Australia Takes Control After Two Intense Days at Lord’s in WTC Finals 2025

Day 2 of the 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s on June 12 started with South Africa at 43/4, trailing Australia’s 212 by 169 runs. Temba Bavuma (3* off 37) and David Bedingham (8*) were tasked with rebuilding, but Australia’s bowlers, led by a red-hot Pat Cummins, had other plans. The pitch was still lively, offering swing and seam, and South Africa’s batters struggled to find their footing. Cummins, bowling like a man possessed, ripped through the lineup, finishing with a career-defining 6/28 in 18.1 overs, his third-best Test figures. His spell was a masterclass, mixing pace with precision.

South Africa’s Collapse

Bavuma showed some spark, hitting four fours and a six in his 36 off 84 balls. He survived a close call when Snicko showed an inside edge off Josh Hazlewood, but Cummins got him soon after, caught by Marnus Labuschagne at third slip after a lovely lofted drive. The pair had added a few runs, but South Africa were wobbling. David Bedingham top-scored with a gritty 45 off 111, stroking six fours, and looked the most comfortable. 

He had a bizarre moment when a ball got stuck behind his pad flap, nearly leading to a handled-ball dismissal, but the umpires called it dead, sparing him. Kyle Verreynne (13 off 39) hung around post-lunch, but Cummins trapped him lbw, a decision upheld by DRS. Marco Jansen (0) fell to a sharp caught-and-bowled by Cummins, who was everywhere. 

Bedingham’s resistance ended when he was nicked to Alex Carey, and Keshav Maharaj (7 off 15) was run out after a brilliant throw from Travis Head. Kagiso Rabada (1) edged to Beau Webster, and South Africa were all out for 138 in 57.1 overs, handing Australia a 74-run lead. Cummins was the star, backed by Mitchell Starc (2/41), who removed Aiden Markram (0) and Ryan Rickelton (16), and Hazlewood (1/27), who kept things tight. Nathan Lyon (0/12) and Webster (0/20) bowled economically but didn’t strike.

South Africa’s collapse was a mix of poor shot selection and Australia’s relentless bowling. Their 50 came in 24.2 overs, and a 64-run stand between Bavuma and Bedingham for the fifth wicket was their best effort. Rain briefly stopped play, but it didn’t disrupt Australia’s momentum. South Africa’s batters, bar Bedingham and Bavuma, looked out of sorts, with Wiaan Mulder (6 off 44) and Tristan Stubbs (2 off 13) falling cheaply. The innings wrapped up quickly, leaving South Africa needing a miracle with the ball to stay in the game. Despite the low total, their bowlers had a chance to fight back, but Australia’s lead felt significant on a pitch where runs were hard to come by.

Australia’s Poor Batting

Australia’s second innings began with South Africa’s pacers fired up, sensing a chance to claw back after their batting flop. Kagiso Rabada, fresh off a first-innings five-for (5/51), struck early, getting Usman Khawaja (6 off 23) to edge to Kyle Verreynne. Two balls later, Cameron Green (0) nicked to Wiaan Mulder at third slip, leaving Australia 28/2. The pitch was still doing plenty, and South Africa’s bowlers were right on the money. Marnus Labuschagne (22 off 64) and Steve Smith (13 off 25) tried to dig in, but Marco Jansen had Labuschagne caught behind, and Lungi Ngidi, answering his critics, trapped Smith lbw with a jaffa that nipped back.

Ngidi’s 3/35 was a big statement after doubts about his selection. At 48/4, Australia’s lead was just 122, and South Africa were buzzing. Travis Head (9 off 18) looked to counterattack but was bowled by Mulder (1/14). Beau Webster (9 off 11) fell lbw to Ngidi, and Pat Cummins (6 off 5) was cleaned up by Ngidi, leaving Australia 73/7. It was panic stations, but Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc stepped up with a crucial 61-run stand for the eighth wicket. Carey, playing with grit, scored 43 off 50 (five fours), surviving an lbw shout thanks to a faint edge on review. Starc, unbeaten on 16 off 47, was dropped by Jansen at gully in the final over—a massive let-off. Rabada broke through, getting Carey lbw for 43, with DRS confirming the umpire’s call.

By stumps, Australia were 144/8 in 40 overs, leading by 218. Rabada (3/44), Jansen (1/31), Ngidi, and Mulder bowled superbly, but eight no-balls (five from Rabada, three from Jansen) cost them. Australia’s 50 came in 19.4 overs, and their 100 in 33, with Carey and Starc’s stand pushing the lead past 200. DRS was busy—South Africa burned both reviews, while Australia used theirs well, including Carey’s successful challenge.

The innings saw seven lbw shouts, with Ngidi’s pace and Rabada’s accuracy troubling the batters. Australia’s top order struggled again, with Khawaja, Labuschagne, and Green managing just 28 runs combined. Carey’s knock was a lifeline, and Starc’s dogged resistance kept South Africa at bay. Australia’s bowlers, especially Cummins, had given them the edge, but South Africa’s pacers showed they could match them blow for blow.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day

In the 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s on June 12, South Africa staged a stunning comeback when Lungi Ngidi dismissed Steve Smith at 18.5 overs in Australia’s second innings. Australia were 44/3, leading by 118, with Smith (13 off 25, one four) looking solid alongside Marnus Labuschagne. Ngidi, under scrutiny for his selection, bowled a perfect delivery—bang on off stump. Smith, shuffling across, missed a flick and was hit on the back pad. Umpire Richard Illingworth said not out, but South Africa reviewed.

To be referred to as the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game, the DRS showed: huge lbw appeal given not out. South Africa review. Smith shuffled back and across and was hit on the back pad wiping across the line. Was he outside the line? No bat involved. Ball tracking says impact in line! Smashing off stump! Three reds! Ngidi takes the big scalp of Smith! Smith trudged off after 42 minutes, his strike rate 52. Ngidi’s 3/35, alongside Kagiso Rabada’s 3/44, sparked a collapse to 73/7.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Alex Carey’s gutsy batting on Day 2 of the 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s on June 12 earned him the TCNI’s Hero of the Day award, as he pulled Australia out of a deep hole. With their second innings teetering at 73/7, leading South Africa by just 147 on a tricky pitch, Carey walked in with the game slipping away. Facing a fired-up South African attack, led by Kagiso Rabada (3/44) and Lungi Ngidi (3/35), Carey played a blinder, scoring 43 off 50 balls at a strike rate of 86.00, laced with five cracking fours.

Teaming up with Mitchell Starc (16* off 47), Carey stitched together a vital 61-run stand for the eighth wicket, nudging Australia’s lead past 200. He dodged a bullet when DRS overturned an lbw call off Wiaan Mulder, showing a thin edge. Carey’s cool-headed batting kept South Africa at bay after they’d skittled Usman Khawaja (6), Steve Smith (13), and others. Rabada finally trapped him lbw at 134/8 after 78 minutes, with DRS backing the umpire’s call. By stumps, Australia were 144/8 after 40 overs, leading by 218.

What to Expect on Day 3 of the WTC Finals?

With two days of action complete in the WTC Final, 28 wickets have already fallen — 14 on each day — showing just how lively the Lord’s pitch has been. The bowlers are enjoying the conditions, and with only 12 wickets left in the match, Day 3 could very well be the final day of the World Test Championship 2023 to 2025.

Australia will begin the day at 144 for 8, leading by 218 runs, and will look to stretch that lead a little further. On the other hand, South Africa will aim to quickly pick up the remaining two wickets and give themselves a fighting chance to chase down the target. A result seems near, and fans can expect another thrilling and possibly decisive day of Test cricket.