In addition to taking a five-wicket haul, Kagiso Rabada also surpassed 100 Test wickets
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Kagiso Rabada haunted Bangladesh for the second day in a row in Bloemfontein as his five-wicket haul saw South Africa cruise to a record-breaking innings and 254-run win.
Rabada’s efforts not only handed South Africa a 2-0 series win, but it also led to them registering their biggest victory in Test cricket as it surpassed their innings and 229-run win over Sri Lanka in Cape Town in 2001.
As for Bangladesh, this was their fourth-biggest innings defeat in Test history.
Starting off the day on 7/0, it was Déjà vu for Bangladesh all over again as opening batsman Soumya Sarkar was caught by South Africa captain Faf du Plessis at second slip off the bowling of Rabada for three runs.
Mominul Haque became Rabada’s second victim before Bangladesh attempted to rebuild their innings.
However, after adding 34 runs to their total, Imrul Kayes was caught behind off the bowling of Rabada for 32.
Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim could not save his side as he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Wayne Parnell for 26.
Rahim opted to review the decision, but it did not save him as replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to clip off stump.
Wicketkeeper Liton Das and all-rounder Mahmudullah temporarily stemmed the bleeding with a 43-run partnership before Liton was clean bowled by Andile Phehlukwayo for 18.
Mahmudullah went on to make 43 off 59 balls, which included seven boundaries and a six, before he was sent packing by Rabada.
With Bangladesh reeling at 139/6, Rabada and Phehlukwayo ripped through Bangladesh’s lower order, which led to the tourists being skittled out for 172.
Rabada was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Phehlukwayo snapped up three, and Parnell and Duanne Olivier claimed one wicket each.
Rabada was named Man of the Match, while South Africa opener Dean Elgar received the Man of the Series award for scoring 330 runs, which included two centuries, at an average of 110.