Duke puts Socceroos ahead in qualifier
Socceroos star Mitch Duke puts Australia ahead in the second half of the World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.
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Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Starc quality with bat and ball in vain at Lord's
Mitchell Starc has won all four of the World Cup and World Championship cricket showdowns in which he's featured - and he was damned if he wasn't going to give it everything to maintain that proud record. On a fraught Friday when Australia needed their main men to stand up and be counted at Lord's, nobody stood taller than the 35-year-old pacer - or should that really be allrounder - as he produced another performance deserving of a global triumph. Starc not only delivered a tremendous half-century in a dogged last-wicket stand with Josh Hazlewood but then snapped up the two key early wickets that looked set to ensure they'd race to the mace. And if a helmeted Steve Smith had not ventured quite so far forward in the slips and hadn't spilled the catch from another Starc snorter that should have sent Temba Bavuma packing, surely the evergreen leftie would have been in contention for player-of-the-match honours with South Africa seemingly sliding to defeat. Instead, in the match's absolute turning point, Bavuma survived, going on to play a true captain's knock with his unbeaten 65 while struggling with a hamstring injury, and Smith ended up out of the final and on his way to hospital with a dislocated right pinkie. At 2-76 rather than 3-76, Bavuma and an inspired Aiden Markram flourished in the sunshine on a wicket playing without the mischief it had done under the cloud-tinted skies of the first two days and it now looks inevitable Starc's unbeaten final record will end on Saturday. His frustration became evident near the end of what looked a trying day for him. Indeed, when Markram began to dominate late on Friday, cutting Starc expertly away to the boundary, the southpaw quick could only wave his arms in clear frustration that the match was slipping away. He must have felt he deserved more, especially after earlier having looked quite untroubled in compiling 59 with Hazlewood for Australia's last wicket, a partnership that lasted 135 balls, at that point comfortably the longest of the match. It's often been suggested Starc could have been an authentic allrounder if he'd concentrated more on his batting, and he certainly looked the genuine article here as he remained unbeaten on 58 - his first Test half-century for six years but his 11th in total. Not bad for a No.9 who now has 2276 runs to his name. Playing like a senior batter, he even shielded Hazlewood from the strike during much of their partnership, particularly against the Proteas' strike bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. It was the second-most deliveries he's faced in a Test innings since he made 99 in Mohali a dozen years ago, but until Hazlewood looked mightily irritated to get dismissed softly, he may have even fancied enjoying the bragging rights of eclipsing that career-best Test score which, oddly, he shares with his wife Alyssa Healy. For once, he looks set to be denied, but it's been such a topsy-turvy showpiece that those 69 runs still needed by South Africa could look awfully hard to eke out should Australia's old Starc quality shine once more with a couple of quick blows on Saturday morning.
Daily Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
Australia v South Africa: Aiden Markram century powers Proteas towards victory
Australia is on the verge of experiencing what it's like to blow a World Cup final, as South Africa turned the tables of history when a sickening compound finger dislocation for Steve Smith proved decisive. South Africa is on track to not only win, but trample Australia, anchored by one of the great centuries in a final by opener Aiden Markram. That is provided they aren't overwhelmed by nerves when they wake up needing 69 runs to finally shake the biggest gorilla in world cricket off their backs. Markram (102 not out off 158 balls) raised his arms in triumph when he brought up triple figures with a boundary in the penultimate over of the day and embraced captain courageous Temba Bavuma (65 not out) with the pair demoralising Australia with a stunning unbeaten stand of 143. Pat Cummins and Australia are on the verge of being trampled by South Africa. Picture: Getty Images After being set an imposing 282 to reach the holy grail, South Africa is beautifully poised at 2-213, with eight wickets still in the shed with a battling Australia completely devoid of answers on day three. 'The hope for us is we need to get a wicket or two in the morning and see what that looks like,' Australian coach Daniel Vettori said as he praised the execution under pressure of Markram and Bavuma. 'But (needing) 8-69 is a real challenge for the group. 'There was some optimism (after Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood half century stand set up the 282 target) but it's obviously going to be a real challenge tomorrow.' MORE: Steve Smith hospitalised after sickening finger injury South Africa's Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma embrace. Picture: AP Photo Smith's nasty finger injury has exacerbated the alarm bells ringing over the future of Australia's top order batting, and although conditions played into South Africa's hands on day three, Pat Cummins' team of career winners could blame no one but themselves for leaving the door ajar and then watching as the Proteas rode roughshod over them. Over the past 10 years, Australia has won two ODI World Cups a T20 World Cup and the 2023 World Test Championship Final, but their WTC title defence at Lord's looks set to go down as the one that got away unless a minor miracle unfolds on day four. Australia lost World Cup ODI Finals in 1975 and 1996, but the pain of failing to stand up on the biggest international stage – especially after leading healthily against a weaker opponent – is foreign territory for this team. When Smith dropped a crucial slip's catch and bone went through skin in the process, it ultimately proved the turning point as South African captain Bavuma took the life handed to him on 2 and turned it into one of the great skipper's knocks as he battled through a torn hamstring. For Australia the ramifications extend past it putting South Africa into prime position to break one of world sport's great hoodoos, with their No.1 batsman now in doubt for this month's three Test tour of the West Indies after being sent to hospital for x-rays although surgery was avoided. Aiden Markram celebrates his century. Picture: Getty Images Smith was standing in an advanced position just 14 metres behind the bat and under a helmet in an attempt to negate the lack of carry in the pitch, but when Mitchell Starc took a zinging edge from Bavuma it cannoned into Smith and popped out the little finger on his right hand before he could get in position. It would have been a regulation catch had Smith been standing back in a conventional position and South Africa would have been 3-74 with captain courageous Bavuma back in the sheds and Markram having to do the rest alongside one of the greenest middle-orders in cricket. Steve Smith reacts after being injured. Picture: AP Photo Instead Bavuma dug in and soldiered through in a colossal partnership with opener Markram who was simply outstanding and set the tone from the get go even though South Africa lost an early wicket in pursuit of the target of 282 to win, which would have been much lower if not for the half century final wicket stand of Mitchell Starc (58 not out) and Josh Hazlewood. Since 1999 when Steve Waugh's team clinched that extraordinary run-out to break South African hearts on the last ball of the World Cup semi-final, Australia has had a suffocating hold on the hapless Proteas in major international events. But the tables of history turned spectacularly on day three of the WTC Final, and it was Australia staring down the barrel of squandering a match against a weaker opponent which at various stages looked in their keeping. Without Starc and Josh Hazlewood (17) adding 59 off 135 balls – the highest 10th wicket partnership in ICC Finals' history – Australia would have been sliced and diced even sooner. Rather than crush the South Africans, the ease in which Australia's tail went about their business seem to fill Markram with confidence that batting had suddenly become easy in a match where 28 wickets had fallen across the first two days. The Australian target blowing out 63 runs on the morning of day three made little impact on the mindset of the superb Markram and the tenacious 162cm Bavuma, in fact it may have even emboldened them, as they shook off the stigma of choking they've carried for 35 years with a partnership of unwavering intent. What they have done has been truly extraordinary given only once before at Lord's has a team had to chase the biggest score of the match in the final innings to win the game. South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma celebrates his half-century. Picture: AP Photo So damaging in the first innings, Australia's quicks didn't look like taking a wicket for large portions of day three and perhaps they tired from having no red ball cricket under their belts. The post-mortem for Australia should be searing because this was quite simply a Final they should never have lost. Questions will be asked about the non-selection of Sam Konstas at the top of the order, and serious decisions now must be made over the future of Marnus Labuschagne and possibly even Usman Khawaja, if Australia is looking ahead to the Ashes as it must do. Mitchell Starc salutes the crowd after reaching his half century. Picture: Getty Images Smith's injury complicates matters because if he can't play the first Test in Barbados there is another place to fill and perhaps Labuschagne earns a reprieve. Australia is an ageing side and they were made to look old by South Africa who came to play with the kind of self-belief that's evaded them throughout its World Cup history. Starc struck with an early wicket but South Africa were not perturbed from their mission, and even when the Australian left-armer returned to send Wiaan Mulder packing, the Proteas remained resolute. The sight of Bavuma pinging his hamstring and yet hobbling on was an inspiring feat. Relive the action from day three of the WTC final below Originally published as Australia on verge of blowing World Test Championship final as Aiden Markram century powers South Africa
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Australia on the ropes in Test final after Markram ton
Australia's golden run in global finals is all but over as South Africa close in on a landmark World Test Championship title at Lord's. In a dramatic decider that's had multiple twists a day, a brilliant Aiden Markram century, in an unbroken 143-run stand with hobbling captain Temba Bavuma (65no), means South Africa need just 69 runs with eight wickets in hand on Saturday to seal a famous victory. Set 282 to win, the Proteas piled on 0-119 in the final session on Friday to be 2-213 - already the highest total of the match - by stumps on day three. The first two days were dominated by bowlers as 28 wickets tumbled, but the pitch flattened out during glorious sunny weather in London. Australia's last defeat in an ICC final came back in 2010 when they lost to England in the T20 World Cup decider. Since then, Australia have won two ODI World Cups (2015 and 2023), a T20 trophy, and the 2023 WTC decider against India at The Oval. Since the first World Cup back in 1975, Australia's record in global finals is 8-3. "We understand the magnitude of the task," Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori said, refusing to give up on the seeming 'mission impossible'. "But it is a task that the group has probably done at times throughout the last three, four, some of them, five, six, even longer years. "There's an appreciation of how well Bavuma and Markram have batted to put all that pressure back on us. "To get one of them (before stumps) may have given us that optimism. "It's going to be a real challenge on Saturday." Markram's eighth Test century - and only his second outside of South Africa - has him poised to become a true Proteas hero. It would be fitting if Markram (102 no) could lead them to the glory, having captained the Proteas' first under-19 World Cup win in 2014. South Africa's one and only senior ICC title came back in 1998 when they lifted the Champions Trophy. Since then, they have endured numerous painful misses in the latter stages of ODI and T20 World Cups, often against Australia. But the trajectory of this WTC final changed once Smith put down Bavuma when the Proteas skipper was on just two. Wearing a helmet while standing closer in slips than normal, the former Australia captain put down a regulation chance off Mitchell Starc that would have had South Africa at 3-76. Smith immediately left the field in agony, later revealed to be a compound fracture of the little finger on his right hand. The 36-year-old will take no further part in the match and is in serious doubt to play in Australia's upcoming three-Test tour of the West Indies. If South Africa create history, it would equal the second-highest successful chase in a Test at Lord's, tied with England's 282 against New Zealand back in 2004. In 1984, West Indies, in their pomp, successfully chased 342 for the loss of just one wicket against England at the famous ground. Bavuma, who had the pro-South African crowd singing his name, has battled a hamstring injury he suffered when sprinting for a quick single. The 35-year-old received medical attention before and during the tea interval, with the captain even considering not returning after the break, but he batted on while limping as he ran between the wickets. Evergreen quick Starc (2-53) has claimed both of South Africa's second-innings scalps, backing up an important knock on Friday morning. Starting day three of their second innings 8-144, Australia's lower-order lasted 119 minutes and added another 78 in a sign of how much easier batting had become. No.11 Josh Hazlewood (17) hung in there for 53 balls and was the last player out on the stroke of lunch. Starc (58no), batting at No.9, finished as Australia's top-scorer of the innings ahead of wicketkeeper Alex Carey (43). He faced more balls (136) than any other Australia batter during an innings in this Test, even more than Steve Smith's 112 for his 66 on day one. Star Proteas quick Kagiso Rabada (4-59) finished with match figures of 9-110 after he destroyed Australia with 5-51 in the first innings to put his name on the Lord's honour board for a second time. "It would have been nice to get a 10-for, but I'd rather a win than a 10-for," Rabada said at lunch. It appears as if he'll get his wish. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final. Australia's golden run in global finals is all but over as South Africa close in on a landmark World Test Championship title at Lord's. In a dramatic decider that's had multiple twists a day, a brilliant Aiden Markram century, in an unbroken 143-run stand with hobbling captain Temba Bavuma (65no), means South Africa need just 69 runs with eight wickets in hand on Saturday to seal a famous victory. Set 282 to win, the Proteas piled on 0-119 in the final session on Friday to be 2-213 - already the highest total of the match - by stumps on day three. The first two days were dominated by bowlers as 28 wickets tumbled, but the pitch flattened out during glorious sunny weather in London. Australia's last defeat in an ICC final came back in 2010 when they lost to England in the T20 World Cup decider. Since then, Australia have won two ODI World Cups (2015 and 2023), a T20 trophy, and the 2023 WTC decider against India at The Oval. Since the first World Cup back in 1975, Australia's record in global finals is 8-3. "We understand the magnitude of the task," Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori said, refusing to give up on the seeming 'mission impossible'. "But it is a task that the group has probably done at times throughout the last three, four, some of them, five, six, even longer years. "There's an appreciation of how well Bavuma and Markram have batted to put all that pressure back on us. "To get one of them (before stumps) may have given us that optimism. "It's going to be a real challenge on Saturday." Markram's eighth Test century - and only his second outside of South Africa - has him poised to become a true Proteas hero. It would be fitting if Markram (102 no) could lead them to the glory, having captained the Proteas' first under-19 World Cup win in 2014. South Africa's one and only senior ICC title came back in 1998 when they lifted the Champions Trophy. Since then, they have endured numerous painful misses in the latter stages of ODI and T20 World Cups, often against Australia. But the trajectory of this WTC final changed once Smith put down Bavuma when the Proteas skipper was on just two. Wearing a helmet while standing closer in slips than normal, the former Australia captain put down a regulation chance off Mitchell Starc that would have had South Africa at 3-76. Smith immediately left the field in agony, later revealed to be a compound fracture of the little finger on his right hand. The 36-year-old will take no further part in the match and is in serious doubt to play in Australia's upcoming three-Test tour of the West Indies. If South Africa create history, it would equal the second-highest successful chase in a Test at Lord's, tied with England's 282 against New Zealand back in 2004. In 1984, West Indies, in their pomp, successfully chased 342 for the loss of just one wicket against England at the famous ground. Bavuma, who had the pro-South African crowd singing his name, has battled a hamstring injury he suffered when sprinting for a quick single. The 35-year-old received medical attention before and during the tea interval, with the captain even considering not returning after the break, but he batted on while limping as he ran between the wickets. Evergreen quick Starc (2-53) has claimed both of South Africa's second-innings scalps, backing up an important knock on Friday morning. Starting day three of their second innings 8-144, Australia's lower-order lasted 119 minutes and added another 78 in a sign of how much easier batting had become. No.11 Josh Hazlewood (17) hung in there for 53 balls and was the last player out on the stroke of lunch. Starc (58no), batting at No.9, finished as Australia's top-scorer of the innings ahead of wicketkeeper Alex Carey (43). He faced more balls (136) than any other Australia batter during an innings in this Test, even more than Steve Smith's 112 for his 66 on day one. Star Proteas quick Kagiso Rabada (4-59) finished with match figures of 9-110 after he destroyed Australia with 5-51 in the first innings to put his name on the Lord's honour board for a second time. "It would have been nice to get a 10-for, but I'd rather a win than a 10-for," Rabada said at lunch. It appears as if he'll get his wish. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final. Australia's golden run in global finals is all but over as South Africa close in on a landmark World Test Championship title at Lord's. In a dramatic decider that's had multiple twists a day, a brilliant Aiden Markram century, in an unbroken 143-run stand with hobbling captain Temba Bavuma (65no), means South Africa need just 69 runs with eight wickets in hand on Saturday to seal a famous victory. Set 282 to win, the Proteas piled on 0-119 in the final session on Friday to be 2-213 - already the highest total of the match - by stumps on day three. The first two days were dominated by bowlers as 28 wickets tumbled, but the pitch flattened out during glorious sunny weather in London. Australia's last defeat in an ICC final came back in 2010 when they lost to England in the T20 World Cup decider. Since then, Australia have won two ODI World Cups (2015 and 2023), a T20 trophy, and the 2023 WTC decider against India at The Oval. Since the first World Cup back in 1975, Australia's record in global finals is 8-3. "We understand the magnitude of the task," Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori said, refusing to give up on the seeming 'mission impossible'. "But it is a task that the group has probably done at times throughout the last three, four, some of them, five, six, even longer years. "There's an appreciation of how well Bavuma and Markram have batted to put all that pressure back on us. "To get one of them (before stumps) may have given us that optimism. "It's going to be a real challenge on Saturday." Markram's eighth Test century - and only his second outside of South Africa - has him poised to become a true Proteas hero. It would be fitting if Markram (102 no) could lead them to the glory, having captained the Proteas' first under-19 World Cup win in 2014. South Africa's one and only senior ICC title came back in 1998 when they lifted the Champions Trophy. Since then, they have endured numerous painful misses in the latter stages of ODI and T20 World Cups, often against Australia. But the trajectory of this WTC final changed once Smith put down Bavuma when the Proteas skipper was on just two. Wearing a helmet while standing closer in slips than normal, the former Australia captain put down a regulation chance off Mitchell Starc that would have had South Africa at 3-76. Smith immediately left the field in agony, later revealed to be a compound fracture of the little finger on his right hand. The 36-year-old will take no further part in the match and is in serious doubt to play in Australia's upcoming three-Test tour of the West Indies. If South Africa create history, it would equal the second-highest successful chase in a Test at Lord's, tied with England's 282 against New Zealand back in 2004. In 1984, West Indies, in their pomp, successfully chased 342 for the loss of just one wicket against England at the famous ground. Bavuma, who had the pro-South African crowd singing his name, has battled a hamstring injury he suffered when sprinting for a quick single. The 35-year-old received medical attention before and during the tea interval, with the captain even considering not returning after the break, but he batted on while limping as he ran between the wickets. Evergreen quick Starc (2-53) has claimed both of South Africa's second-innings scalps, backing up an important knock on Friday morning. Starting day three of their second innings 8-144, Australia's lower-order lasted 119 minutes and added another 78 in a sign of how much easier batting had become. No.11 Josh Hazlewood (17) hung in there for 53 balls and was the last player out on the stroke of lunch. Starc (58no), batting at No.9, finished as Australia's top-scorer of the innings ahead of wicketkeeper Alex Carey (43). He faced more balls (136) than any other Australia batter during an innings in this Test, even more than Steve Smith's 112 for his 66 on day one. Star Proteas quick Kagiso Rabada (4-59) finished with match figures of 9-110 after he destroyed Australia with 5-51 in the first innings to put his name on the Lord's honour board for a second time. "It would have been nice to get a 10-for, but I'd rather a win than a 10-for," Rabada said at lunch. It appears as if he'll get his wish. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
