South Africa: 392 & 224/7 dec.
Sri Lanka: 110 & 224 all out (Rabada 6/55, Philander 3/48)
South Africa wins by 282 runs
Cape Town - Kagiso Rabada’s status within South African cricket took another major leap this morning with the fast bowler claiming his second career “10-for” to power the Proteas to a series victory here at Newlands.
Rabada bagged 6/55 to go with his first innings 4/37 to finish with match figures of 10/92. It enabled South Africa to win by 282 runs.
The victory procession was always going to be dependent on the Angelo Mathews-Dinesh Chandimal partnership. This came to a close at 10:52 when Chandimal tamely chipped Rabada to Stephen Cook at square-leg.
From then on it was only a matter of time before South Africa could start celebrating their third consecutive Test series triumph. Rabada was now on a hot streak as he dismissed Upul Tharanga, Mathews and Suranga Lakmal in a blistering seven-over spell with a strong south-easterly wind at his back.
Rabada’s heroics took him within one 10-wicket haul of the great Allan Donald, who snared three across his 72-match Test career. Rabada has played just 13 Test matches.
Rangana Herath momentarily held up South Africa’s victory charge with an entertaining cameo, but his lusty blows served more as entertainment for the spectators that came through the turnstiles today than anything of real value.
South Africa’s own left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj continued his growth as a Test cricketer with another scalp this morning before Newland’s golden boy Vernon Philander brought an end to proceedings when he bowled last man Nuwan Pradeep.
Ironically, Kyle Abbott, who is set to end his international career today to pursue a Kolpak career in England with Hampshire, failed to take a wicket in the entire Test.