London, June 11, 2025: South African pacer Kagiso Rabada marked his return in emphatic fashion with a five-wicket haul that helped bowl out defending champions Australia for a modest 212 on the opening day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25 Final at Lord’s.
Resuming their first innings at 190/5 after the tea break, Australia could add just 22 more runs before being dismissed in 56.4 overs. Rabada spearheaded South Africa’s charge, finishing with figures of 5 for 51, supported ably by Marco Jansen’s 3 for 48. Spinners Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram chipped in with a wicket each.
Australia’s lower-order collapse began soon after the break. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who had looked promising before tea, was bowled while attempting a reverse sweep off Maharaj on just the second ball he faced after resumption. He departed for 23 off 31 balls, including four boundaries.
In the very next over, Rabada struck a crucial blow by dismissing Australian captain Pat Cummins for just one. Rabada then removed top-scorer Beau Webster in his following over, caught at first slip after a well-crafted 72 off 92 balls with 11 fours.
Jansen added to Australia’s woes by knocking over Nathan Lyon, before Rabada returned to finish the innings by dismissing Josh Hazlewood, sealing South Africa’s dominant display with the ball.
Earlier in the day, Australia had been reeling at 67/4 before recovering through a steadying 79-run partnership between Steve Smith and Webster. Smith, who top-scored early in the innings, was eventually dismissed for 66 off 112 balls, edging a delivery from part-timer Markram to Jansen at slip.
Webster continued the resistance alongside Carey, with the duo putting up a gritty 44-run stand that lasted until the second session. At tea, Webster was unbeaten on 55, while Carey had contributed 22 off 29.
The first session saw South Africa’s bowlers dominate from the outset. Australia failed to register a run in the opening three overs and lost their first wicket in the 7th, when Rabada dismissed Usman Khawaja for a 20-ball duck. Rabada struck again in the same over, removing Cameron Green for just 4.
Marnus Labuschagne and Smith tried to stabilize the innings, adding 30 runs for the third wicket, but Labuschagne was trapped by Jansen for 17 off 56 balls. Travis Head then joined Smith and provided brief support before falling to Jansen for 11 just before lunch.
The WTC final is finely poised, with South Africa now eyeing a solid reply to Australia’s underwhelming total in the first innings.
Australia and South Africa have met 101 times in Test cricket. Australia leads the rivalry with 54 wins, while South Africa has claimed victory in 26 matches. Twenty-one matches have ended in draws.
Playing XIs
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
