Rabada finished with figures of 6-55 off 17 overs
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Kagiso Rabada was unstoppable with the ball on the penultimate day of the second Test in Cape Town as he speared through Sri Lanka’s batting line-up and finished with a six-wicket haul to lead South Africa to a 282-run win.
Not only did Rabada, who took 10 wickets in the match, lead South Africa to an impressive win, but he also handed them an unassailable 2-0 series lead heading into the third and final Test in Johannesburg.
Starting off the day on 130/4, Sri Lanka added just 14 runs to their overnight score before wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal was trudging back to the pavilion after being dismissed by Rabada for 30.
Upul Tharanga only made 13 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Rabada, while captain Angelo Mathews suffered the same fate, only when he was on 49.
Rabada continued his rampage by dismissing Suranga Lakmal in the same fashion as Tharanga and Mathews before Keshav Maharaj joined the party when Lahiru Kumara was stumped by Quinton de Kock off his bowling for nine runs.
Vernon Philander finished things off for the Proteas as he clean bowled Nuwan Pradeep for five runs, which left Rangana Herath stranded on 35 not out.
Rabada was easily the pick of the bowlers with six wickets, while Philander took three and Maharaj claimed one.
South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis was thrilled with his side’s performance, and said: “That’s pretty much as close to the perfect game as you can play, we wanted to dominate Sri Lanka and every single opportunity the team stepped up. Obviously conditions play a role, when we go there it’s tough. But we lost the toss on a green top, we would have bowled as well, but our opening batsman scored a hundred. Then our bowlers showed how tricky it would have been.
“Test cricket is about how disciplined your bowling attack can be, there are times when the opposition are allowed to bat well, but we kept on top of the run rate and stayed patient. [Win series with one to play?] Extremely nice, we set our challenges, to play well and win the series. Important to put in performances, would like to make it 3-0. [Rest players in Jo’burg?] Not something we’ve discussed, get our best team on the ground and get a 3-0 series win.”
Mathews was gutted to have lost again, and said: “Disappointing, after winning the toss and having the advantage in the first session. Once again our batters have let the team down, haven’t got enough runs on the board to give the bowlers a chance. We haven’t concentrated for long hours, trying to hit good balls and getting nicked.
“[Kumara performance?] Just 19 years of age and bowling really well, taking six-for was fantastic. Credit to Rabada, the way he bowled in the second innings was brilliant. The bowlers have given us a chance but the batters haven’t given the bowlers a chance, so that’s what we need to change.”
Rabada was named Man of the Match, and said: “I guess all the hard work paid off. The hours invested in gameplans and tactics, it’s a good sign. I felt I was fighting for rhythm in the first innings, it kicked when I got a few wickets, so I was fortunate. Today I felt in decent rhythm. You want to get the top batters out, it says a lot about you as a bowler.”