Kagiso Rabada shines as Proteas face tough challenge in WTC Final
PROTEAS celebrate Kagiso Rabada after the wicket of Australia's captain Pat Cummins, unseen, for one run during day one of the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's. | AFP
Zaahier Adams at Lord's
LONDON: Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen were at the crease when the Proteas unchoked at Centurion in December last year to qualify for a first-ever ICC World Test Championship final.
Two big fast fast bowlers embraced passionately in the middle of the wicket after Jansen delightfully steered the winning runs past point.
Jansen hauled out the big bear hug on Rabada again at Lord's on a pulsating opening day of the WTC Final on Wednesday. Only this time it was to celebrate Rabada's five-wicket haul and second at The Home of Cricket.
But much has happened in between these two fateful days. Rabada, of course, tested positive for a banned substance and was instructed to appear before his comrades to apologise for his actions.
It would be fair to say that the redemption is complete now. Coach Shukri Conrad stated at the time: 'All I'm interested in now is KG producing performances that we know he's capable of."
Rabada certainly repaid Conrad's trust with a five-star performance that sent Australia cartling for 212.
Bristling in from the Nursery End, coupling aggression with accuracy, it made for utterly compelling viewing. And aided by some fabulous catching behind the wicket Rabada finished with 5/51 - etching his name onto the Lord's Honours Board yet again.
Jansen (3/49) played his supporting role to perfection, and so did the spin of Keshav Maharaj (1/19) and Aiden Markram that maintained the pressure on the Aussies despite a mid-afternoon fightback from Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72).
The only drawback for the Proteas being the indifferent form of surprise selection Lungi Ngidi, who looked every bit the rusty bowler that has only played two Tests in this two-year WTC cycle leading up to the showpiece.
But the large South African contingent in the stands were in full voice with chants of 'Ole, Ole, Ole' ringing through St John's Wood.
Rarely though are Tests won and lost shortly after tea on the first day. The Proteas' litmus test was always going to be with willow in hand and how their inexperienced batting unit would counter the relentless pressure exerted by the most experienced bowling attack in the world.
Mitchell Starc provided the answer before the conclusion of the first over when he forced Aiden Markram to play with an angled bat to a 145km/h length delivery that caught the inside edge and rifled into leg stump.
From thereon it was a sustained, aggressive examination with the Proteas top-order digging themselves deeper and deeper into a hole.
Ryan Rickelton managed a couple of straight and square drives, but after he pushed at an away-swinger from Starc that took the edge to Usman Khawaja in the slip cordon, the Proteas innings came to a screeching halt.
Wiaan Mulder simply never looked comfortable in the critical No 3 role with the allrounder and captain Temba Bavuma adding just eight runs in 72 balls for the third wicket.
Mulder's torturous innings eventually came to a merciful close when Pat Cummins went straight through his attempted defence, which was the same fate that befell Tristan Stubbs when Josh Hazlewood rattled his timber to leave the Proteas in the precarious position of 30/4.
At the other end captain Temba Bavuma looked considerably less fluent requiring 31 balls to get off the mark.
Bavuma will resume with David Bedingham, who struck two boundaries before the close.
Jansen and Rabada had started the day starring with the ball. By time the shadows lengthened over Father Time overlooking the famous old ground, and with the Proteas' top-order crumbling like the tea time cake, the pair may yet be required to do another job with the bat when the second day resumes on Thursday.
World Test Championship Final, Lord's
Stumps, Day 1
Australia: 212 (Webster 72, Smith 66, Rabada 5/51, Jansen 3/39)
South Africa: 43/4 (Rickelton 16, Bedingham 8*, Bavuma 3*, Starc 2/10)
South Africa trail by 169 runs
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