Mitchell Starc Strikes As Australia Fight Back In WTC Final Vs South Africa
Last Updated:
Mitchell Starc has led Australia's recovery against South Africa on the first day of the World Test Championship final at Lord's.
Star Australia pacer Mitchell Starc spearheaded his team's recovery as the defending champions fought back against South Africa on the first day of the World Test Championship final at the Lord's on Wednesday.
Australia were dismissed for just 212 after South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss in overcast, bowler-friendly conditions, with spearhead quick Kagiso Rabada taking 5/51.
But at stumps, South Africa had slumped to 43/4 in reply, a deficit of 169 runs. Given the strength of both sides' pace attacks, the key question might be which team could put enough runs on the scoreboard.
Australia's total looked a lot healthier when left-arm quick Starc had Aiden Markram playing on for a duck before dismissing Ryan Rickelton to leave South Africa floundering at 19/2.
Novice number three Wiaan Mulder was reprieved on just one run when wicketkeeper Alex Carey dropped an easy catch off Starc.
But Mulder added only five more runs before he was bowled by Australia skipper Pat Cummins, having taken 44 deliveries to make just six runs.
It took Bavuma 31 deliveries to score his first runs, a two of Josh Hazlewood greeted with loud cheers by South Africa fans at the Lord's.
But before the close, Hazlewood bowled Tristan Stubbs. David Bedingham ended the day's play with successive fours off Cummins to be unbeaten on eight, with Bavuma on three not out.
Khawaja fell for an embarrassing 20-ball duck in the seventh over, edging Rabada to Bedingham at first slip.
Three balls later, 12/1 became 16/2 when Green nicked low to second slip, where Markram held a superb diving catch.
Rabada had now taken two wickets for four runs in four deliveries. The star pacer, who has over 300 Test wickets, is playing his first Test after serving a one-month ban for cocaine use earlier this year.
Australia have struggled to find an opening partner for Khawaja since David Warner's retirement 17 months ago, with Marnus Labuschagne the latest batter tried out.
Labuschagne, without a Test hundred for almost two years, battled hard for 17 off 56 deliveries before being dismissed by classic pace bowling from towering left-armer Marco Jansen.
Australia had been in similar trouble in the 2023 final against India across London at the Oval, just for Steve Smith and Travis Head both scored centuries as they turned the game in their favour.
Head, however, could just manage 11 before he glanced at Jansen, with Kyle Verreynne holding an excellent diving one-handed catch.
But star batter Smith (66) and all-rounder Beau Webster (72) repaired the damage with a fifth-wicket partnership of 79.
Yet in what could prove to be a key moment in the game, Webster would have been lbw to Rabada for eight if South Africa had reviewed an original not-out decision.
Smith went to half-century before falling to part-time spinner Markram when he edged a booming drive and Jansen, at slip, clung on at the third attempt.
Australia lost their last five wickets for just 20 runs, with Rabada ending the innings when he bowled Starc.
First Published:
June 11, 2025, 23:30 IST
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
42 minutes ago
- First Post
WTC Final: SA pacer Ngidi insists match ‘in balance' even as Cummins, Carey help AUS surge ahead on Day 2
Pat Cummins produced a sensational spell of four wickets for just one run to finish with figures out 6/28, helping Australia bowl South Africa out for just 138. Alex Carey's fighting 43 then helped the defending champions end Day 2 on 144/8 from 73/7. read more Australia captain Pat Cummins celebrates after dismissing his South African counterpart Temba Bavuma on Day 2 of the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's. Reuters Australia captain Pat Cummins starred with the ball and Alex Carey made valuable runs following a dramatic collapse as the holders retained the advantage in the World Test Championship final against South Africa on Thursday. Fast bowler Cummins produced a sensational spell of four wickets for one run, sparking South Africa's collapse to 138 all out on the second day in reply to Australia's first innings total of 212 at Lord's. Australia collapsed to 73-7 in their second innings, with Kagiso Rabada (3-44) and Lungi Ngidi (3-35) doing the bulk of the damage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But Carey (43) and Mitchell Starc (16 not out) shared an eighth-wicket partnership of 61 before the wicketkeeper was lbw to Rabada shortly before the close. The last over of the day saw Starc dropped on 14 when Marco Jansen shelled a routine catch off Wiaan Mulder. At stumps Australia were 144-8, a potentially decisive lead of 218 runs. A remarkable 28 wickets fell in two days on a pitch which, while offering some assistance to the quicks, was by no means unplayable. But a match scheduled for five days, could now finish before the end of the third. 'In England when it's overcast, the ball seems to do a bit more,' Starc told the BBC. 'Everyone is quick to jump on the batters but you've got to notice the good bowling from both sides.' Ngidi, meanwhile, insisted South Africa were still in the game. 'It's in the balance right now,' he said. 'Two wickets in hand, if we can knock those over and maybe chase 225, people are going to get their money's worth.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rabada, who had taken 5-51 in the first innings, tormented Australia again with two wickets in the 11th over. He had Usman Khawaja caught behind for six and, two balls later, removed Cameron Green for a duck following the number three's four in the first innings. Wickets continued to tumble after tea. Left-arm quick Jansen had Marnus Labuschagne, in his first Test as an opener, caught behind for 22. And Australia's 44-3 became 48-4 next over when Beau Webster, who top-scored in Australia's first innings with 72, fell lbw to Ngidi. 'Led from the front' Australia were reeling at 73-7 after Cummins was bowled off his pad by an excellent Ngidi yorker. But Carey and Starc led a defiant response that kept their side on course to retain the title. Earlier, Cummins finished with figures of 6-28 as he reached 300 career Test wickets and secured a coveted place on the Lord's honours board with a five-wicket haul. 'He does it time and time again,' said Starc of Cummins. 'He led from the front before he was captain and now as captain as well. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The quality and skills he has in his pocket – I'm thrilled for him to get a bagful. To go to 300 is a special effort.' South Africa lost their last five wickets for 12 runs as Cummins ripped through the batting order. Only South Africa captain Temba Bavuma (36) and David Bedingham (45) offered meaningful resistance during a fifth-wicket stand of 64. After lunch, Cummins struck four times in a mere 17 balls of devastating pace bowling. South Africa had resumed on Thursday at 43-4, battling to put enough runs on the board. Bavuma, who faced 37 balls for his overnight three not out, changed gears with a lofted cover-drive for four off left-arm quick Starc before pulling Cummins for six. Cummins had his revenge, however, when Bavuma's checked drive was brilliantly caught at cover by a diving Labuschagne. He then dismissed Kyle Verreynne lbw for 13 and, three balls later, held a simple return catch as Jansen fell for a duck. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Australia skipper ended the innings with his 300th Test wicket, Rabada well caught low down at deep square leg by Webster.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'It's pretty close to 50-50': Pat Cummins reflects on Australia's position after WTC Final Day 2 vs South Africa
Pat Cummins of Australia with team mates Nathan Lyon and Beau Webster (Photo by) Australia captain Pat Cummins reached the milestone of 300 Test wickets while leading his team to a commanding position in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's on June 13, 2025. After two days of play, Australia reached 144-8 in their second innings, establishing a lead of 218 runs with two wickets remaining. A total of 28 wickets fell across the first two days as both teams' batsmen struggled for runs on a challenging pitch. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Cummins delivered an outstanding bowling performance, taking 6-28 on the second day to help dismiss South Africa for 138 runs, giving Australia a first-innings lead of 74 runs. Pat Cummins on WTC Final: 'Cameron Green deserves a spot in the lineup' An eighth-wicket partnership of 61 between Alex Carey (43) and Mitchell Starc (16 not out) strengthened Australia's position at stumps. "It's set up pretty well. The mood in the changing room is pretty positive. It was a great partnership and a good way to end the day," Cummins said. "After two days it's pretty close to 50-50. It's a pretty good Test match. Some blokes have got themselves in and looked comfortable out there, but a lot of other guys haven't," Cummins added regarding the bowlers' dominance. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? Cummins attributed the rapid progress of the match to both pitch conditions and bowling quality. "Both teams have bowled really well, really disciplined. There haven't been many half-volleys," he said. "The trend of the game is that the runs are coming down. It's still pretty difficult out there, but we will have to bowl well tomorrow (Friday)," the 32-year-old said in his 68th Test appearance. Temba Bavuma on picking Ngidi over Paterson for WTC Final: 'Tough decision' Cummins became the eighth Australian bowler to reach 300 Test wickets, achieving this feat at an average of 22.08. "There's not too many on that list. It's something I've always thought about. It's a pretty good sign of durability and longevity," Cummins remarked about his milestone. South Africa's top scorer David Bedingham , who made 45 runs, acknowledged the challenging conditions. "It's a fairly tricky pitch, but I think when you have six quality seamers on a tricky pitch it obviously makes batting tough," Bedingham said. Despite trailing in the match, Bedingham expressed confidence in South Africa's ability to chase down the target. "It is an amazing chance and we are very excited about the opportunity to win. It could go either way but there is a lot of belief," he said. "I think the pitch is slowing down a bit and maybe in the fourth innings it will go a bit straighter. Hopefully, we can get those runs," Bedingham added, as South Africa aims for their first major global title in 28 years.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
WTC Final: Kagiso Rabada enters South Africa's top five Test wicket-takers, surpasses Jacques Kallis
Kagiso Rabada of South Africa. (Photo by Paul Harding/) South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has surpassed Jacques Kallis to become South Africa's fifth-highest wicket-taker across all formats during the World Test Championship 2025 Final against Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on Thursday. Rabada delivered an outstanding performance in the championship final, claiming five wickets for 51 runs in the first innings, helping South Africa dismiss Australia for 212 runs. He followed this with three more wickets on Day 2 of the match. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The 30-year-old paceman now has 574 international wickets, moving ahead of Kallis's 572 wickets. Rabada achieved this milestone in 242 matches across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, while Kallis's wickets came from 513 international games during his 19-year career. Temba Bavuma on picking Ngidi over Paterson for WTC Final: 'Tough decision' Former South African captain Shaun Pollock holds the overall record for most wickets for South Africa in international cricket, with 823 wickets in 414 matches. Rabada has also made his mark in another statistic, having bowled 57 no-balls in test cricket as of October 2024. India's Jasprit Bumrah follows with 24 no-balls. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? In the ongoing World Test Championship Final, Australia recovered from a precarious position of 66/6 in their second innings. A crucial partnership between Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc helped Australia extend their lead to 218 runs by the end of Day 2. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Carey's resistance ended when Rabada dismissed him for 43 in the second-last over of the day. Mitchell Starc (16 not out) and Nathan Lyon (1 not out) were at the crease when Australia finished Day 2 at 144/8. The match saw Australia fighting back through Carey's impactful innings, though Rabada continued to pose a threat with his bowling, securing three wickets in the second innings to add to his five-wicket haul in the first.
