London, June 13: The World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final between Australia and South Africa at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground has reached a gripping stage at the end of Day 2. Australia, despite early setbacks, bounced back strongly to set a 218-run overall lead with two wickets in hand in their second innings. By stumps on the second day, Australia had scored 144/8 in their second innings, thanks to a gritty knock from Alex Carey and a late resilience from the lower order. Mitchell Starc remained unbeaten on 16 while Nathan Lyon held his ground at 1*, giving Australia hope to push their lead further on Day 3.
A Day of Dramatic Twists
South Africa started the second day on a high, having bowled out Australia for 212 in the first innings. However, their own batting lineup crumbled under intense pressure from the Australian pace attack, folding for just 138 runs in 57.1 overs. This gave Australia a crucial 74-run first-innings lead — a foundation they later built upon in their second innings despite another middle-order collapse.
When Australia came in to bat again, they quickly found themselves in deep trouble at 73/7. South African pacers, led by Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, ripped through the Aussie top and middle order. However, wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey stood tall under pressure, scoring a vital 43 runs and anchoring the innings long enough to stretch the lead past the 200-run mark. His counterattacking knock helped shift the momentum slightly back in Australia’s favor.
Rabada and Cummins: The Bowling Stars
While Day 2 was filled with drama, it was the pacers who stole the spotlight. For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada was at his fiery best. He picked up three more wickets in the second innings, taking his overall match tally to 8 wickets, becoming the most successful bowler in the game so far. Ngidi provided strong support with 3 wickets, while Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen picked one each.
For Australia, skipper Pat Cummins delivered one of his most dominant performances in Test cricket. His lethal spell dismantled South Africa’s batting in their first innings, claiming 6 wickets for just 43 runs. He scalped big names like Temba Bavuma (36), David Bedingham (45), and key lower-order batters, breaking the back of South Africa’s resistance.
South Africa’s Collapse: A Lost Opportunity
South Africa had the chance to take the lead, but their innings never really settled after early jolts. Mitchell Starc set the tone early by clean-bowling Aiden Markram for a duck in the very first over. Starc also removed Ryan Rickelton (16), while Cummins ran through the rest of the lineup.
Only Bavuma and Bedingham showed some resistance, but the collapse from 70/3 to 138 all-out proved costly. Wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, Jansen, and Rabada all fell cheaply as the Proteas conceded a significant first-innings deficit.
Australia’s First Innings Summary
Earlier on Day 1, Australia scored 212 runs in their first innings. The innings was anchored by solid half-centuries from Steve Smith (66 off 112) and Bo Westburg (72 off 92), who added crucial runs in tough conditions. However, they too suffered a batting collapse as South Africa’s bowlers, especially Rabada, struck in regular intervals.
Rabada’s five-wicket haul (5/51 in 15.4 overs) was a masterclass in controlled aggression. Marco Jansen supported well with 3 wickets, while Keshav Maharaj and Markram took a wicket each to wrap up the Australian tail quickly.
With a lead of 218 runs and two wickets remaining, Australia will look to extend their lead past 250 on Day 3 — a potentially match-defining target considering the tricky Lord’s pitch and South Africa’s brittle batting display so far.
South Africa, on the other hand, will need a near-perfect batting effort in the fourth innings to chase down whatever total Australia sets. Given the pressure of a WTC Final and the pitch slowly starting to assist spinners and reverse swing, the task won’t be easy.
Score Summary at Stumps, Day 2 – WTC Final 2025:
Australia 1st Innings: 212 all out (56.4 overs)
South Africa 1st Innings: 138 all out (57.1 overs)
Australia 2nd Innings: 144/8 (Mitchell Starc 16*, Alex Carey 43, Rabada 3/33, Ngidi 3/36)
Australia Lead: 218 runs
