Worcestershire 2016 overseas player Kyle Abbott played a massive role with the ball for South Africa as they defeated Australia by an innings and 80 runs in Hobart to move 2-0 ahead and seal the Test series.
Abbott showed the qualities which had persuaded Worcestershire Director Of Cricket Steve Rhodes to sign him for the second half of last season – only for an injury and international call-ups to restrict him to three County Championship appearances.
He finished with match figures of 9-118 as Australia collapsed for the second time in a match completed on the fourth day before lunch but in only seven sessions of actual playing time after Sunday's wash-out.
Abbott had taken 3-41 in Australia's first innings as they were routed for 85 but he inflicted even more damage in their second knock.
He picked up the two wickets to fall overnight as Australia reached 121-2 but then helped instigate a collapse which saw the last eight wickets fall for 32 runs.
The writing was on the wall once Abbott had dismissed top scorer Usman Khawaja for 64 as South Africa followed up their victory in Perth.
Australia were bowled out for 161 in 60.1 overs with Abbott finishing with the analysis of 23.1-3-77-6 and Kagiso Rabada 17-5-34-4.
Abbott arrived at New Road in early July and looked to be another pivotal overseas signing by Rhodes only for a foot injury and a call-up for the August Test series with New Zealand restricting his time span at New Road.
In fact, the cricketing gods did not shine favourably on Worcestershire's imports last summer with New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner breaking his finger in his first NatWest T20 Blast appearance versus Durham when he was earmarked to play the majority of the campaign.
