LONDON: Australia’s fast bowlers staged an impressive fightback to reduce South Africa to 43-4 on the opening day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final here at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
South Africa are trailing by 169 runs as their top order failed to capitalise as Pat Cummins’ men seized control of the game in the last half of day one at the home of cricket.
The opening day of the WTC final was eventful, with 14 wickets falling as bowlers dominated throughout the day.
Mitchell Starc began the action for the defending champions, Australia, with a trademark delivery that dismissed Aiden Markram for a golden duck.
Starc struck again in the eighth over, dismissing Ryan Rickelton for 16 runs, reducing South Africa to 19-2.
Wiaan Mulder, batting in the number three position for only the third time in his career, and captain Temba Bavuma faced a challenging spell against the precise bowling of the Australian pacers.
Mulder’s sluggish 44-ball six-run innings ended, courtesy of Pat Cummins’ delivery, while the incoming batter, Tristan Stubbs (2), failed to make his mark, which left South Africa tottering at 30-4 inside 20 overs.
Temba Bavuma (3) and David Bedingham (8) remained unbeaten at the end of day’s play.
For Australia, Mitchell Starc took two wickets while Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins bagged one each.
Earlier, Kagiso Rabada’s five-wicket haul put South Africa in a commanding position in the WTC final as Australia were bundled out for 212 in their first innings.
South Africa came back roaring after the tea break, breaking a promising 46-run partnership with the wicket of Alex Carey.
The left-hander was bowled on the score of 23 by Keshav Maharaj, triggering a collapse that Australia never recovered from.
Rabada was the chief tormentor as he removed Skipper Pat Cummins (1) and well-set Beau Webster (72), which reduced Australia to 210-8 in the all-important WTC final.
Following the collapse, it was expected that experienced tail-enders Nathon Lyon and Mitchell Starc would steady the defending champions; however, Marco Jansen cleaned up Lyon for a duck in the 56th over.
Kagiso Rabada concluded the innings by taking the wicket of Starc, achieving a record five-wicket haul and surpassing Allen Donald, thus moving up to fourth on South Africa’s all-time wicket-takers list.
Beau Webster was the top scorer for Australia with 72 runs, while Steve Smith played elegantly, scoring 66 runs in an innings that broke the record for the most half-centuries by a visiting batter in England.g batter in England.
For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada starred with the ball, taking five for 51 in his 15.4 overs, while Marco Jansen supported him well with his three wickets.
Steve Smith and Beau Webster’s half-centuries steadied Australia post-lunch after South Africa’s early jolts. The reigning champions scored at 3.75 runs an over, bringing the score to 190-5 on the stroke of tea, courtesy of a burgeoning 79-run stand between Steve Smith and Beau Webster.
The duo batted cautiously, adding vital runs on the fifth wicket, which took the defending champions out of early trouble, created by South Africa’s pacers.
Steve Smith was removed after a well-made 66, thanks to a brilliant catch from Marco Jansen, leaving Australia 146-5. However, Beau Webster held firm, reaching his second half-century of his Test career.
Australia reached a steady score at the end of the second session, with Webster unbeaten at 62 and Alex Carey not out on 22.
In the opening session, South Africa took four wickets to leave Australia reeling at 67-4.
The Proteas’ fast bowlers put pressure on Australia’s new opening pair, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, before Kagiso Rabada secured the first breakthrough.
Khawaja was the first wicket to fall, caught in the slips by David Bedingham after facing 20 deliveries without scoring.
Cameron Green came out to play his first Test innings since his back surgery; however, his stay was short-lived as he fell prey to Rabada after scoring four runs off three balls.
Labuschagne (17) was joined by an ever-dependable Steve Smith, but they could not form a solid partnership as Marco Jansen removed the former to leave Australia struggling at 46-3.
Travis Head (11) joined Smith but failed to add much to the total, getting caught behind off Jansen at the stroke of Lunch after scoring a meagre 11.
The Australian scoreboard read 67-4 at the end of the first session, with Smith standing unbeaten on 26.
PLAYING XIs
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verrynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
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