The World Test Championship is living up to the hype as the 14 wickets crumble on the very first Day of the match, among which Kagiso Rabada stood up as a key player, picking up five wickets, dismissing Australia for 212 runs.
Similarly, on the Aussies’ side, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood picked up four wickets in total before the stumps were called.
| Team | Bowler | Figures (Overs-Maidens-Runs-Wickets) |
| South Africa | Kagiso Rabada | 15-3-51-5 |
| Marco Jansen | 14-2-44-3 | |
| Australia | Mitchell Starc | 7-2-13-2 |
| Pat Cummins | 7-1-15-1 | |
| Josh Hazlewood | 7-3-9-1 |
Let’s look at how bowlers dominated at the WTC Final 2025 Day 1 in detail.
[TRENDING] Australia’s First Innings: Rabada Shines
After winning the toss at the WTC Final 2025 Day 1 at Lord’s, South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, elected to field first, and it turned out to be an incredible decision for them as Australia was struggling against the fierce bowling attack. Aussies were feeling pressure from the beginning of the innings after they lost quick wickets of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Cameron Green, who did not contribute much to the team.
However, the former captain of Australia showed composure and patience and took Australia towards a competitive score. He scored 66 runs off 112 balls, smashing 4 fours. Similarly, the 5th wicket partnership between Smith and Webster dominated the Proteas’ bowlers, especially in the second session.
SUGGESTED READ: WTC Final Clash: AUS vs SA Test Match History
Despite fighting back and trying to get back in the game, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada time and again broke the momentum of Australia’s batting and picked a total of 5 wickets by just giving away 51 runs in the given Instagram post.
View this post on Instagram
From the early wicket of Khawaja to the vital wicket of Webster, Rabada collected wickets of Cameron Green, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc. Along with his bowling, Marco Jansen also picked 3 crucial wickets of Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, and Nathan Lyon.
[UPDATE] South Africa’s Response: Early Collapse
Despite not having a good start at the WTC Final 2025 Day 1, Australia were determined to pick up wickets early, and they went on with the plan. The Aussie trio, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, initiated the innings with their wicket-taking bowling attack.
In the very first over of the South Africa innings, Starc took the wicket of Aiden Markram, and later dismissed his partner, Ryan Rickelton. Bowling seven overs each, the Australian captain, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood took 1 wicket each off Wiaan Mulder and Tristan Stubbs.
However, the Proteas captain, Bavuma, is still on the crease and is expected to take South Africa to a lead where they can compete with Australia. Before the stumps were called, South Africa had 43 runs, losing four wickets in 22 overs.
[WHAT’S HAPPENING] What to Expect on Day 2?
For cricket fans who are more into Test cricket, the exciting innings are about to be played as the WTC Final is entering just on Day 2. With the batting lineup of Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, and Marco Jansen, it is certain that South Africa will not back off from the game and might hit the big boundaries.
Other than these batters, the batting performance of Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi could also make a big difference on the tail end of the Proteas’ batting lineup.
However, Australia is not in a position to give away the game easily. With four wickets already in their pocket, they will be looking to pick up more wickets and wrap up the game. As the pitch favoured pace bowlers on WTC Final 2025 Day 1, the spin sensation, Nathan Lyon, could make a significant impact on the second day of the test match.
Amit Mishra’s Take
For a cricket fan like me, the WTC Final 2025 Day 1 has been nothing short of a thrilling experience. With the complete dominance of bowlers in the first innings, followed by the incredible bowling of the Aussie trio, Day 1 has successfully marked the beginning of the action-packed five-day test match.
The fiery spell of Rabada and Jansen helped South Africa pack Australia for 212 runs, but on the other side, the veteran bowler, Starc, responded with his pace, leaving South Africa crumpling to their knees. Day 2 will be more interesting and fun than Day 1.
YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED: Netherlands Surpass India’s ODI Chase Record
