Wickets tumble on entertaining first day of Test Championship final

Australia's bowlers fought back after they were bowled out for a modest total by South Africa as 14 wickets fell on an engrossing first day of the World Test Championship final.

Proteas quick bowler Kagiso Rabada claimed five of them after he helped skittle Australia for 212 shortly after the tea interval.

Steve Smith and Beau Webster, who made 66 and 72 respectively, had rescued Australia from a parlous 67-4 with a 79-run stand for the fifth wicket. But Australia's last five wickets went down for a paltry 18 runs as Rabada spearheaded South Africa's pace attack with discipline and skill.

The fast bowler had come into the match with something of a cloud hanging over him having recently served a short ban for recreational drug use. However, his haul here moved him past the legendary Allan Donald and up to fourth on South Africa's all-time Test wicket-takers list.

Agencies

Chief Scores:
Australia: 212 in 56.4 overs
(Labuschagne 17, Smith 66, Head 11, Webster 72, Carey 23, Rabada 51-5, Jansen 49-3, Maharaj 19-1, Markram 5-1)
South Africa: 43-4 in 22 overs 
Rickelton 16, Bavuma 3*, Bedingham 8*, Starc 10-2, Hazlewood 10-1, Cummins, 1-14)