Carey and Starc Rescue Australia in WTC Final Clash with South Africa

LONDON: Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc stitched together a crucial 61-run stand for the eighth wicket, helping Australia reach a position of relative safety in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25 final against South Africa at Lord’s on Thursday.

At the end of a dramatic second day, Australia found themselves at 144/8, holding a lead of 218 runs, with Starc unbeaten on 16 and Nathan Lyon on 1.

The day had started with promise for the Australians as Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne resumed their second innings at 32/2. However, that promise quickly faded as South Africa’s fast bowlers orchestrated a rapid collapse. Australia lost five wickets for just 41 runs after the interval, slumping to 73/7 and allowing South Africa back into the contest.

Just when it seemed the defending champions were on the brink, Carey and Starc halted the slide with a patient and gritty partnership. Facing a fired-up Proteas bowling unit, they added valuable runs and extended the lead beyond the 200-run mark. Carey led the counterattack with a brisk 43 off 50 balls, laced with five boundaries, before falling to Kagiso Rabada, who ended the threatening stand.

Starc showed resilience and remained at the crease as the day drew to a close, leaving Australia with a fighting chance heading into Day Three.

South Africa’s bowling attack had earlier impressed. Rabada and Lungi Ngidi each claimed three wickets, while Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder contributed with one apiece.

Australia had initially begun their second innings with a slim 74-run cushion. Openers Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne looked steady in the early overs, but Rabada’s incisive spell changed the game. He dismissed Khawaja for six and removed Cameron Green for a golden duck the very next ball, leaving Australia teetering at 28/2.

By tea, Australia had limped to 32/2, with Labuschagne and Smith trying to steady the ship.

Earlier in the day, South Africa resumed their first innings at 121/5 but crumbled under relentless pressure from Pat Cummins. The Australian skipper delivered a fiery post-lunch spell, finishing with remarkable figures of 6 for 28 in 18.1 overs. South Africa added just 17 more runs after the break and were dismissed for 138, handing Australia a first-innings lead of 74.

David Bedingham top-scored for South Africa with a composed 45, while captain Temba Bavuma added 36. No other batter crossed 20, as Australia’s bowlers ran through the lower order. Cummins was well supported by Starc (2 wickets) and Hazlewood (1), with Alex Carey also effecting a crucial run-out to remove Keshav Maharaj.

South Africa’s innings had briefly shown promise late on Day One when Bavuma and Bedingham put together a 64-run partnership after early damage left the team reeling at 30/4. But Cummins returned with a vengeance, removing Bavuma just when the Proteas looked to rebuild.

In reply to Australia’s modest first-innings total of 212, South Africa had stumbled early, finishing Day One at 43/4. That collapse followed an eventful opening session where Australia failed to score in the first three overs and then lost Khawaja and Green to Rabada within the first seven.

Smith and Labuschagne tried to steady the innings, adding 30 runs together, but Marco Jansen removed Labuschagne, and then dismissed Travis Head shortly before lunch.

After the break, Smith anchored the innings with a composed 66 off 112 balls, sharing a 79-run partnership with Beau Webster, who top-scored with a fluent 72 off 92 deliveries. Once that stand ended, Australia suffered a swift lower-order collapse. Carey fell for 23 attempting a reverse sweep, and Rabada cleaned up Cummins and Webster in quick succession.

Australia were bowled out for 212 in 56.4 overs, with Rabada starring with 5 for 51. Jansen picked up three, while spinners Markram and Maharaj chipped in with one wicket each.

South Africa’s reply never got going, as Starc and Cummins made early inroads, reducing them to 43/4 by stumps on Day One.

As the match heads into its third day, Australia hold the upper hand, thanks in large part to the late resistance by Carey and Starc, though South Africa remain within striking distance.