The opening day of the World Test Championship Final 2025 (WTC) between Australia and South Africa turned out to be a bowler’s paradise at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London. South African skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bowl first.
Australia opened with Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, but scoring was tough early on, with the first run coming only on the 22nd delivery. South African pacers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen bowled with excellent control. Rabada broke through in the seventh over, dismissing both Khawaja and Cameron Green with outside edges caught in the slips. In the very next over, Labuschagne also fell to Jansen, and Australia found themselves reeling at 18/3.
Steve Smith and Travis Head attempted to stabilise the innings, but Jansen struck again, removing Head in the final over before lunch. Australia went into the break at 67 for 4, with Smith unbeaten on 26.
In the second session, Beau Webster joined Smith at the crease. Webster took his time to settle in, while Smith showcased his experience. Smith reached his 18th Test fifty in England, surpassing legends Viv Richards and Allan Border, who both had 17. He also became the highest-scoring overseas batter at Lord’s, with a total of 591 runs at the venue.
However, Smith’s innings ended on 66 after a brilliant tumbling catch by Jansen off part-timer Aiden Markram. Australia reached tea at 190 for 5, with Webster bringing up his second Test fifty.
After tea, Australia lost momentum quickly. Alex Carey fell to Keshav Maharaj attempting a premeditated reverse sweep. Rabada returned to dismiss Pat Cummins and later claimed his fifth wicket by removing Mitchell Starc, crossing Allan Donald with 332 Test wickets. Webster also departed for 72. Australia collapsed to 212 all out, losing five wickets for just 20 runs in the span of 35 deliveries. Rabada finished with a five-wicket haul in the WTC Final.
After Rabada’s special, Australia pacers wreaked havoc at Lord’s
In response, Australia’s bowlers came out firing. Starc made an immediate impact, dismantling Aiden Markram’s stumps in the very first over. Starc struck again soon after, getting Ryan Rickelton to edge to Khawaja at first slip. Cummins joined the action by removing Wiaan Mulder, leaving South Africa struggling at 25/3.
The skipper Bavuma had a cautious start, taking 31 balls to get off the mark. Josh Hazlewood cleaned up Tristan Stubbs just before stumps to end a dominant day for the bowlers. At stumps, South Africa were 43 for 4, trailing by 169 runs. A total of 14 wickets fell in 78.4 overs at Lord’s on Day 1.
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