WTC Final 2025, Australia vs South Africa: Rabada’s fifer rocks Australia for 212, Proteas struggle at 43/4 by stumps.
Brief Score: South Africa 43/4 (Ryan Rickelton 16, Mitchell Starc 2/10) trail Australia 212 (Beau Webster 72, Steve Smith 66, Kagiso Rabada 5/51) by 169 runs at Stumps on Day 1.
South Africa met defending champions Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final at Lord’s. The Temba Bavuma-led side finished the two-year cycle at the top with eight victories in 12 encounters. Pat Cummins’ army, meanwhile, tasted 13 wins in 19 fixtures.
Bavuma, after winning the toss, decided to bowl first on a dry surface under London’s cloudy conditions. The management decided to go with Lungi Ngidi, who played his last red-ball clash in August 2024. As a result, Dane Paterson had to make his way out of the eleven.
The WTC 2021-23 champions, on the other hand, believed in experience. They brought Josh Hazlewood back into the side and promoted Cameron Green to number three.
Let’s take a look at how the three sessions panned out on Day 1 of the WTC 2023-25 final:
South Africa at the top after the pacers’ dominance with 67/4 at lunch
For the first half an hour, the Proteas didn’t bowl a single bad ball. The pressure increased on Usman Khawaja, who spent 19 balls without opening his account. However, on the 20th delivery, Kagiso Rabada drew the southpaw forward in that corridor of uncertainty to induce the outside edge.
Green, at number three, didn’t work. On Rabada’s same over, he pressed forward to defend the out-swinging delivery. But the ball took the outside edge as Aiden Markram grabbed a stunning low catch.
Marnus Labuschagne, the new opener for the one-off game, looked focused for his 17 runs. However, his tentative footwork against the good length delivery from Marco Jansen took the edge into the wicket-keeper’s gloves.
But the biggest blow was the dismissal of Travis Head, who got a faint edge on the leg-sided delivery. Kyle Verreynne dived across to collect it one-handed. Australia lost four wickets for 68 runs to find themselves on the back foot in the first session.
Read More: ICC WTC 2023-25 Final: South Africa or Australia: Who is better placed to win the trophy?
Steve Smith and Beau Webster lead Australia’s fightback with 190/5 at tea
Beau Webster didn’t have any clue against Rabada’s second spell of the game. A few umpire’s calls and a missed review from the Proteas saved him. But once he got settled, the right-handed began to play the shots around the park.
Steve Smith, from the other end, took the aggressive route. As he promised before the game, the former Australia captain drove the ball square off the wicket. He was not afraid of whacking Keshav Maharaj’s fifth ball to celebrate his half-century. However, a tiring drive ended his stay for 66 runs.
Webster’s second Test half-century and Alex Carey’s 22* in 29 balls pushed them near the 200-run mark.
Australia rolled over for 212; Defensive SA limp with 43/4 at stumps
It took South Africa just 35 minutes after Tea to bundle out Australia for 212 runs in the first innings. Carey’s brain fade reverse sweep opened the gate as they lost the last five wickets for just 20 runs.
However, Bavuma’s army went into the shell towards the end of the day. They didn’t look to attack the pacers at all. Aiden Markram got an inside edge onto the stumps, while Ryan Rickelton’s outside edge ended in the slip corridor. Wiaan Mulder didn’t have the feet movement even after six off 44 balls as Cummins rattled his stumps.
Josh Hazlewood broke through Tristan Stubbs’ forward defense to put the Proteas in the hole. The Rainbow Nation finished the opening day with 43/4, with a deficit of 169 runs.
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What to expect on Day 2
Australia will hope to bundle out the Proteas for a low score. If they can earn a lead of over 75 runs from this situation, they will be way ahead in the contest. For South Africa, they need a good partnership and look to at least get near the opponents’ first innings score.
Statistical Highlights from SA vs Aus, WTC 2023-25 final, Day 1:
- With the wicket of Khawaja, Rabada reached the 50-wicket mark against Australia in Tests.
- Rabada has now dismissed Khawaja six times in Tests. The southpaw, in reply, has an average of 25.7.
- Labuschagne’s red-ball struggle against left-arm pacers continues with sixth dismissal since Jan 2022. His average against them drops under 18.
- Smith becomes the leading touring Test run-getter (591) at Lord’s, surpassing Warren Bardsley (575). He registered his 78th fifty-plus score in Tests.
- Beau Webster registered his second fifty-plus score in Tests.
- Rabada overtakes Allan Donald (330) to become the fourth-highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Tests.
- Rabada reached the 50-wicket mark in WTC 2023-25 edition, when he dismissed Pat Cummins.
- Rabada bagged his 17th five-wicket haul in Tests.
Top Twitter/X Reactions from Australia vs South Africa, WTC Final 2025
Had the pleasure of watching Kagiso Rabada closely at Delhi Capitals. A highly skilled pacer, he was a ultimate professional. Always focused when training and a total team man. Happy to see him bounce back and take five wickets in WTC final. #WTC2025
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 11, 2025
Aussie pace trio too hot to handle for SA batsmen. Unless they get a decent first in innIngs lead, it will get increasingly uphill for Proteas, who bat last, to win this Test
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 11, 2025
The Aussies to be too strong for SA this week at Lords is my guess … #WTCFinal
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 11, 2025
RABADA
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) June 11, 2025
Kagiso Rabada delivers big time for South Africa with two wickets in an over 🔥
— ICC (@ICC) June 11, 2025
Catch the action live on our official broadcasters here ➡ https://t.co/oas2Rsdptj#Cricket #CricketReels #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/I9vOR8nCup
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