bavuma decided to bowl first at Lord’s. Spearheading the Proteas’ attack with the new ball, Kagiso Rabada put on a performance that gave South Africa an early edge in the big-ticket game against Australia.
The pace pacesetter gained instant impact, sending back opener Usman Khawaja and all-rounder Cameron Green in his opening spell. Rabada’s sustained speed and precision got him his 17th Test five-wicket haul, as South Africa knocked over Australia for 212. The Aussies were once left at 146/5 but for a gritty 72 from Beau Webster, who prolonged his team’s total.
Speaking at the end of the day’s action, Rabada praised Webster’s fight and counter-attacking once settled, labeling it a crucial stage that averted a sub-par total. Nevertheless, Rabada got the better of Webster and, while doing so, surpassed the legendary Allan Donald to become South Africa’s fourth-leading wicket-taker in Test cricket.
“212, we’d take that. We thought we should’ve had them at 160, but that’s just the way the game goes,” said Rabada as quoted by ICC
“To be named in that list of bowlers is special,” Rabada said on the milestone.
“As a player growing up and representing South Africa, I’ve been inspired by those who have come before and seen what they have done on the big stage. To be listed among those names is special and long may it continue,” he added.
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“I think the ball is nipping quite a bit, at times nipping off the slope quite a lot. But I still felt like batters could get in. If you just put more balls in the right area for a long period of time that would create chances,” he noted.
“Right now, we’re 43/4, not the start we were looking for but there’s a lot of cricket to be played in this Test match. So we’re just going to keep going for it,” he said.
