After becoming the third-fastest South Africa bowler to scalp 200 Test wickets, the Proteas pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada has set a fresh target for himself, as the left-hander wants to work on his batting in order to contribute lower down the order for his side in Test cricket.
On Thursday (January 28), Proteas batsmen Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen showed grit and determination to hit 74 and 64 respectively, as well as, shared a 127-run stand to patiently take the Proteas to 175-1 before South Africa lost three wickets for 10 runs on Day 3 of the first Test.
Pakistan had already earned a first-innings lead of 158 and late wickets on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test at the National Stadium in Karachi put the hosts on the top against South Africa, as the tourists’ score read 187/4 at Stumps on Thursday with Keshav Maharaj and Quinton de Kock unbeaten on 2 and 0 respectively.
South Africa were eventually bundled out for 245, setting Pakistan a target of 88 to win the first Test.
Rabada said during a virtual press conference on Thursday: “I just try and see what I can do for the team in a particular situation, that is going to require me to work on my batting, especially in Test cricket, runs down the order are actually golden, whatever chance I get to take the team to a position, I will be willing to take that challenge with both hands. Perhaps, I can work on my batting a little more.”
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Praising Markram’s gritty knock of 74 runs off 224 balls, Rabada said: “His (Markram) innings today was extremely important, his partnership with Rassie got us back into the game and it gave us a chance. He is a magnificent player. He has really applied himself well and he wants to contribute. Markram has gone through some challenges just like we all do as cricketers.”
Meanwhile, the 25-year-old fast bowler, playing his 44th Test, became the youngest South African to complete 200 Test wickets when he dismissed Hassan Ali to take his 200th Test wicket in his first over on day 3. He not only became the eighth South African to scalp 200 Test wickets but also became the third-fastest Proteas bowler after Dale Steyn and Allan Donald to reach the milestone in the longest format of the game. He finished with figures of 3/70 on Thursday.
Reacting to the milestone, the pacer said: “It's a massive feat to be included in the list of such names. When you start, you do not wish or you do not ever think that you are going to be on such a list. All you want to do is to be the best you can.”
Rabada signed off by saying, “I just think it is all hard work and spending a lot of time on your craft, it has not all been easy. It is a constant repetition of hours and hours of work, it is about being relentless with that, it is about seeing how much better you can get.”
(With ANI Inputs)
