Winning the toss in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, South African captain Temba Bavuma pointed to the “overhead conditions” as the deciding factor for choosing to bowl first. His decision seemed to pay off early as the Proteas dominated the first session, reducing the defending champions Australia to 67/4.
The overcast skies and movement off the pitch helped the South African bowlers maintain relentless pressure, putting the Aussies on the back foot from the get-go.
However, Australia found a lifeline through the experienced Steve Smith and a composed Beau Webster. The pair dug in and stitched together crucial half-centuries to stabilize the innings.
Their partnership not only brought some calm to the Australian dressing room but also helped the side recover to 190/5 by the end of the second session. Smith’s classical technique and Webster’s resilience ensured that South Africa’s early dominance didn’t translate into complete collapse.
Post-Tea, the Proteas once again wrestled control. Their bowlers came back with renewed energy and quickly dismantled the rest of the Australian batting lineup. With the pitch still offering assistance and the bowling staying disciplined, Australia were bundled out for 212 in just 56.4 overs. What had started as a promising recovery ended in frustration for the Aussies, who couldn’t build around the Smith-Webster stand.
When South Africa came out to bat, the Australian bowlers struck early, showing they weren’t going down without a fight. Aiden Markram fell in the very first over, setting the tone for a fiery spell from Mitchell Starc. With Starc generating swing and bounce and Hazlewood maintaining pinpoint accuracy, South Africa faced intense pressure. Wiaan Mulder, in particular, found himself in survival mode, barely managing to get bat on ball.
One of the pivotal moments came when Starc, bowling with venom, delivered an overpitched ball angling away from the right-handed Mulder. Attempting to break the shackles, Mulder poked at it and edged it behind. It looked like a straightforward catch for wicketkeeper Alex Carey, but to the shock of the Australians—and the watching crowd—Carey spilled it.
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The ball thudded into his chest and dropped to the ground. For a team known for its fielding sharpness, the Aussies looked stunned, especially Mitchell Starc, who had done everything right. The missed opportunity didn’t go unnoticed on social media, where fans quickly expressed their disbelief.