Kagiso Rabada’s 71 from No.11, his first maiden professional fifty, helped South Africa secure a substantial lead in the second Test against Pakistan, at Rawalpindi.
South Africa were in a spot of bother in the second Test at Rawalpindi after Pakistan scored 333. At 167-2, things seemed fine before Asif Afridi (6-79) – he became the oldest debutant to take a five-wicket haul – and Noman Ali (2-92) reduced them to 235-8.
Keshav Maharaj made 30 from this point, helping Senuran Muthusamy put on 71 for the ninth wicket. Rabada walked out at No.11 and raced to his maiden professional fifty (for that matter, at any level) off only 38 balls. He eventually fell for 71 – which also turned out to be South Africa’s eventual lead – off only 61 balls. He hit four fours and four sixes.
Rabada completely dominated the last-wicket stand of 98 with Muthusamy, who also made his highest Test score of 89 not out.
Kagiso Rabada’s highest professional scores
| Score | Team | Opposition | Venue | Year | Format |
| 71 | South Africa | Pakistan | Rawalpindi | 2025 | Test (first-class) |
| 48* | Lions | Titans | Johannesburg | 2014 | first-class |
| 47 | South Africa | New Zealand | Christchurch | 2022 | Test (first-class) |
| 44 | Delhi Daredevils | Mumbai Indians | Mumbai | 2017 | Twenty20 |
| 40 | South Africa | West Indies | Gros Islet | 2021 | Test (first-class) |
- Rabada had also scored 46 for South Africa against England in an Under-19 “Test” match at Paarl in 2013.
2nd Test, Pakistan vs South Africa
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Highest scores by No.11s in men’s Test cricket
| Batter | Score | Team | Opposition | Venue | Year |
| Ashton Agar | 98 | Australia | England | Nottingham | 2013 |
| Tino Best | 95 | West Indies | England | Birmingham | 2012 |
| James Anderson | 81 | England | India | Nottingham | 2014 |
| Zaheer Khan | 75 | India | Bangladesh | Dhaka | 2004 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 71 | South Africa | Pakistan | Rawalpindi | 2025 |
- Rabada scored the third Test fifty by a South African No.11. The first two were Bert Vogler (62 not out against England, Cape Town 1906) and Pat Symcox (54 against Australia, Adelaide 1998).
