Internet Desk: Kagiso Rabada took 4/33 in 7 overs in his opening spell of the day to make short work of Sri Lankan resistance on the fourth morning of the second Sunfoil Test match at PPC Newlands on Thursday.
His four wickets included the last three specialist Sri Lankan batsmen, one of whom, Angelo Mathews, made the top score of 49 as the visitors crumbled to 224 all out to lose the match by a massive 282 runs.
The Standard Bank Proteas thus clinched the three-match series 2-0 and will be aiming for a clean sweep in the final match starting at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium next Thursday.
Rabada finished with an innings return of 6/55 in 17 overs – the fifth occasion on which he has taken five or more wickets in an innings – and his second match return of 10 or more wickets, finishing with figures of 10/92 on this occasion. This earned him the Sunfoil Man of the Match award, the third time he has been honoured in this way.
He now has a total of 58 wickets from his 13 Test matches with a phenomenal strike rate of 37.1 and an average of 22.01. He has taken 41 wickets in his 7 home Test matches and this is effectively 6 as he did not bowl in the weather-disrupted game against New Zealand at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead last year.
Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj rounded off the victory with a wicket apiece, Philander finishing with 7 wickets in the match.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) congratulated the Proteas on their Test Series victory.
“Congratulations to our Proteas on yet another fine series victory,” commented CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat. “It has been wonderful to see them continue their winning ways. It bodes well for their forthcoming tours to New Zealand and England.
“They are now back among the top three sides in Test match cricket and on target to challenge for the No. 1 ranking over the next 12 months.
“It has been an excellent first series for Faf du Plessis as the permanent Test captain and he, Russell Domingo and all the players and team management are to be congratulated on winning another series. Their teamwork and enjoyment is shining through as does the enjoyment they are bringing to the nation.
“I would also once again like to applaud our fans in the Western Cape for the tremendous support they have given the Proteas at this iconic Test venue. New Year at Newlands remains one of the great events in world cricket,” concluded Mr. Lorgat.