Proteas spearhead picks up 350th wicket

Kagiso Rabada picked up three wickets in the opening half an hour- including two in his first over - inducing an Australian meltdown, which leaves the Proteas needing only three more wickets for a stunning series triumph.

In a remarkable morning session, on the final day of a gripping series, it was the South African spearhead, who got stuck into the Australians from the start.

The final day had been set up perfectly following twin centuries from Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder on Friday, with Australia needing 288 runs, and SA chasing 10 wickets. It wasn’t long before the former outcome started looking improbable.

With the third ball of the day, Rabada induced a thin inside edge from Matt Renshaw - the first ball the left-hander faced - with ‘keeper Rickelton taking an excellent catch diving to his right.

Marnus Labuschagne arrived at the crease with the weight of the world on his shoulders; a duck in the first innings, meant his career was on the line on Saturday, and the first ball from Rabada, a full toss, was edged to the third man boundary, with Labuschagne trying to hit it through midwicket.

Two balls later, he left a ball that darted into him and was given out lbw. Labuschagne’s state of mind was summed up in the following few seconds; he immediately sent the decision for review without consulting partner Travis Head, and then when the on-field decision was upheld, he conducted the slowest walk off the field since Inzamam ul-Haq.

The next over started with Labuschange still making his way up the stairs to the change-room.

Rabada then picked up his 350th Test wicket when he had Head caught in the gully by a delighted Marco Jansen.

Rabada is the fastest bowler to reach 350 wickets, taking 13808 balls to do so, beating Dale Steyn, who took 14719 balls to reach that landmark and Waqar Younis got there in 14905 balls.

With Australia wobbling, their first innings centurion Josh Inglis, signalled the panic in their ranks, when he and Cameron Green got into a mix up, leading to Inglis being run out thanks to a lightning reflexes and a good throw from Marques Ackerman, with Rickelton, knocking off the bails.

Simon Harmer then picked up the first of his three wickets. Alex Carey tried to reverse sweep and was well caught by a diving jansen at short third man, Cooper Connolly, edged the second ball he faced, with Rickelton taking a good low catch and then on the stroke of lunch, Mitchell Starc, thumped a ball from Harmer into his pads with Ackerman taking an easy catch at short leg.

Victory for SA at Newlands, would register just their second series win against Australia on home soil in the post-isolation years.