Australia’s bowlers underlined their championship pedigree on a dramatic first day of the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s, bouncing back from a shaky start with the bat to post 212 and then rip through South Africa for 43/4 by stumps.
Australia’s Top Order Stumbles
Proteas quicks set the tone in the opening session, reducing the holders to 67/4 inside 30 overs. Usman Khawaja (9) and Cameron Green (18) perished early, trapped lbw by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen respectively, before veteran Steven Smith (15) edged a short delivery to slip. Travis Head’s poked drive was snaffled by short midwicket, leaving Australia reeling.
Smith and Webster Steer the Recovery
Even when Alex Carey departed for 23 to Keshav Maharaj’s cunning spin, Australia’s innings threatened to fold. Yet a composed partnership between Steve Smith and Beau Webster proved decisive. Smith, in imperious form at Lord’s, ground out 66 off 112 balls, delighting the gallery with 10 crisply timed boundaries. “They came hard at us in that first hour,”
Smith said of South Africa’s new-ball burst.
“You had to stay patient.”
Webster matched Smith’s grit with counterattacking flair, striking 11 fours in an undefeated 72-run innings off 92 balls. “Having played county cricket here, I knew the slope would nip the ball around,” the all-rounder explained. “I stuck to my game plan, and it paid off.” Their 79-run stand hauled Australia to respectability before Smith fell to Aiden Markram, and Webster eventually to Rabada with the total on 212.
South Africa’s First-Innings Response
In reply, South Africa’s batsmen scarcely settled. Mitchell Starc struck twice in his first seven overs, removing Aiden Markram for 3 and Ryan Rickleton for 16. Wian Mulder (6) and Tristan Stubbs (2) also fell cheaply to Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, leaving the Proteas 43/4 at close and still trailing by 169. Starc finished with 2/10 from seven probing overs, while Cummins (1/14) and Hazlewood (1/10) maintained relentless pressure.
Rabada’s Resurgence
Before Australia’s resurrection, South Africa’s attack had been in the ascendancy. Rabada returned career-best figures of 5/51, exploiting Lord’s famous slope to unsettle top-order batters. “We thought we’d have them all out for 160,” Rabada admitted, lamenting missed opportunities. His haul moved him past Allan Donald into fourth on South Africa’s all-time Test wicket list, and cemented his reputation in major finals. Marco Jansen (3/49) and spinners Maharaj (1/19) and Markram (1/5) supplemented the pace menace.
Pitch and Conditions
The Lord’s wicket offered seam movement and uneven bounce throughout Day 1. “The ball kept nipping both ways,” Cummins noted. “When it hits that green slope, it can jag back sharply.” Batsmen on both sides had to adjust constantly, making the Smith-Webster stand all the more valuable.
What Lies Ahead
With four first-innings wickets still in hand, Australia will look to build a lead beyond South Africa’s reach on Day 2. The Proteas face a daunting task to claw back, with their top order staring down one of the world’s most potent pace batteries. As Smith put it, “Our bowlers know they’ve got the skill to do damage. We’ll back them to finish the job.”
When play resumes, all eyes will be on whether Australia can convert their slender first-innings cushion into a commanding position, and whether South Africa’s batsmen can withstand another barrage at cricket’s hallowed venue.
Brief Scores:
Australia 212 all out (Smith 66, Webster 72; Rabada 5/51, Jansen 3/49)
South Africa 43/4 (Markram 8*, Bavuma 3*; Starc 2/10, Hazlewood 1/10)
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