Australia have their noses slightly ahead after the conclusion of play on day 2 of the WTC final at Lord's as they lead by 218 runs. South Africa, despite their best efforts with the ball in the second innings, could not prevent Australia from edging past 200.
South Africa resumed the day on 43 runs for four wickets and were dismissed for 138. After a good first session of play, the Australian bowlers came back hard in the second and third sessions to trigger a Protean collapse.
At the heart of an Australian comeback was skipper Pat Cummins who took six wickets for 28 runs. South Africa were happily placed with a 64-run stand between Temba Bavuma (36 runs off 84 balls) and David Bedingham (45 runs off 111 balls). With Cummins dismissing Bavuma, the Australian bowlers triggered a collapse and the Proteas were dismissed for 138 runs in their first innings.
Australia In The Driver's Seat At Lord's
The Aussies took a vital lead of 74 runs and started their second innings with the upper hand. However, after a sedate start from Australia, Kagiso Rabada took two wickets in the seventh over to send Usman Khawaja (6 runs off 23) balls) and Cameron Green ( 0 runs off 2 balls) packing. That brought the Proteas back into the game and they took as many as seven wickets by the tea session leaving Australia reeling. Steve Smith who scored 66 in the first innings, was dismissed for just 13 by Lungi Ngidi. Wiann Mulder then took the key wicket of Travis Head (9 runs off 11 balls). Beau Webster who scored 72 in the first innings, scored just 9 in the second.
With Australia struggling at 73 runs for seven wickets in the second innings, South Africa had a huge chance to bowl them out possibly below hundred. However, it was then that Alex Carey (43 runs off 50 balls) and Mitchell Starc (16 runs off 47 balls) added 61 runs batting close to 15 overs.
Rabada then dismissed Carey at the fag end of the day's play to swing the match again in South Africa's favour. He has taken eight wickets in the match so far and is key to getting the Australian tail out quickly on day 3. The Aussies still have Starc unbeaten at stumps and he holds the key in the first hour on day 3. The Aussies, already leading by 218 will look to inch closer to 250. The southpaw was dropped by Marco Jansen in the final over of the day.
Also Read: WTC Finals 2025: Temba Bavuma Joins 10,000 Runs Club with Gritty Knock at Lord’s
South Africa Set For A Record Chase
Meanwhile, South Africa, if they chase down the total, will be the highest innings total in the match. After getting bowled out for just 138 runs in the first innings, they have a tough job on their hands already with the WTC title in sight. Just once since 2005, have a total of more than 200 runs scored in the fourth innings at Lord's and the Proteas already have their task cut out.
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