Rabada and Smith renew rivalry before Cape Town decider

CAPE TOWN, Oct 23 : Quick bowler Kagiso Rabada's battles with Steve Smith sparked a combustible series the last time Australia played tests in South Africa eight years ago and the pair have resumed their rivalry as the teams head for a decisive contest in Cape Town next week.

Rabada returned after a long hamstring injury layoff to help South Africa win by an innings and 31 runs in the second test in Gqeberha on Thursday to square the three-match series and set up a potential thriller at Newlands, starting next Tuesday.

Rabada's four second-innings wickets included that of the 37-year-old Smith, who, surprisingly early in his innings, out of character and with Australia in dire straits, attempted an ill-fated hook to a bouncer and top-edged a catch to midwicket.

It was an injudicious decision from the former captain, who passed the milestone of 11,000 test runs at St George’s Park but made only three runs in the second innings as he looked out of sorts with a neck complaint.

GETTING BEST PLAYER OUT

“He wasn’t 100 per cent fit in the game but we knew he had the ability to knuckle down and be the anchor for them; he’s done it for so long for Australia,” Rabada said in a TV interview.

“He’s a top-class player and you can put a lot more pressure on a team when you get their best player out, so he’ll always be a prized wicket playing against Australia.” 

Rabada had also dismissed Smith at St George’s Park in 2018, the first of 11 wickets he took in that test, but he collided with the Australian while celebrating taking his wicket and was handed a two-match ban, later downgraded to a fine.

The shoulder bump was among several incidents in an ill-spirited series that ended with the infamous ‘Sandpapergate’ ball-tampering scandal after