The WTC Final Day 1 Drama unfolded at Lord’s, and it was a day full of excitement! Bowlers from both Australia and South Africa were in charge as a huge number of 14 wickets fell. This World Test Championship final started with a bang, showing why Test cricket is so thrilling.
Australia started batting first. But they were dismissed for only 212 runs. South Africa’s fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was amazing, taking 5 wickets for just 51 runs. It was a tough start for Australia.
However, Australia fought back very strongly. Their own bowlers then attacked South Africa, reducing them to a struggling score of just 43 runs for 4 wickets by the end of the day. Australia’s Mitchell Starc led this fightback, taking two very important wickets. Captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood each took one wicket. This fast change in the game was a huge part of the WTC Final Day 1 Drama.
Australia’s Batting Troubles on WTC Final Day 1
The match began with South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma winning the coin toss. He chose to bowl first because the sky was cloudy, which is good for fast bowlers in England. Rabada quickly caused problems for Australia, getting two wickets in just one over when the score was only 16 runs for 2 wickets. He sent both Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green back to the pavilion (out).
Rabada was returning to Test cricket after a one-month ban, and he showed his amazing skill right away. He took two wickets for only four runs in four balls. This 30-year-old fast bowler now has more than 300 Test wickets in his career – a huge achievement! This strong start by Rabada added greatly to the WTC Final Day 1 Drama.
Marnus Labuschagne, who became Australia’s new opening batter after David Warner retired, scored 17 runs from 56 balls before Marco Jansen got him out. Travis Head could only score 11 runs before Kyle Verreynne caught him from Jansen’s bowling. Australia’s top batters were struggling early on.
Then, Steve Smith and Beau Webster came together and helped Australia recover. They made a very important partnership of 79 runs for the fifth wicket. Webster scored 72 runs and was lucky at one point; he would have been out (leg before wicket) to Rabada when he was on 8 runs, but South Africa didn’t ask for a review of the decision. This partnership provided some much-needed relief from the WTC Final Day 1 Drama.
Smith reached his fifty (50 runs), but he was eventually caught by Jansen from the bowling of part-time spinner Aiden Markram and was out for 66 runs. After Smith got out, Australia’s innings quickly fell apart. They lost their last five wickets for just 20 runs. Rabada ended with brilliant figures of 5 wickets for 51 runs. His performance was a highlight of the WTC Final Day 1 Drama.
South Africa’s Tough Start in Response on WTC Final Day 1
When it was South Africa’s turn to bat, they also found it very difficult against Australia’s fast bowlers. Mitchell Starc bowled brilliantly. He quickly got Aiden Markram out for no runs (a duck) and then dismissed Ryan Rickelton for 16 runs. This left South Africa in trouble at 19 runs for 2 wickets.
Wiaan Mulder, batting at number three, had an early chance. Australia’s wicketkeeper Alex Carey dropped a straightforward catch off Starc’s bowling, giving Mulder a second life. However, Mulder could only score six runs from 44 balls before captain Pat Cummins bowled him out.
South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma took 31 balls to score his first runs, hitting two runs off Josh Hazlewood’s bowling. This slow start drew cheers from South African fans when he finally scored, showing how tough the batting conditions were. Hazlewood later took another important wicket, dismissing Tristan Stubbs before the end of the day’s play.
By the end of Day 1, David Bedingham was still batting without being out, on 8 runs. He hit two boundaries in a row off Cummins in the very last over, showing some fight. Captain Bavuma was also not out, on 3 runs. South Africa is now facing a big challenge to get close to Australia’s first innings total, and they are still behind by 169 runs. This ongoing struggle adds to the WTC Final Day 1 Drama.
The Match Situation and What Comes Next
The situation at the end of WTC Final Day 1 Drama is very similar to how Australia was placed in the 2023 WTC Final against India at the Oval. In that match, Australia also had early trouble with their batting. But then, Steve Smith and Travis Head scored big centuries, helping Australia recover and eventually win the match. This gives South Africa some hope that they can still fight back, just like Australia did.
However, Australia’s bowlers will be confident after their strong performance. They will be looking to take the remaining South African wickets quickly on Day 2. The first session on Day 2 will be extremely important. If South Africa can build some partnerships and get a respectable total, they can still make this a close game. If Australia’s bowlers continue their dominance, the match could swing heavily in their favor. The WTC Final Day 1 Drama has set up a fascinating contest for the rest of the match.
The quality of bowling from both sides was exceptional. Kagiso Rabada’s five-wicket haul reminded everyone of his world-class talent, setting the tone for South Africa’s defence. Then, Mitchell Starc’s ability to swing the new ball at high speed, combined with the accuracy of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, proved too much for South Africa’s top order. The battle between bat and ball was intense, with very few easy runs scored.
This WTC Final Day 1 Drama highlights the unpredictable nature of Test cricket. One moment, a team seems on top, and the next, the balance shifts. The key for both teams will be mental strength and discipline. Batters will need to show patience and choose their shots carefully, while bowlers will need to maintain their line and length consistently.
The fans at Lord’s and watching around the world are sure to be eagerly awaiting Day 2. The WTC Final Day 1 Drama has delivered a captivating start, and the next few days promise to be equally exciting as Australia and South Africa continue their quest for the World Test Championship title. Every run, every wicket, and every decision will be crucial in this Crucial WTC Final 2025.
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