Mitchell Starc strikes as Australia fight back in WTC final against Proteas
Markram departs Australia's Mitchell Starc celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of South Africa's Aiden Markram during day one of the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's cricket ground in London on Wednesday. Photo: Glyn Kirk/AFP
Image: Glyn Kirk/AFP
Mitchell Starc led Australia's recovery as the defending champions fought back with the ball against the Proteas on the first day of the World Test Championship final at Lord's on Wednesday.
Australia were dismissed for just 212 after South Africa captain 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 teams' pace attacks, the key question was always likely to be which side could put enough runs on the scoreboard.
Get your news on the go, click
here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Australia's total certainly looked a lot healthier when left-arm quick Starc had Aiden Markram playing on for a duck before dismissing Ryan Rickelton (16) to leave South Africa floundering at 19-2.
Novice number three Wiaan Mulder was reprieved on one when wicketkeeper Alex Carey dropped a sitter off Starc.
But he added just five more runs before he was bowled by Australia captain Pat Cummins, having taken 44 balls to make six.
It took Bavuma 31 balls to score his first runs, a two off Josh Hazlewood greeted with raucous cheers by South Africa fans at Lord's.
But shortly before the close, Hazlewood bowled Tristan Stubbs.
David Bedingham ended the day's play with consecutive boundaries off Cummins to be eight not out, with Bavuma unbeaten on three.
Rampant Rabada
Australia were in desperate trouble in the early overs in London, reduced to 16-2 after losing Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in a single Rabada over.
Khawaja fell for a 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 balls.
The 30-year-old, who has more than 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 batsman tried out.
The 30-year-old, without a Test century for nearly two years, battled hard for 17 off 56 balls before being dismissed by classic fast-bowling from towering left-armer Marco Jansen.
Australia had been in similar trouble in the 2023 final against India across London at the Oval, only for Steve Smith and Travis Head to both score hundreds as they turned the match in their favour.
Head, however, could only manage 11 before he glanced Jansen, with Kyle Verreynne holding an excellent diving one-handed catch.
But star batsman Smith (66) and all-rounder Beau Webster (72) repaired the damage with a fifth-wicket stand of 79.
Yet in what could to be prove a key moment in the match, Webster would have been lbw to Rabada for eight if South Africa had reviewed an original not out decision.
Smith went to fifty 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.
AFP
Get your news on the go, click
here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
32 minutes ago
- eNCA
Cummins says bowler-dominated WTC final still a 'good Test'
LONDON - Australia captain Pat Cummins said the World Test Championship final against South Africa was a good advertisement for Test cricket despite hurtling towards a likely finish within three days. An astounding 28 wickets fell across the first two days at Lord's. Fast bowler Cummins played his part by taking a superb 6-28 on Thursday's second day to reach the milestone of 300 Test wickets. But as batsmen on both sides struggled for runs, an eighth-wicket partnership of 61 between Alex Carey (43) and Mitchell Starc (16 not out) enabled reigning champions Australia to reach stumps on 144-8 in their second innings, a lead of 218 with two wickets standing. "It's set up pretty well," Cummins told reporters. "The mood in the changing room is pretty positive. It was a great partnership and a good way to end the day." Asked whether the bowlers' dominance detracted from the occasion of a championship final, Cummins replied: "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 said the rapid progress of the match was down to a combination of a tricky pitch and good bowling. "Both teams have bowled really well, really disciplined," he said. "There haven't been many half-volleys." The 32-year-old, appearing in his 68th Test, added: "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)." - 'Durability and longevity' - Cummins was outstanding as South Africa were dismissed for 138, giving Australia a 74-run lead on first innings, with the skipper especially devastating in a potent post-lunch burst of 4-1 in 17 balls. His return on Thursday took Cummins to exactly 300 Test wickets -- something he described as "pretty cool" -- at a miserly average of 22.08. Cummins, just the eighth Australia bowler to reach the landmark, added: "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." AFP | Glyn KIRK David Bedingham, who top-scored for South Africa with 45, agreed with Cummins about the standard of bowling. "It's a fairly tricky pitch, but I think when you have six quality seamers on a tricky pitch it obviously makes batting tough." Nevertheless, Bedingham said South Africa remained confident of a successful run chase, even though their target will be signficantly higher than their first-innings total. "It is an amazing chance and we are very excited about the opportunity to win," he said, with South Africa bidding for their first major global title in 28 years. "It could go either way but there is a lot of belief. "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." cb/jdg/jc
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Plays of the Day at Lord's as 14 wickets fall on day two of Proteas v Australia WTC final
Kagiso Rabada, seen here celebrating taking the wicket of Cameron Green, dismissed Usman Khawaja for the second time at Lord's on Thursday. Photo: AFP Image: AFP Day two saw 14 wickets fall at Lord's in the World Test Championship final between the Proteas and Australia. Ongama Gcwabe highlights the Plays of the Day... Positive intent For a side that had vowed to take the positive approach with the bat since coach Shukri Conrad took over two years ago, recording 43/4 in 22 overs on the opening day was certainly contrary. However, when Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham took to the middle on day two, they showed positive intent, taking full advantage when opportunities came. Bavuma's pull shot for six off Pat Cummins was the only six in the match, a feat that shows just how positive the Proteas batters were on day two. Game-changer After a poor performance with the ball on the opening day, Lungi Ngidi bounced back with a game-changing spell. In his spell, the quick removed Steve Smith, Beau Webster and Pat Cummins to break the game open and hand the Proteas a massive advantage. Ball There is just something special about a right-arm quick bowling around the wicket to a left-handed batter. Kagiso Rabada employed this tactic against Australia's opening batter Usman Khawaja and got the outside edge on day two, dismissing the left-hander twice in the match in the same manner. The ball pitched in the off-stump line and slightly moved away from the left-hander, taking the edge and handing the Proteas their first scalp on day two. Review Steve Smith's half-century in the first innings painted a vivid picture of just how dangerous the right-handed batter is. When Lungi Ngidi trapped him in front, it was sent upstairs, and it came out in favour of South Africa, with Australia's most dangerous batter sent back to the pavilion. No-balls Despite having done a remarkable job with the ball at Lord's, the Proteas fast bowlers have recorded 18 no-balls in the Test match. Given the low-scoring nature of the game, 18 no-balls could be a match-defining feat.
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
David Bedingham: Amazing chance for ‘confident' Proteas to win World Test Championship final against Australia
David Bedingham scored 45 for the Proteas against Australia on Thursday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix LONDON: The Proteas' date with destiny has arrived quicker than they might have envisioned. But they need just two wickets – which should have been one had Marco Jansen not shelled a catch in the gully in the final over of an absorbing second day – before they begin a run-chase that will decide their fate in this utterly enthralling World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's. Led by their brilliant captain Pat Cummins (6/28), Australia kept their hands firmly on the ICC golden mace they won two years ago by skittling the Proteas for just 138 in response to their 212 on Thursday. But like the Proteas have shown throughout this WTC cycle to earn their spot in this Lord's showpiece, they jumped back up from the canvas through the most unlikely of characters, with Lungi Ngidi delivering an inspired nine-over spell to finish with figures of 3/35 to reduce Australia to 144/8 – an overall lead of 218 – at stumps on the second day. David Bedingham showed his vast experience of English conditions by top-scoring in the Proteas' first innings with a workmanlike 45 off 111 balls. He knows that much more will probably be needed from him if the Proteas are to win their first major ICC trophy since 1998, but has the full belief in his teammates to get the job done when they do eventually come out to face the full menace of the Australian attack. 'We're very confident,' Bedingham said. 'I think the batters will have their plans. 'I think it's just an amazing chance, and I think we're all very, very excited about the opportunity to win. 'I think when they started batting in their third innings, I think we would have definitely had them or taken them at 220 for eight. '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.' Bedingham also paid tribute to the way Ngidi showed the mental ability to bounce back after enduring a barrage of criticism for his first-innings performance, citing a change from the Pavillion End to the Nursery End as the catalyst for the turnaround in the paceman's fortunes. 'Lungi's a chilled guy, so I don't think it would have affected him that much,' Bedingham said. 'But yeah, I think he was struggling with that end, and I think as soon as he changed ends, he looked a lot more comfortable. 'Yeah, and for him to bowl nine overs on the bounce takes a massive amount of effort.' Cummins will, though, once again be the immovable force standing between the Proteas and their shot at glory when their batting innings begins, and the Australian skipper – who passed 300 wickets on Thursday – is in no mood to relinquish the mace just yet. 'Ideally, probably, have a few more wickets in the shed. But I think the trend of the game is the runs are coming down, and it's still pretty difficult out there,' he said. 'I think both teams have bowled really well, really disciplined, haven't been too many half-volleys. 'Both teams are kind of just hanging in that good length area, pretty tight line. I think it's the fast bowling, and the wicket's got enough in it to make it even more tricky. 'It's been really exciting. The crowd was really into it today as the wickets were falling. 'I think it's set up pretty well for a day three finish you'd imagine tomorrow. But, yeah, I think we're going to have to bowl well still in the fourth innings.'
