By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Kagiso Rabada, on Thursday, became the youngest non-Asian bowler to pick up 200 wickets in Test cricket.
The 25-year-old broke a series of records after he bowled Hasan Ali with a peach of a delivery that knocked out his middle stump in the first Test of South Africa’s tour of Pakistan.
Pakistan Cricket uploaded the historic moment on Twitter.
200th Test wicket of Kagiso Rabada!#PAKvSA #HarHaalMainCricket pic.twitter.com/bfh6IsuMsX
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 28, 2021
Rabada picked his third wicket of the match on Day 3, and in the process reached 200 Test wickets in just his 44th match.
At 25 years and 248 days old, Kagiso Rabada is the 4th youngest, and the youngest non-Asian, to reach the milestone.
Pakistan pace hero Wagar Younis tops the list, who got to 200 Test wickets aged 24 years and 26 days.
He is followed by Indian legend Kapil Dev (24 years and 68 days), with off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (25 years and 74 days) in the third place.
In reply, South Africa opener Dean Elgar was struck on the finger by seamer Shaheen Afridi and looked in discomfort as he was given treatment by the physio.
Elgar soon fell for 29 to a brilliant diving catch from wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan off the bowling of Yasir.
Having managed only 47 runs in the afternoon session, South Africa upped the pace after tea as Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen shared a second-wicket partnership of 127.
However, the tourists, looking in control at 175-1, then lost three wickets for 10 runs.
Leg-spinner Yasir picked up two more wickets with Van der Dussen caught by Abid Ali at silly mid-off for 64, and Faf du Plessis trapped lbw for 10.
Opener Markram’s fine knock of 74 – which included 10 boundaries – came to an end when he was dismissed by spinner Nauman, with Abid taking another simple catch.
Maharaj – not out on two – and captain Quinton de Kock – yet to score a run – will return to the middle on Friday as South Africa look to set a defendable target.