PERTH – South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis described Kagiso Rabada’s performance as “phenomenal” after the young paceman helped turn a parlous situation on day two of the first Test against Australia into a thumping 177-run victory on Monday.
The tourists had done well to get to 242 all out after being 5-81 on day one but were looking down the barrel of a heavy defeat when Australia raced to 158 without loss on day two.
Matters got worse when, having finally broken the opening partnership, South Africa’s pace spearhead Dale Steyn was forced off the field with a shoulder fracture that ruled him out of the series.
Already without regular captain AB de Villiers, the South Africans rallied where they might have folded and dismissed Australia for 244 with Rabada and debutant spinner Keshav Maharaj pitching in with five of the wickets.
After centuries from JP Duminy and Dean Elgar helped them to 540 for eight declared, Rabada then took 5-92 to ensure Australia never got close to their victory target of 539.
“I am very proud of how the team pulled together,” said 21-year-old Rabada, whose five-wicket haul was his fourth in nine Tests.
“We lost Dale, who is a key part of our team, but everyone played their part and we came out victorious. The job of all the bowlers is to take wickets and with Dale gone we have to do extra.”
