London, United Kingdom – The World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s has witnessed a breathtaking two days of Test cricket, with Australia captain Pat Cummins delivering a sensational performance with the ball and Alex Carey providing vital resistance with the bat. The holders have successfully retained a significant advantage against South Africa, setting the stage for a potentially early finish to the scheduled five-day contest.
The second day commenced with a dominant display from Australia’s fast bowlers, led by their captain. Fast bowler Cummins unleashed a devastating spell, claiming four wickets for just one run, as South Africa dramatically collapsed to be dismissed for a mere 138 in their first innings. This came in response to Australia’s initial total of 212. Cummins’ stellar performance saw him reach the coveted milestone of 300 career Test wickets, and his figures of 6-28 secured him a well-deserved place on the Lord’s honours board with a five-wicket haul. South Africa’s tailenders offered little resistance, losing their last five wickets for a paltry 12 runs under the relentless pressure applied by Cummins. Only captain Temba Bavuma, with 36 runs, and David Bedingham, with 45, provided any meaningful resistance, sharing a fifth-wicket stand of 64 before the collapse began.
After the lunch break, Cummins continued his rampage, striking four times in a mere 17 balls of devastating pace bowling. South Africa had resumed on Thursday at 43-4, desperately trying to build a competitive total. Bavuma, who had been three not out overnight from 37 balls, briefly changed gears with a lofted cover-drive off Mitchell Starc and a pull shot for six off Cummins. However, Cummins soon had his revenge when Bavuma’s checked drive was brilliantly caught at cover by a diving Marnus Labuschagne. He then dismissed Kyle Verreynne leg before wicket for 13, and just three balls later, held a simple return catch as Marco Jansen fell for a duck. Cummins fittingly ended the innings by claiming his 300th Test wicket, with Kagiso Rabada caught low down at deep square leg by Beau Webster. Cummins received a standing ovation as he led his side off the field, a testament to his exceptional individual effort.
However, the momentum quickly shifted in Australia’s second innings as they suffered a dramatic collapse of their own, reeling at 73-7. South African quicks Kagiso Rabada (3-44) and Lungi Ngidi (3-35) wreaked havoc, doing the bulk of the damage. Rabada, who had already taken 5-51 in the first innings, tormented Australia again with two wickets in the 11th over, having Usman Khawaja caught behind for six and removing Cameron Green for a duck just two balls later, meaning Green had faced only five balls in the match for four runs. Wickets continued to tumble after tea, with left-arm quick Jansen having Marnus Labuschagne, in his first Test as an opener, caught behind for 22. Australia’s precarious position of 44-3 quickly transformed into 48-4 in the next over when Beau Webster, who had top-scored in Australia’s first innings with 72, fell leg before wicket to Ngidi. Australia found themselves in deep trouble at 73-7 after Cummins was bowled off his pad by an excellent Ngidi yorker.
Despite the dire situation, wicket-keeper Alex Carey (43 runs) and Mitchell Starc (16 not out) launched a defiant response, sharing a crucial eighth-wicket partnership of 61 runs. Their stand significantly boosted Australia’s lead before Carey was dismissed leg before wicket by Rabada shortly before the close of play. The final over of the day provided another moment of drama when Starc was dropped on 14 by Marco Jansen off Wiaan Mulder, a routine catch that went begging. At stumps, Australia stood at 144-8, holding a potentially decisive lead of 218 runs. The match has seen a remarkable 28 wickets fall in just two days on a pitch that, while offering some assistance to the quicks, was by no means unplayable. This incredible rate of wickets suggests that a match originally scheduled for five days could now conclude before the end of the third.
