Big target looms but South Africa are confident of chasing it down
LONDON: South Africa insist they are confident of chasing down a tough target to win the World Test Championship at Lord's even if the contest against Australia has been dominated by the bowlers.
Batsman David Bedingham, who top scored with 45 for South Africa's meagre first innings total of 138, said there was confidence in their camp that they could haul in whatever target Australia set.
The defending champions already have a 218-run lead with two second innings wickets in hand and resume on Friday looking to add more to make South Africa's task even harder.
"I think it's just an amazing chance. And I think we're all very, very excited about the opportunity to win," Bedingham said after the second day's play.
"Like I said, it could go either way, but I think us as a team are very, very excited and there's a lot of belief in the dressing room."
But with 28 wickets falling over the first two days, the bowlers held the upper hand and South Africa's chances of an upset victory look slim.
"I think when you have six quality seamers on a tricky pitch, it obviously makes batting tough. But I think the way the game's going, I think the wicket has slowed down a bit. The nicks aren't carrying," said Bedingham.
"So I think in the fourth innings, they'll maybe come a bit straighter, and hopefully we can get those runs."
But he admitted Australia's attack, led by six wickets for Pat Cummins, had proven formidable on Thursday.
"Personally, I don't think the Australians gave us any bad balls. That's why they're the best in the world.
"But hopefully, going forward, we can just counteract that and win the World Test Championship. The main thing is just to 100% commit if you are defending or attacking. I think as soon as you get caught in two minds against this attack, you get found out," he added.
Three years ago, England chased down 277 against New Zealand for the third-highest successful chase by a test team at Lord's. West Indies hunted down 342 against England in 1984, while England successfully chased 282 versus New Zealand in 2004.
The fourth highest is 218 for England against New Zealand in 1965. — REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
32 minutes ago
- The Star
Cricket-South Africa look to discard chokers tag as WTC glory beckons
Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - South Africa v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 13, 2025 Australia's Pat Cummins reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers LONDON (Reuters) -Following decades of falling agonisingly short of success, South African cricket sits on the cusp of a first major triumph with 69 runs needed to win the World Test Championship at Lord's on Saturday. South Africa have eight wickets in hand and are now overwhelming favourites to finish off the job, and take the title away from champions Australia, who had set them a daunting fourth innings target of 282 in the final on Friday. Led by Aiden Markram's unbeaten century, they doggedly chased down the runs and will be looking to get over the line when action resumes on day four on Saturday. But, at the same time, the Class of 2025 will be only too aware that past South African teams have been labelled 'chokers' for consistently coming up short when victory is in sight. Therefore, the first thing coach Shukri Conrad said to Markram and captain Temba Bavuma after their unbeaten 143-run partnership on Friday was to ensure they stuck to their usual routine. 'Don't change a thing. Tomorrow morning, come and do the same warm up that you do every day. Just the same processes,' he told them. Assistant coach Ashwill Prince was determined not to get too excited about the potential win, even if it is tantalisingly close. 'We obviously understand the magnitude of the situation and what's at stake. But they've just got to stay calm and take it in their stride,' he said at the end of Friday's play. South African cricket's reputation comes from a long list of near-misses in World Cup semi-finals, including falling foul to a now-discredited rain rule or coming off second best even when the match ended up tied. Last year they reached their first major final at the Twenty20 World Cup in Barbados, but with only 26 runs needed off the last four overs, fell seven runs short as India snatched an unlikely victory. For this team, the message has been clear, added Prince. 'Make them believe that they can do it, and then just sort of step out of the way and allow them to go and do it,' he said. 'But there is a very right bond in that change room. They are willing each other over the line,' Prince added. (Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Mexico's Sheinbaum urges US to avoid immigration action at LA soccer game
FILE PHOTO: Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum addresses the media at the National Palace, in Mexico City, Mexico June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha/File Photo MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday urged U.S. authorities not to conduct immigration enforcement targeting attendees of a Gold Cup soccer match in Los Angeles on Saturday, where Mexico's team is due to play the Dominican Republic. Her comments followed recent raids by immigration authorities in Los Angeles targeting undocumented migrants, under policies associated with the President Donald Trump's administration, which have sparked protests across major cities. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in a now-deleted post to social media, had also promised to be "suited and booted" at the first round of Club World Cup soccer matches, the curtain-raiser event for next year's World Cup. "We don't believe that at any soccer match there will be any (immigration) action... we call for none to be taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement," Sheinbaum said in her morning press conference. The CBP did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Asked if she would still advise fans to attend Saturday's match at SoFi Stadium, Sheinbaum noted that Mexican consulates in the U.S. have established protocols to assist citizens if detained. Sheinbaum also addressed viral social media images of demonstrators in Los Angeles holding Mexican flags, dismissing them as "potential provocations." "Mexico will always promote peace," she said, adding that its nationals in the U.S. were hardworking individuals who do not seek to incite violence. Mexico will play its next two CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage matches in Arlington, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The tournament also features Central American countries with sizable migrant populations in the United States. (Reporting by Raul Cortes; Additional reporting by Carlos Calvo and Ted Hesson; Editing by Kylie Madry and Alistair Bell)
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Motor racing-F1 movie could not have been made without Hamilton, says director
Formula One F1 - Canadian Grand Prix - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Quebec, Canada - June 12, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton talks to press ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier MONTREAL (Reuters) -Brad Pitt's soon-to-be-released Formula One movie could not have been made without Lewis Hamilton, director Joseph Kosinski said on Friday. The Apple Original film "F1", with action scenes filmed at race weekends with the Liberty Media-owned sport's cooperation, is due in cinemas and IMAX internationally on June 25 and in North America on June 27. Kosinski told reporters after an advance showing at the Canadian Grand Prix that the involvement of Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this season after winning six of his seven titles at Mercedes, had been key. The 40-year-old Briton is credited as a co-producer while his Dawn Apollo production company was also involved. Kosinski, who directed the Hit 'Top Gun: Maverick', explained how Hamilton was the first person he reached out to with the idea of a movie. "I sent him an email and just said 'I want to tell the story in your world. I want to make it as authentic as possible. Will you help me?'," he said. "And luckily Lewis said yes... He had actually talked to me earlier about playing a role in 'Top Gun Maverick'. So that's how I knew Lewis." Hamilton, who had to turn down a part in that Tom Cruise film because of his racing commitments, acted as go-between with Formula One and as a consultant advising on technical accuracy and authenticity. He was also a driver advisor to Pitt and co-star Damson Idris. "At Hungary for instance, he said, 'If Brad's going to let someone pass during a blue flag and he wants it to be as tight as possible, he's going to only do that at turn six'," recalled Kosinski. "That kind of detail... from a seven-time world champion who lives and breathes this world every day, I couldn't have gotten that from anywhere else." Hamilton also contributed to the story and served as an inspiration for one scene where Pitt's character talks about why he races in spiritual terms. "So his involvement has been amazing. We couldn't make the film without him." Producer Jerry Bruckheimer referred to Hamilton's insistence of authenticity also in the sound of the film, citing an example at Silverstone where the Briton had pointed out a corner was taken in second gear but the audio was of fourth gear. "It's that kind of detail that went into this," he said. Hamilton has said Pitt's speed is real and the movie will be the most authentic racing film yet. Formula One is hoping the movie cements the appeal of the Netflix docu-series 'Drive to Survive' that has boosted Formula One's popularity and growth worldwide and particularly in the key U.S. market. "I think there's this perception that 'Drive to Survive' turned America onto F1 but I think there's just so many more people out there that don't know anything about it," said Kosinski. "So there's a lot of potential still there." (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
