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ENG Vs SA 1st T20I: Kagiso Rabada Strikes Gold In The Opening Ball To Join Elite Proteas List

Soumyajit Dutta

Kagiso Rabada strikes on the first ball [Source: @azim_shah/X.com]Kagiso Rabada strikes on the first ball [Source: @azim_shah/X.com]

Kagiso Rabada etched his name into South African T20I history on Tuesday night in Cardiff, striking with the very first ball of England’s chase in the opening T20I of the ENG vs SA 2025 series. The speedster removed Philip Salt for a golden duck, becoming only the fourth South African bowler to claim a wicket on the opening delivery of a T20I innings. 

Rabada Alongside Markram, Linde 

Removing Salt, Kagiso Rabada joined an elite panel of South African bowlers alongside names like Charl Langeveldt, George Linde, and Aiden Markram.

Bowler
Opponent
Venue
Year
Charl LangeveldtEnglandJohannesburg2009
George LindePakistanJohannesburg2021
Aiden MarkramAustraliaDurban2023
Kagiso RabadaEnglandCardiff2025

(Proteas bowlers to take wicket on first ball of a T20I inning)

Rabada’s historic strike set the tone for South Africa’s defence of a modest total in a rain-affected contest. With heavy showers reducing the match to an eight-over-a-side encounter, South Africa posted 97/5 in 7.5 overs thanks to quickfire knocks from Aiden Markram, Dewald Brevis, and Donovan Ferreira. 

England’s target was then revised to 69 runs from five overs via the DLS method, leaving their batting order with a steep challenge under pressure.

England Crumble Under Pressure

That first-ball wicket was crucial as Rabada dismissed the dangerous Salt, handing England an immediate setback. His early strike unsettled the hosts for good. 

Marco Jansen followed up with the wickets of Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell, while Corbin Bosch chipped in with two crucial dismissals, including skipper Harry Brook for a duck. England ultimately faltered at 54/5 in their allotted overs, falling 14 runs short of the target.

The result handed South Africa a vital 1-0 lead in the three-match series, where Rabada handicapped England at the very beginning, with the Cardiff crowd witnessing another memorable moment in T20I history where Rabada’s name now stands tall among those who have struck gold with their opening ball.