While South African batters were struggling to reply to Pakistan's first innings total of 333, the lower-order batters rescued the visitors and set up a strong fightback, as the Proteas have taken a solid first innings lead in the Rawalpindi Test. South African no.11 batter Kagiso Rabada stunned with his powerful batting that set a new record for his nation. 

South Africa started the third day of the ongoing Rawalpindi Test at 185/4, but due to losing wickets at regular intervals, they were struggling at 235 for 8. Then Senuran Muthusamy and Keshav Maharaj had a 71-run partnership for the ninth wicket, but the Proteas were still 27 runs short of Pakistan's first innings total when Maharaj was dismissed for 30 runs. 

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Kagiso Rabada scored a 38-ball fifty: Second fastest Test fifty by no.11 batter

Then Senuran Muthusamy got strong support from the no.11 batter Kagiso Rabada, whose fiery batting put South Africa in a strong position in the Test match. They had the 98-run partnership for the last wicket, while Rabada slammed a 38-ball fifty, which was his first Test fifty, and continued his impressive batting to score 71 off 61 balls with four fours and four sixes. 

While Rabada slammed a 38-ball fifty with three sixes and three fours, it was the second-fastest Test fifty by a no.11 batter. West Indies cricketer Shane Shillingford holds this record with a 25-ball fifty against New Zealand in 2014. South African cricketer Pat Symcox held the previous record for South Africa by scoring a 40-ball fifty against Australia in 1998. 

• 25 balls - Shane Shillingford (West Indies) vs New Zealand, 2014
• 38 balls – Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) vs Pakistan, 2025
• 40 balls - Pat Symcox (South Africa) vs Australia, 1998

Kagiso Rabada recorded highest score by no.11 South African batter

With his 71-run knock, Kagiso Rabada also recorded the highest Test innings score by a no.11 batter for South Africa. Their previous record was 62 not out by Bert Vogler against England in 1906. Meanwhile, Rabada now recorded the fifth-highest score in a Test innings by a no.11 batter.

On the other hand, Muthusamy and Rabada set the 98-run partnership for the last wicket, which was South Africa's fourth-highest 10th-wicket partnership in a Test innings. Muthusamy remained not out at 89 runs off 155 balls.