Kagiso Rabada's 7-up keeps Proteas in driving seat

25 January 2016 - 02:04 By Telford Vice at Centurion

Clearly, Kagiso Rabada didn't get the memo - the one about not trying too hard in a game that doesn't matter much. Instead, Rabada tried harder than ever at Centurion yesterday and was rewarded with his best figures yet in a career that will grow to many more than his six Tests.Almost as certain is that he will improve on the 7/112 he took for SA on the third day of the fourth Test against England.Or, as Rabada himself said: "I don't feel I've arrived yet; there's still lots of work to be done."Still, those are the best figures by a South African in a Test innings against England since Hugh Tayfield took 9/113 at the Wanderers in February 1957.Only 24 times in SA's 400 Tests has a bowler taken seven or more wickets in an innings.At an age when others are trying to land a proper job and trying not to drink too much (or not trying), Rabada is excelling on cricket's greatest stage. What a feeling ...To Rabada went the honour of making yesterday's play interesting. To him, too, should go gratitude for ensuring that there is a game of sorts out there today.SA were 42/1 in their second innings, a lead of 175, when bad light ended play. They are on top because Rabada did most of the doing in dismissing England for 342 in reply to SA's first innings of 475.That England were able to add 204 runs to their overnight score of 138/2 before they were dismissed was due in large part to Moeen Ali's gritty 61.SA suffered a blow when Hashim Amla was hit on the thumb by Ben Stokes. Amla and his thumb survived, but SA will need him in one piece today if they are to retain the advantage...

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