“Genius with ball in hand”: Morne Morkel congratulates Kagiso Rabada for picking five-wicket haul at Lord’s

Morne Morkel congratulates Kagiso Rabada: The South African pacer picked three wickets in quick succession on Day 2.

During the second day of the first Test of the ongoing South Africa’s tour of England at Lord’s, South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada picked his 12th Test five-wicket haul to bundle out the opposition for 165 in 45 overs.

Resuming from their overnight score of 116/6, all England could manage on Day 2 was 49/4 in 13 overs. Rabada, who had picked a couple of early wickets with the new ball yesterday, picked three in the first session today to pick a maiden five-fer at this venue.

Having managed to get his name on the Lord’s honour board, Rabada registered his fourth five-wicket haul against England and away from home, third under captain Dean Elgar, second in 2022 and first in England.

Bowling the first over on Thursday, Rabada witnessed South Africa batter Samuel Erwee dropping Ollie Pope in the slips on the sixth delivery of the day. As a result, the 27-year old player took the onus solely upon himself to dismiss Pope (73) as the right-handed batter played on a delivery to his stumps in the next over.

In his following over, Rabada sent veteran England seamer Stuart Broad (15) back to the pavilion after he lobbed a simple catch to Elgar at point. Bowling his seventh over in a row, Rabada finally managed to pick the last wicket by finding James Anderson (0) in front of the stumps.

Morne Morkel congratulates Kagiso Rabada for picking five-wicket haul at Lord’s

Rabada, who picked bowling figures of 19-3-52-5, earned applause from former South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel. Having played 19 Tests in the same South African XI, Morkel congratulated Rabada for a special achievement of picking his maiden Lord’s five-wicket haul.

Despite playing three Test matches at Lord’s during his 12-year old Test career, Morkel wasn’t able to pick a five-fer here.