WTC Final 2025: Australia in Driving seat, South Africa’s leadership in stumps at 218 | Cricket news

Australia maintained their profit in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s on Thursday, led by Captain Pat Cummins’ extraordinary bowling performance and Alex Kerry’s significant 43 runs. Despite a dramatic collapse, which reduced Australia to 73–7 in their second innings, finishing the day at 144–8, established an enough lead of 218 runs.Pat Cummins gave a notable mantra, taking four wickets for just one run as South Africa, excluding 138 in response to Australia’s first innings. Cummins ended with impressive figures of 6-28, reaching the 300 Test wicket milestones.On the second day, a hurry of wickets was seen, with 28 dismissal in both teams on a pitch, which provided some help to the bowlers, but was playable. The match, originally a match for five days, may be potentially eliminated before the end of the third day. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Cash led South Africa’s bowling attack in Australia’s second innings. Rabada, who has already claimed 5-51 in the first innings, continued his strong performance with 3-44, while NGIDI contributed to 3-35.

Captains Temba Bavuma and David Bedingam of South Africa only provided adequate resistance during their first innings, sharing the fifth wicket partnership of 64 runs. Bavuma scored 36 runs, while Bedingham contributed 45.The Australian collapse began when Rabada rejected six for a duck in the 11th over and Usman Khwaja for Cameron Green. Green’s brief appearance resulted in just four runs with five balls in both innings. Marnas Labschen, in his beginning as a Test opener, was caught behind 22 from Marco Jensen for 22. Bu Webster, who scored the top score with 72 in Australia’s first innings, dropped LBW into NGID, reduced Australia to 48–4.

The situation for Australia deteriorated when Cummins was bowled by the cash yorker, leaving him at 73–7. However, Kerry and Mitchell Starc made a recovery, which was rejected by Carrie to LBW by Rabada, sharing the eighth wicket partnership of 61 runs before. A lapse was seen in the final of the day when Jensen dropped Stark, then on 14, with Vian Mulder’s bowling. Stamps remained unbeaten at 16 in stumps.Cummins’ outstanding bowling performance made him a place in the Lord’s Honors Board. His reception was different from two years ago when he faced Bouses after a controversial stumping incident associated with Kerry and Johnny Bairstow during an Ashes Test.The match remains on the front leg with Australia, taking a 218 -run lead with two wickets in their second innings.