South Africa Struggles Against Australia After Losing Key Wickets

LONDON: On the second day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Thursday, the South African batting lineup faced a stern test against the Australian pace attack, with captain Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham showing resilience.

Resuming their innings at 43/4 after 22 overs, Bavuma and Bedingham provided stability to South Africa’s innings following the initial setbacks on the first day.

Bavuma demonstrated leadership by aggressively finding the boundary, while Bedingham offered solid support at the opposite end.

The pair achieved a significant fifty-run partnership after the team had been struggling at 30/4, displaying a positive approach as they confronted the Australian pace bowlers with assurance.

WTC Final Day One Summary:

Earlier, Australia had a shaky beginning to their first innings after being sent in to bat, failing to register any runs in the initial three overs.

The pressure intensified as Usman Khawaja was dismissed for a duck off 20 balls by Kagiso Rabada, quickly followed by Cameron Green, who only scored four runs before also falling to Rabada. Australia found themselves at 16/2 within seven overs.

Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne attempted to rebuild the innings with a cautious 30-run partnership.

However, Labuschagne’s slow innings of 17 runs from 56 balls concluded when Marco Jansen struck in the 18th over. Smith then partnered with Travis Head, adding some stability, but Head was dismissed just before the lunch break, giving Jansen his second wicket.

After lunch, Smith and Beau Webster formed a crucial 79-run partnership, carefully navigating South Africa’s disciplined bowling attack. Smith played a steady innings of 66 runs off 112 balls before being caught off Aiden Markram’s bowling.

Australia, resuming at 190/5, experienced a rapid collapse, adding only 22 more runs before being bowled out for 212 in 56.4 overs.

Webster was the top scorer with a determined 72 off 92 balls, including 11 boundaries. The post-lunch collapse started when Alex Carey, after scoring 23, was bowled while attempting a reverse sweep.

Rabada then dismissed captain Pat Cummins and Webster in quick succession.

Jansen cleaned up Nathan Lyon before Rabada concluded the innings, achieving impressive figures of 5/51 in 15.4 overs.

Jansen provided good support with three wickets, while spinners Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj each contributed with one wicket.

In response to Australia’s 212, Mitchell Starc took two wickets, while Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood each claimed one wicket, reducing South Africa to 43/4 by the close of play on day one.