Kagiso Rabada becomes youngest South African to record 10-wicket match haul in Tests

Kagiso Rabada overtook the record held by Hugh Tayfield, who had achieved the feat at the age of 23, by three years.

Kagiso Rabada added a new feather to his cap when he became the youngest South African bowler to take 10 wickets or more in a Test during the fifth day of the fourth Test against England at Centurion. Rabada got the wicket of English wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, edged a short-pitched delivery from the 20-year-old pacer to Quinton de Kock behind the stumps to depart for 14, giving Rabada his third wicket of the innings. The record was earlier held by Hugh Tayfield, who achieved the feat at the age of 23 years and 329 days. Rabada managed to beat his record by three years, and also achieved the record of achieving the best figures at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, beating Mitchell Johnson’s record of 12 for 127 in 2014 by a wicket. SCORECARD: South Africa vs England 2015-16, 4th Test at Centurion

Rabada’s efforts, along with that of Morne Morkel (3 for 36) helped South Africa skittle England out for a mere 101 in their second innings in the first session of the final day. South Africa thus, recorded a massive 280-run win in the fourth and final Test, although England walk away with the series with a 2-1 series margin. Rabada took seven wickets for 112 in the previous innings, which included a terrific spell ahead of the lunch on Day Three that saw Rabada take three quick wickets for as many runs. READ: South Africa thrash England by 280 runs in fourth Test at Centurion

England would have been forced to follow-on had it not been for Moeen Ali’s fighting half-century, that guided England to 342 in response to South Africa’s first innings score of 475. South Africa faced trouble when James Anderson ran through their top-order to reduce them to 49 for three, before Hashim Amla (96) and Temba Bavuma (78 not out) guided the hosts to 248 for five, setting England a challenging target of 382.

Rabada – youngest SA bowler to take 10 wkts in a Test. Prev youngest: Tayfield at 23y 329d compared to Rabada’s feat at 20y 242d. #SAvsEng

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) January 26, 2016

The match will be well-remembered for a number of reasons, especially for the South Africans. Debutant and much talked-about domestic sensation Stephen Cook scored a memorable century on debut. Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock returned to form triumphantly with centuries, with the former finishing as the leading run-getter in the series. Rabada achieved his bowling milestones, while AB de Villiers recorded his first win as Test skipper, with the Proteas ending their winless streak that stretches back by more than a year.

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