‌SA vs PAK | Twitter reacts to fiery Rabada punches air in anger after cleaning up Ghulam

ByArijit Kundu, SportsCafe Editor

Last Monday at 3:58 PM

Test cricket is often known as the pinnacle of the sport as it challenges an individual’s skills and character. With the Newlands pitch assisting the batters in the South Africa versus Pakistan second Test, the lack of wickets despite hard toil saw fired-up Kagiso Rabada unleash his adrenaline best.

Although Pakistan couldn’t surpass the 200 hundred runs mark in response to South Africa’s 615-run first innings total, the openers kept the Proteas bowlers toiling on the third day. As the sun shone bright the next day, the outcome seemed similar for the host as the bowlers felt the heat with Shan Masood going strong from one end, accompanied by Khurram Shahzad and Kamran Ghulam. The expected frustration was evident in Rabada’s expressions after cleaning up Ghulam in the 67th over.

After a series of dot balls at the start of the over, Ghulam found a way to extract a boundary against Rabada in the 67th over. However, the veteran pacer had the last laugh by castling him with a fuller delivery that jagged in and beat the inside edge to thud into the stumps. Ghulam pressed forward to drive on the up after being beaten on the outside edge on more than one occasion in the same over. Eventually, Rabada was driven by adrenaline rush as the right-arm pacer punched the air angrily, having claimed his 50th wicket at the venue. The Twitterverse was left abuzz with Rabada’s aggression following the hard toil under sweltering conditions.

Rabada gets it!

pic.twitter.com/JBGGc3v5bA
— DJ Sinha (@sdj374531) January 6, 2025

Gone

The wicket of Kamran Ghulam was Rabada's 400th wicket in first-class cricket, and his 50th at Newlands. Only

* Steyn (74)

* Ntini (53)

* Philander (53)

* Pollock (51)

have 50+ here.#SAvPAK

Credit @rodneyulyate
— Hussein Manack (@HusseinManack) January 6, 2025

KG falls

KG falls to KG - K Rabada strikes a crucial blow as K Ghulam is out for 28. Pakistan 3 down and still trail by 143.#SAvPAK #Pakistan #PakistanCricket #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/II0w5sQZfG
— جوڳی (@MNaeemAsad1) January 6, 2025

Brilliant

4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ First-Class Wickets for Kagiso Rabada.#SAvPAK @LionsCricketSA @KagisoRabada25
— JaayShaan (VaidhyaJayaShankar) (@JaayShaan) January 6, 2025

Wake up

Wake Up 🆙 Said After Played First Ball Against Marco Jansen Then One Catch Dropped In Slip And Very Uncomfortable Against Keshav Maharaj. At The End After Many Drama He Bowled On 28 By Rabada. People Said Earlier He Is Replacement King 👑 Babar Azam#PAKvSA #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/QyEYGfVKqO
— Gurtej Singh (@GGurtej) January 6, 2025

Beautiful

It was a beautiful setup by Rabada. He kept offering out swingers to KG for 3 overs & delivered the fatal blow once KG was all set. Beautiful test match bowling https://t.co/j3owAhyPcl
— R A S H I D (@forashid) January 6, 2025

Superb

That wicket was Rabada's 400th wicket in first-class cricket, and his 50th at Newlands. Only

* Steyn (74)

* Ntini (53)

* Philander (53)

* Pollock (51)

have 50+ here.#SABCSport #SAvPAK @ACSCricket
— Rodney Ulyate (@rodneyulyate) January 6, 2025

Poor shot

That is a poor shot because his feet got stuck and head fell across which meant even a slight bit of inward movement would get him in trouble. Rabada smartly tilted his wrist and seam position to bring the ball back in which is exactly what happened. https://t.co/YgtTQgbSeo
— MA (@coverpoint_) January 6, 2025

Half century