Rabada charged again in second Test, Australia on brink of defeat

Port Elizabeth: Kagiso Rabada is almost certain to be suspended for the rest of the series after being reported for a second time in the second Test but he has gone out with a bang, completing the fourth 10-wicket haul of his young career to leave Australia on the brink of defeat.

The 22-year-old fast bowler was issued with a level-one charge over his send-off of David Warner the previous day and is still awaiting the outcome of a hearing into a level-two charge he was hit with for a bump on Steve Smith earlier in the match.

Rababa was again in the thick of the action on the fourth morning at St George's Park, cutting short Australia's resistance to collect match figures of 11-150 as Australia were bowled out for 239 in their second innings.

Having set South Africa 101 runs to win, Australia's hopes of making the hosts sweat then suffered a significant setback when Mitchell Marsh dropped a straightforward chance at first slip in the second over after Josh Hazlewood enticed an edge out of Aiden Markram.

There was at least one breakthrough, though, with Nathan Lyon taking a return catch off Dean Elgar (5) with his first ball of the innings. At lunch South Africa were 1-22, with Markram unbeaten on 17, and needing 79 more runs for victory.

Rabada had taken only six balls to strike on Monday, knocking back the off stump of Mitchell Marsh for 45. The Australian all-rounder responded by delivering a foul-mouthed spray as he walked past the Proteas spearhead, the latest of a series of ugly incidents that have plagued the series.

Leading by only 41 runs overnight with five wickets in hand, much rested with Marsh and Tim Paine. But the wicketkeeper quickly lost partners. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon were also removed cheaply, the first two by Rabada and the latter by Lungi Ngidi.

Hazlewood, at No.11, at least ensured the Proteas would need to reach three figures to square the series, heaving his way to 17 before holing out to Ngidi at deep midwicket when he took on Keshav Maharaj once too often. Paine was left as the not out batsman on 28.

While South Africa appear headed for victory, the impending ban of Rabada takes the gloss off that feat.

Before the additional charge on Monday, he was already facing a series ban because of a physical send-off of Smith in Port Elizabeth.

His poor disciplinary record means he will miss the third and fourth Tests unless the Proteas successfully have the first charge downgraded or thrown out.

Mitch Marsh is skittled by Rabada.
Photo: AP

Match referee Jeff Crowe conducted a hearing at the ground on Sunday night but is yet to reveal his verdict.

Warner, Quinton de Kock and Lyon were all charged after an acrimonious first Test in Durban, which Australia won by 118 runs.

The 22-year-old Rabada has dominated Australia, claiming the fourth 10-wicket haul of his 28-Test career.

To put those numbers in perspective, the only Australians with more 10-wicket Test hauls are Clarrie Grimmett (seven), Dennis Lillee (seven) and Shane Warne (10)

With AAP