{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Kagiso Rabada Breaks World Record in Cape Town with Fastest 350 Test Wickets by Balls",
  "summary": "South African pacer Kagiso Rabada broke Dale Steyn's world record to become the fastest bowler to take 350 Test wickets in terms of balls bowled during the third Test against Australia.",
  "content": "A historic milestone was achieved on the final day of the third and deciding Test between South Africa and Australia at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. Host nation pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada etched his name into the record books by securing his 350th Test wicket, cementing his standing among the greatest fast bowlers in the history of red ball cricket. At the close of play on day four, South Africa were bowled out for 387 in their second innings, leaving Australia with a 288 run target to chase on the final day. However, the visitors suffered a disastrous opening session on day five. Rabada struck two early blows before claiming Travis Head as his third scalp of the morning, reaching the 350 wicket landmark and eclipsing a prestigious record previously held by his compatriot Dale Steyn.\n\nShattering Dale Steyn's Long-Standing Milestone\nIn Australia's first innings of the Cape Town Test, Kagiso Rabada had experienced a relatively quiet outing, managing to take only a single wicket. Nevertheless, he produced a fiery resurgence in the fourth innings, tearing through the Australian top order early on day five to tilt the contest heavily in his team's favor. With this remarkable performance, Rabada has now become the fastest bowler in Test history to claim 350 wickets in terms of balls bowled. The record previously belonged to former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn, who reached the milestone in 14,719 deliveries. Rabada comfortably surpassed that mark, requiring only 13,808 deliveries to bag 350 wickets in Test cricket.\n\n \n\nFastest Pace Bowlers to 350 Test Wickets by Deliveries\nThe elite list of fast bowlers who needed the fewest balls to capture 350 wickets in the longest format of the game highlights Rabada's extraordinary strike rate\n\n• Kagiso Rabada (South Africa): 13,808 balls\n• Dale Steyn (South Africa): 14,719 balls\n• Waqar Younis (Pakistan): 14,905 balls\n• Malcolm Marshall (West Indies): 16,285 balls\n• Mitchell Starc (Australia): 16,908 balls\n\nFourth Fastest Pacer by Matches Played\nIn terms of matches taken to reach the milestone, Kagiso Rabada achieved his 350th Test wicket in his 75th appearance, joining West Indies legend Malcolm Marshall as the joint fourth fastest fast bowler in Test history. The record for the fewest matches to reach 350 wickets remains jointly held by Richard Hadlee and Dale Steyn, both of whom achieved the feat in just 69 Tests. Australian bowling icon Dennis Lillee sits second on the list with 70 Tests, followed by fellow countryman Glenn McGrath in third position with 74 Tests. Within South African cricket history, Rabada is now only the fourth bowler ever to cross the 350 wicket threshold in the traditional format, joining an exclusive group that includes Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock, and Makhaya Ntini.\n\nWhat this means for you\nFor cricket followers and sports enthusiasts, this feat marks a defining shift in modern fast bowling strike rates and benchmarks.\n\n• For Cricket Fans: Rabada has shown that elite strike-rate pace bowling remains devastatingly effective even in an era favoring batting. It offers purists proof that express pace and movement still dictate outcomes in long-format matches.\n• For South Africa: The national team now has its fourth bowler in history with 350 Test wickets, following Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock, and Makhaya Ntini. This reinforces the reputation of South Africa's pace attack as one of the most lethal units in world cricket.\n• For Test Record Books: South African pacers now hold the top two spots worldwide for the fewest deliveries required to claim 350 Test wickets. Surpassing Steyn's tally by 911 balls sets a formidable benchmark that may stand for generations.\n• For Australia: Facing a target of 288, the rapid loss of three top-order wickets in the final day morning session severely dented their chances of winning. It forces their middle order into sheer survival mode on a tricky day-five Newlands surface.\n\nWhy this happened\nThe achievement unfolded on day five at Newlands as South Africa applied intense scoreboard pressure following their 387-run second innings effort. Rabada capitalized immediately on the morning pitch conditions to execute a decisive burst.\n\n• Match Situation and Pitch Behavior: Defending a target of 288 on a fifth-day pitch, South Africa needed early breakthroughs to seize the initiative. Rabada exploited the seam movement and uneven bounce at Newlands to challenge both edges of the bat.\n• Adjustment After First Innings: Having managed only a single wicket in Australia's first innings, Rabada corrected his length early on the final day. His fiery opening spell dismantled Australia's top order, including removing Travis Head to reach the milestone.\n• Historic Career Strike Rate: Throughout his Test journey, Rabada has maintained one of the most aggressive bowling strike rates in red ball history. That persistent wicket-taking frequency enabled him to reach 350 wickets in fewer deliveries than any previous bowler.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Whose dismissal gave Kagiso Rabada his 350th Test wicket?\nRabada claimed his 350th Test wicket by dismissing Australian batsman Travis Head during the second innings in Cape Town.\n\n2. How many deliveries did Rabada take to reach 350 Test wickets?\nRabada achieved the milestone in just 13,808 balls, making him the fastest pace bowler in Test history by deliveries bowled.\n\n3. Who previously held the record for the fewest deliveries to 350 Test wickets?\nThe record was previously held by former South African pacer Dale Steyn, who reached 350 wickets in 14,719 deliveries.\n\n4. In how many Test matches did Rabada reach the 350 wicket mark?\nRabada reached 350 wickets in his 75th Test match, placing him joint fourth fastest alongside West Indies great Malcolm Marshall.\n\n5. Which other South African bowlers have taken 350 or more Test wickets?\nPrior to Rabada, only Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock, and Makhaya Ntini had reached the 350-wicket milestone for South Africa.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/cricket/kepatauna-men-kagiso-rabada-ne-racha-naya-kirtimana-testa-men-sabase-kama-gendon-para-chatakae-350-viketa-53915",
  "category": "Cricket",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-31",
  "tags": [
    "Kagiso Rabada",
    "South Africa Cricket",
    "Dale Steyn",
    "Test Cricket",
    "Australia vs South Africa",
    "Newlands Test"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia",
  "whatItMeansForYou": "For cricket followers and sports enthusiasts, this feat marks a defining shift in modern fast bowling strike rates and benchmarks.\n\n• For Cricket Fans: Rabada has shown that elite strike-rate pace bowling remains devastatingly effective even in an era favoring batting. It offers purists proof that express pace and movement still dictate outcomes in long-format matches.\n• For South Africa: The national team now has its fourth bowler in history with 350 Test wickets, following Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock, and Makhaya Ntini. This reinforces the reputation of South Africa's pace attack as one of the most lethal units in world cricket.\n• For Test Record Books: South African pacers now hold the top two spots worldwide for the fewest deliveries required to claim 350 Test wickets. Surpassing Steyn's tally by 911 balls sets a formidable benchmark that may stand for generations.\n• For Australia: Facing a target of 288, the rapid loss of three top-order wickets in the final day morning session severely dented their chances of winning. It forces their middle order into sheer survival mode on a tricky day-five Newlands surface.",
  "whyItHappened": "The achievement unfolded on day five at Newlands as South Africa applied intense scoreboard pressure following their 387-run second innings effort. Rabada capitalized immediately on the morning pitch conditions to execute a decisive burst.\n\n• Match Situation and Pitch Behavior: Defending a target of 288 on a fifth-day pitch, South Africa needed early breakthroughs to seize the initiative. Rabada exploited the seam movement and uneven bounce at Newlands to challenge both edges of the bat.\n• Adjustment After First Innings: Having managed only a single wicket in Australia's first innings, Rabada corrected his length early on the final day. His fiery opening spell dismantled Australia's top order, including removing Travis Head to reach the milestone.\n• Historic Career Strike Rate: Throughout his Test journey, Rabada has maintained one of the most aggressive bowling strike rates in red ball history. That persistent wicket-taking frequency enabled him to reach 350 wickets in fewer deliveries than any previous bowler.",
  "questionsAndAnswers": [
    {
      "question": "Whose dismissal gave Kagiso Rabada his 350th Test wicket?",
      "answer": "Rabada claimed his 350th Test wicket by dismissing Australian batsman Travis Head during the second innings in Cape Town."
    },
    {
      "question": "How many deliveries did Rabada take to reach 350 Test wickets?",
      "answer": "Rabada achieved the milestone in just 13,808 balls, making him the fastest pace bowler in Test history by deliveries bowled."
    },
    {
      "question": "Who previously held the record for the fewest deliveries to 350 Test wickets?",
      "answer": "The record was previously held by former South African pacer Dale Steyn, who reached 350 wickets in 14,719 deliveries."
    },
    {
      "question": "In how many Test matches did Rabada reach the 350 wicket mark?",
      "answer": "Rabada reached 350 wickets in his 75th Test match, placing him joint fourth fastest alongside West Indies great Malcolm Marshall."
    },
    {
      "question": "Which other South African bowlers have taken 350 or more Test wickets?",
      "answer": "Prior to Rabada, only Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock, and Makhaya Ntini had reached the 350-wicket milestone for South Africa."
    }
  ]
}