Proteas face a massive task, needing the fourth-highest successful run chase at Lord’s to win.
WTC Final Day 2 Recap
For two hours on day two, Australia had one hand firmly on the WTC Final mace. They led by 74 runs after a strong first innings performance at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. South Africa counterattacked with fierce bowling to wrest control from Australia’s grip. Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc responded with a gritty 61-run stand for the eighth wicket. After a thrilling day of Test cricket, Australia still hold a slight advantage in the WTC Final.
Day Two – A Bowler’s Paradise at Lord’s
Fourteen wickets fell on day two, matching the total from day one at Lord’s. That’s 28 wickets in just six action-packed sessions of the WTC Final Test match. Pat Cummins made history as the first visiting captain to take a five-for at Lord’s. He also claimed his 300th Test wicket, cementing his place among Australia’s great pacers. Rabada and Jansen ripped through the Aussie top order, reducing them to 44 for 3. Lungi Ngidi, returning after 10 months, picked up three vital wickets in a brilliant nine-over burst.
South Africa now face the fourth-highest successful run chase in Lord’s Test match history. They must do it against Australia’s relentless bowling attack in the WTC Final showdown. After 7.5 intense hours of play, Australia hold a slight but crucial upper hand.
South Africa resumed on 43 for 4, still trailing Australia by 169 runs in the Lord’s Test. Temba Bavuma began cautiously, scoring 3 from 37 balls by stumps on day one. He showed intent early on day two, lofting Starc for two classy drives. On 17, Bavuma was given out LBW to Hazlewood but reviewed the decision. To everyone’s surprise, Snicko showed an inside-edge, overturning the umpire’s call. Bavuma then attacked Hazlewood and Starc, pulling Cummins into the stands for six. His confident batting gave South Africa a much-needed lift during a tense session.
Carey Spark Turning Point
Bavuma and Bedingham added 64 in a crucial WTC Final stand at Lord’s Cricket Ground. It took fielding brilliance to break the partnership during a tense second session. Bavuma lofted Pat Cummins to Marnus Labuschagne at cover, who took a stunning diving catch. That wicket shifted momentum back to Australia in this WTC Final Test.
After Bavuma fell, South Africa slowed down under pressure from Australia’s disciplined bowling. Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne managed only 17 runs from 52 nervy deliveries. Hazlewood forced a false shot from Bedingham to remove him cheaply. Verreynne edged Beau Webster but the ball dropped short of Steve Smith at slip. Controversy followed when Bedingham inside-edged onto the pad flap. Alex Carey moved in for a catch but missed it after bobbling from the pad. As Bedingham reached for the ball, Aussies appealed for obstructing the field. Umpires ruled the ball dead; no obstruction occurred. Bedingham struck the next delivery, a half-volley, for four runs. South Africa reached lunch at 121 for 5, trailing by 91 runs.
After the break, Cummins struck Verreynne’s pad as he shuffled across the stumps. The ball trickled to fine leg as Verreynne attempted a quick single. Cummins turned for an lbw appeal and collided with Verreynne mid-pitch. A throw followed and a potential run-out also surfaced during the chaos. Cummins reviewed the ball tracking showed it was hitting leg stump. Moments later, Marco Jansen offered a simple return catch to Cummins. South Africa slumped to 126 for 7 in the WTC Final.
Cummins removed Bedingham with a faint edge to Alex Carey behind the stumps. He then dismissed Rabada with a mistimed pull shot to deep square leg. That was Cummins’ 300th Test wicket, a historic milestone in this WTC Final clash. Cummins ended with outstanding figures of 6 for 28 from 18.1 overs. He bowled six maidens and barely delivered a loose ball .Australia secured a vital lead that may decide the outcome at Lord’s.
South Africa collapsed spectacularly, losing 5 wickets for just 12 runs in 35 balls. A similar collapse happened to Australia, who lost 5 for 20 on day one.
South Africa began flat with poor discipline after lunch. Labuschagne scored seven runs off Rabada’s opening over of the innings. Rabada and Jansen bowled three no-balls in the first four overs combined. Rabada regained rhythm by striking Labuschagne on the pad and finding his outside edge soon after.
South Africa Strike Back Before WTC Final
In the next over, Jansen thought he had Khawaja caught behind but replays showed no edge. Bavuma wasted a review despite clear daylight between bat and ball. It took until the 11th over for South Africa to make a breakthrough. Rabada, for the second time in this Test, struck twice in a single over. He removed Khawaja, caught behind off a defensive prod outside off stump. Then Cameron Green edged to third slip for another quick dismissal. Steven Smith countered with a textbook straight drive for four runs. Australia went to tea at 32 for 2, holding a 106-run lead at Lord’s.
Like day one, the evening session turned into complete mayhem at Lord’s in this WTC Final. Jansen bowled a long spell around the tea break, applying pressure with every over. In his eighth over, he bowled full to Labuschagne, who edged to the slips. Australia’s top three—Khawaja, Labuschagne, and Green—managed just 49 runs across two innings. This is their worst top-order return since 1890 in a Test match.
Ngidi returned post-tea and finally found rhythm with full, straight deliveries targeting the stumps. Smith missed one and was struck on the back pad; a review confirmed LBW. Next, Webster was hit on the pad and reviewed, but the call remained out. In the following over, Mulder bowled Travis Head, with the ball deflecting off the pad. Ngidi then bowled a perfect yorker to Cummins that shattered middle and off stump. Australia crumbled to 73 for 7 under fierce South African bowling pressure.
Just as South Africa sensed a turnaround, Carey and Starc built a valuable lower-order partnership. They added 61 runs for the eighth wicket at 4.31 runs per over. Rabada returned and finally removed Carey LBW with a delivery that nipped back in. However, Rabada continued to overstep, bowling five no-balls on the day alone. South Africa have now overstepped 19 times in this Test match, costing them dearly.
In the final over, Jansen dropped Starc at gully—an important missed chance. It came off Mulder’s bowling, third-last ball of the day, and could haunt South Africa. Fielders had moved closer due to several short-edged balls throughout the innings. Jansen, brilliant earlier, failed to repeat his fielding heroics from day one. Australia ended day two at 218 runs ahead with two wickets remaining.
