WTC 2025 Final: Mitchell Starc rewrites history in ICC event as first man ever but…
Australia pacer Mitchell Starc had rocked South Africa on the opening day of the WTC 2025 Final at Lord's on Wednesday with his twin strikes with the ball. On Friday, Starc came back to haunt the Proteas again but this time with the bat.
The Aussie left-arm pacer scored an unbeaten 58 off 136 balls with five boundaries to extend his side's lead 281 from overnight 218 to set Temba Bavuma's side 282 to win the title. In the process, Starc became the first batter in the history of ICC finals to score 50 or more batting at number nine or below in the batting order.
The previous highest scores were by the West Indies duo of Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw, who scored 35 and 34 respectively batting at No. 9 and 10 position against West Indies in the ICC Champions Trophy 2004 final against England at the Oval in London.
Mitchell Starc is such a Super athlete. Can bowl with 140+ speed for 10 overs and can also bat for hours, scoring a sensational fifty when the team needs it the most. He's built different out of this league. That Aussie mindset of Starc's deserves to be studied. pic.twitter.com/vu8gq8lCjd
— Johnny🦅 (@Swayamkrushi0) June 13, 2025
He is also the second batter after India's Shardul Thakur to score a fifty while batting at number 8 or lower. Thakur had achieved this feat the previous WTC Final in 2023 against Australia.
Starc put on 59 runs for the 10th wicket with Josh Hazlewood, who was the last man dismissed by Aiden Markram. In the process, Starc and Hazlewood broke the Aussie record of highest 10th wicket stand in an ICC final. The previous best was between Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thompson, who had put on 41 runs in the 1975 World Cup final against the West Indies.
Australia started Day 3 of the WTC 2025 Final on 144 for 8 in 40 overs, leading by 218 runs, Starc 16 (52) and Nathan Lyon 2 (5). Kagiso Rabada continued his brilliance with the ball, as he removed Lyon in the third over of the day, for 2. Hazlewood then joined Starc in the middle.
Australia crossed 150 runs in the following over, after Starc pushed the ball towards mid-wicket for a quick single off Wiaan Mulder. Australia's lead crossed 250 in the 52nd over.
'The ball got a lot softer. It was a 50 to 60 over old ball. The sun is out, yesterday there was cloud cover. Hopefully, the sun will stay during the chase,' Rabada said going into lunch on Day 3.
'We need partnerships and be positive, looking to go out there and chase the score. No two ways about it. Will be great if we could win. Lord's is a special place, have enjoyed bowling here. I would've loved a ten-for, but would rather not have it and win,' he added.
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