Day 2: Tea Break, AUS vs SA ICC World Test Championship Final

Khawaja vs Rabada in Tests
Runs: 155
Balls: 347
Dismissals: 7
Avg: 22.14

Rabada to Green, out Caught by Mulder!! Two wickets in the over and KG has sent Khawaja and Green packing once again. On a good length and just outside off, Green was down the pitch as he looked to defend, did so with hard hands and the edge flew through to Mulder at third slip. Came at a good height and the South African all-rounder accepts the chance with glee. Was given an extra over and KG has repaid the captain's faith with two wickets. Green c Mulder b Rabada 0(2)

Rabada to Khawaja, out Caught by Verreynne!! Edged and caught! End of a pretty average Test for Khawaja, KG shortens the length and gets it to straighten across the left-hander, Khawaja plays from the crease and plays away from his body, gets a thick edge and Verrynne does the rest, moving across to his left. South Africa needed this wicket badly, the lead has crossed into three digits and the openers were looking comfortable. Khawaja c Verreynne b Rabada 6(23)

Most Test 5-fers as captain
12 - Imran Khan
9 - Richie Benaud
9 - Pat Cummins
8 - Bishan Singh Bedi
7 - Courtney Walsh
7 - Jason Holder

Most Test 5-fers as captain
12 - Imran Khan
9 - Richie Benaud
9 - Pat Cummins
8 - Bishan Singh Bedi
7 - Courtney Walsh
7 - Jason Holder

South Africa have been bundled out for 138

Captains with Test 5-fers at Lord’s
5/35 & 5/43 - Gubby Allen vs India, 1936
6/101 - Bob Willis vs India, 1982
5/69 - Daniel Vettori vs England, 2008
5/28 - Pat Cummins vs South Africa, 2025

Cummins to Bavuma, out Caught by Labuschagne!! Labuschagne plucks a blinder to break the partnership. Cummins wins the battle of skippers. This is a massive wicket for Australia. South Africa's captain was looking in good touch this morning but has thrown it away. Intent is a double-edged sword - it can get you runs but there's also the risk of losing your wicket. Full pitcher outside off, Bavuma's eyes lit up on seeing the line and length, he goes for the drive and does not keep it down, Labuschagne dives to his right near cover and takes a two-hand beauty. South Africa are 5 down and still 118 runs behind. Bavuma c Labuschagne b Cummins 36(84) [4s-4 6s-1]

Day 2 Session 1 begins, SA vs AUS WTC Final 2025

Day 1: Stumps, AUS vs SA ICC World Test Championship Final

Australia 1st Innings – 212 all out (56.4 Overs)

Extras: 17 (b 0, lb 7, w 0, nb 10, p 0)
Total: 212 all out in 56.4 overs
Fall of Wickets:
1-12 (Khawaja, 6.3), 2-16 (Green, 6.6), 3-46 (Labuschagne, 17.6), 4-67 (Head, 23.2),
5-146 (Smith, 41.6), 6-192 (Carey, 51.1), 7-199 (Cummins, 52.4),
8-210 (Webster, 54.4), 9-211 (Lyon, 55.5), 10-212 (Starc, 56.4)

Bowling:

South Africa 1st Innings – 43/4 (22 Overs)

Extras: 8 (b 0, lb 8, w 0, nb 0, p 0)
Total: 43/4 in 22 overs
Yet to Bat: Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Fall of Wickets:
1-0.6 (Markram), 2-8.4 (Rickelton), 3-15.2 (Mulder), 4-20.2 (Stubbs)

Bowling:

Most runs by a visiting batter at Lord’s
578 - Steven Smith
575 - Warren Bardsley
571 - Sir Garfield Sobers
551 - Sir Don Bradman
512 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul
508 - Dilip Vengsarkar
503 - Allan Border

Rabada to Smith, FOUR, Smith and his love story with Lord's continues. 50 for Smith. Just a raise of the bat and he gets on with it. Wide outside off, width and Smith cashes in, reaches for it and slashes it, through vacant backward point and it runs away slowly to the fence

Players are out in the middle for post lunch session. Jansen to start from round the wicket. Three slips in place. Beau Webster will be on strike

Over 17.6 Marco Jansen to Labuschagne, out Caught by Verreynne!! Clear edge and up goes the finger! First wicket of the day for Jansen as South Africa's superb start to this Test continues. Round the wicket, good length ball in the channel, Labuschagne's footwork is tentative as he looks to defend, ends up poking at it and nicks it through to the keeper. It was the scramble seam release from Jansen and may have held its line a touch. Labuschagne c Verreynne b Marco Jansen 17(56) [4s-1]

After the end of 10 overs Australia are 26/2. Marnus Labuschagne 14(29) and Steven Smith 5(10). 

Over 6.6 Rabada to Green, out Caught by Markram!! Another one!! It had to be KG Rabada to wreck damage in this big final. A fuller delivery that angles in towards off, shapes away late and catches the outside edge as Green presses forward to defend that one. A stunning low take by Markram to the right, as he had Mulder in his eye line as well diving towards the ball. Gets his fingertips underneath the ball and Australia have lost two wickets in the space of four balls. Rabada punches the air in delight, he might be buzzing from the inside! Green c Markram b Rabada 4(3) [4s-1]

Over 6.3 Rabada to Khawaja, out Caught by Bedingham! KG Rabada has deserved this one! Kept bowling it in that corrdior of uncertainity, and this time induces the edge. On a length on fourth stump, gets a bit of uneven bounce as Khawaja was jumping and expected that rise more. Catches a thick edge and flies to the left of first slip where Bedingham takes a neat catch. Rabada gets his reward for his consistency, Australia's leading run scorer of this WTC cycle goes without scoring. Khawaja c Bedingham b Rabada 0(20)

Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne are at the crease. Khawaja is on strike. Kagiso Rabada will open the attack

Temba Bavuma led South Africa won the toss and opts to bowl as Proteas eye historic ICC title