How Did Kagiso Rabada Claim a Fifer as South Africa Bowled Out Australia for 212?

London, June 11 (NationPress) Kagiso Rabada achieved an impressive 5-51, surpassing Allan Donald to secure the fourth position on South Africa's all-time wicket-takers list as his team dismissed Australia for just 212 runs on the opening day of the World Test Championship Final at Lord's Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Having entered the third session at 190/5 in 50 overs, Rabada swiftly concluded the innings in the post-tea period, taking only 36 minutes. Beau Webster was Australia's top scorer with 72 runs, while Steve Smith contributed 66 runs. Rabada was well-supported by Marco Jansen, who claimed 3-49, while Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram each took a wicket.

In the post-tea session, Alex Carey was dismissed immediately as his attempt to reverse-sweep Keshav Maharaj resulted in his stumps being shattered for 23 runs. Rabada then took out Pat Cummins before having Webster caught at first slip. After Jansen bowled out Nathan Lyon, Rabada breached Mitchell Starc's defenses to close Australia's innings.

From the outset, Rabada and Jansen established their lengths effectively to keep Australia under pressure. In the seventh over, Rabada rattled Australia by dismissing Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in just four balls. He first came around the wicket to extract Khawaja's edge, catching him at first slip for a 20-ball duck.

Rabada then got Green to edge one that was caught at third slip, leading to Green's dismissal for four runs on his return to Test cricket after nearly a year. Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder maintained tight lines and lengths, keeping Smith and Labuschagne in check.

Although Smith hit a few boundaries, South Africa continued to strike as Labuschagne edged one from Jansen to the keeper. At the lunch break, Jansen claimed another crucial wicket by getting Travis Head caught down leg, marking a strong first session for South Africa.

In the second session, Smith, with his signature outside the leg-stump stance and exaggerated back-and-across movement, managed to score three quick boundaries off Rabada and Jansen. However, Webster struggled to survive in challenging conditions, facing close calls twice in consecutive overs.

After a near miss on four, he was beaten on the outside edge and was lbw to Marco Jansen, but ball tracking showed it was an umpire's call. Then against Rabada on eight, Webster was again lbw, but South Africa decided against a review, only to see replays confirm he would have been dismissed.

Smith eventually reached fifty in 76 balls by slashing Rabada through backward point. He and a settled Webster hit boundaries off Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj. However, in an attempt to drive Aiden Markram through covers, Smith edged one to first slip on his third try.

Despite Webster's precarious position, he secured his second Test fifty off 69 deliveries, providing Australia with a brighter second session after a dismal first. However, Carey's reverse sweep opened the floodgates for South Africa to quickly wrap up Australia's innings.

Brief Scores: Australia 212 in 56.4 overs (Beau Webster 72, Steve Smith 66; Kagiso Rabada 5/51, Marco Jansen 3/49) against South Africa