Fast bowlers spark Australia’s resurgence in WTC final against South Africa
LONDON: Australia’s pace battery—Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood—spearheaded a fierce bowling assault to dismantle South Africa’s top order on the first day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s on Wednesday.
The trio struck early, with Starc claiming two wickets and Cummins and Hazlewood grabbing one apiece, leaving South Africa reeling at 43 for 4 in 22 overs in reply to Australia’s modest total of 212.
At stumps, captain Temba Bavuma and middle-order batter David Bedingham were unbeaten on 3 and 8 respectively. They will resume South Africa’s innings on Day 2, still trailing Australia by 169 runs.
Opener Ryan Rickelton’s 16 was the lone double-digit score in a difficult outing for the Proteas, who found themselves under immense pressure early in their innings.
Earlier, Australia resumed from 190 for 5 but could only muster 32 more runs before being dismissed for 212 in 56.4 overs. The innings had looked more stable at one point, thanks to a promising sixth-wicket stand of 45 between Beau Webster and Alex Carey.
However, the collapse began soon after the Tea interval. Carey, having made 23 off 31 balls with four boundaries, was bowled by Keshav Maharaj while attempting a reverse sweep just two balls into the session.
The next over saw skipper Pat Cummins bowled by Kagiso Rabada for just 1, and Australia’s troubles deepened when Rabada struck again to dismiss the well-set Webster for 72 off 92 balls, which included 11 boundaries. That left Australia teetering at 210 for 8.
Marco Jansen then removed Nathan Lyon, before Rabada wrapped up the innings by claiming his fifth wicket. He ended with figures of 5 for 51 in 15.4 overs, while Jansen bagged 3 wickets. Spinners Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj contributed with a wicket each.
Earlier in the day, Australia had staged a gritty fightback after being asked to bat first. Veteran Steve Smith and newcomer Beau Webster added a crucial 79 runs for the fifth wicket, helping Australia recover from a shaky start.
The partnership was eventually broken in the 42nd over when Smith edged a delivery from part-time spinner Markram to Marco Jansen, who completed the catch after a couple of attempts. Smith departed after a fluent 66 off 112 deliveries, laced with 10 fours.
Webster then joined Carey to build another valuable stand of 44 runs, showing resilience against a fired-up South African bowling attack. Webster remained unbeaten on 55 and Carey was on 22 at Tea.
In the morning session, Australia got off to a nervy start, failing to register a single run in the first three overs. Usman Khawaja was the first to fall, dismissed for a 20-ball duck by Rabada with the score on 12. The same over saw Cameron Green sent back for 4, compounding Australia’s early woes.
Marnus Labuschagne and Smith attempted to stabilise the innings with a 30-run stand, but Labuschagne’s 17-run knock was cut short by Jansen, leaving Australia at 46 for 3.
Travis Head briefly looked promising alongside Smith before he was dismissed for 11 by Jansen just before lunch, giving South Africa the upper hand.
As for the head-to-head in Test cricket, Australia has historically dominated South Africa, winning 54 of their 101 encounters. South Africa has won 26, while 21 matches have ended in draws.
Playing XIs:
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.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
