SA vs AUS: Kagiso Rabada scripts history, breaks Dale Steyn's world record in third Test

Kagiso Rabada became the fastest bowler in terms of balls bowled to take 350 Test wickets during South Africa's 176-run win over Australia in the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday (October 31). Rabada picked up three wickets in Australia's second innings, starting with Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne in the first over of the visitors' chase. He then dismissed Travis Head, who scored 14 off 26 balls, on the sixth delivery of the seventh over to reach the 350-wicket milestone. The South African fast bowler needed 13,808 deliveries to take 350 Test wickets, going past former teammate Dale Steyn, who reached the mark in 14,719 balls. Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis is third on the list, having taken 14,905 deliveries to claim his 350th Test wicket. In terms of matches played, Rabada is the second-fastest South African to reach the milestone. The third Test against Australia was his 75th for the Proteas. Steyn remains ahead of him, having taken 350 wickets in 69 Tests. The overall record for the fewest matches to reach 350 Test wickets belongs to Sri Lanka's Muthiah Muralidaran, who achieved the feat in his 66th Test. India's Ravichandran Ashwin equalled that record in 2019. After Rabada's three wickets, off-spinner Simon Harmer took six more to help South Africa bowl Australia out for 111 while defending a target of 288. The hosts won the Test by 176 runs and clinched the series 2-1. The defeat also prompted criticism of Australia's batting, with former opener David Warner describing their performance as "utterly disgraceful". Australia had taken a 1-0 lead in the series but lost the next two Tests.