T20Is: Rabada third-fastest Proteas star to 50 scalps

Sport24 chief writer

Fresh off his superb exhibition of pressure-building bowling in the second Twenty20 international against India at Cuttack, Proteas spearhead Kagiso Rabada has also elevated himself to yet another statistical milestone.

The strike bowler, in returning impressive figures of 4-0-15-1 as South Africa again beat the host nation in the second of five encounters on Sunday, took his tally of wickets in the format to 50 as he dismissed Indian opener Ruturaj Gaikwad very early on for a single.

Rabada, 27, got there in his 42ndappearance in the format for the Proteas, making him the third-fastest strictly for the country.

He is behind only Imran Tahir (31 matches; joint-fourth quickest ever globally) and his great former pace ally Dale Steyn (35 games) for speed to that landmark.

Another SA-born player, Roelof van der Merwe, got there ahead of Rabada in 40 matches, but his loyalties have been split between duties to the Proteas and the Netherlands.

The fastest player in T20I history to 50 scalps is Sri Lanka's mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis (he needed only 26 internationals), followed by Ireland’s Mark Adair (28).

Rabada achieved something else at Barabati Stadium on Sunday: his most economical bowling stats for a full, four-over spell in T20 internationals as he leaked those mere 15 runs.

By amazing coincidence, his previous best (4-0-18-1) had come in his previous international at the very same venue, back in October 2015.

On that occasion, the Proteas also emerged victorious after India were bundled out for only 92 having taken first strike (Albie Morkel got 3/12).

*Rabada’s current team-mate Tabraiz Shamsi reached 50 wickets in his 43rd appearance for the Proteas against Australia at Abu Dhabi last year.

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