Australia responded to a second-innings wobble with a spirited lower-order stand to finish Day 2 of the World Test Championship Final on 144/8, extending their overall lead to 218 runs over South Africa at London’s Lord’s Cricket Ground.
South Africa resumed their first innings on 43/4, but rapidly folded to 138 all out shortly after lunch. Captain Pat Cummins spearheaded Australia’s charge, claiming career-best figures of 6/28—becoming the first skipper to take six wickets in an innings at Lord’s—and the 300th Test scalp of his career in just 68 matches.
Cummins trapped Kyle Verreynne lbw for 13, snapped up Marco Jansen’s edge for a duck, and wrapped up the tail by dismissing Kagiso Rabada for 1.
“Taking 300 Test wickets is a sign of durability and resilience,” Cummins said afterwards.
“And doing it here, in these conditions, makes it even more special.”
Mitchell Starc (2/41) and Josh Hazlewood (1/27) shared the rest of the wickets, ensuring Australia struck first blood on Day 2.
Second-innings setbacks and a fightback
In reply, Australia’s top order collapsed under pressure from Rabada’s searing pace. The South African spearhead added two more wickets to his tally, removing Usman Khawaja for 6 and Cameron Green for a golden duck, to finish with 2/15 at tea.
After the interval, Marco Jansen delivered a breakthrough that set Australia on edge, removing Marnus Labuschagne for 22 off 64 deliveries—his only wicket of the innings so far—via an outside-edge catch to the keeper.
In quick succession, Lungi Ngidi uprooted Steve Smith for 13 and Beau Webster for 9 with an inswinging yorker, leaving Australia reeling at 44/5. Wiaan Mulder then trapped Travis Head lbw for 19, reducing the Australians to 69/6 and igniting hopes of a stirring Proteas recovery.
Instead, wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey and skipper Cummins restored some stability. Carey, promoted to No. 8, marshalled the tail with an unbeaten 43, drilling five authoritative fours in a 50-run stand for the eighth wicket with Mitchell Starc (16*). Their partnership not only guided Australia past 100 but also reset the contest heading into Day 3.
“We wanted to hang in there and frustrate their bowlers,” Carey said.
“Getting to 100 was crucial, then we just tried to build as much as we could with what was left of the day.”
Rabada eventually claimed Carey’s wicket in the penultimate over, but the damage had been done: Australia left England’s Home of Cricket with 144/8, a lead of 218, and two survivors—Starc and veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon (1*)—ready to resume.
Despite South Africa’s collapse, bowler Lungi Ngidi struck a defiant tone in the post-stumps press conference. His three-wicket haul (3/35) in Australia’s second innings underscored Proteas’ intent.
“The coach told us to play with conviction,” Ngidi said.
“We can turn the game around—we’ve shown in this tournament that any total can be chased on this wicket.”
Australia’s captain acknowledged the challenging nature of the Lord’s surface. “Just when it looks settled, one ball can sharply rear off the pitch,” he explained.
“Both teams bowled disciplined lines and lengths today. We’ll look to add every possible run tomorrow, then trust our bowlers to finish it off.”
Among the few Proteas batters to apply himself on Day 2 was David Bedingham, whose gritty 45 in the first innings laid the foundation for South Africa’s brief resistance. The 31-year-old believes his side can still engineer a memorable fourth-innings chase.
“There’s real belief in our dressing room,” Bedingham said.
“If we can wrap up these last two Australian wickets early, we’ve seen teams chase big totals here before. It’s going to require 100 per cent commitment in defence and attack.”
As the third day dawns, Australia will aim to add crucial runs to their lead before unleashing their world-class pace battery on an under-pressure South African batting line-up. A breakthrough or two in the morning session could yet set the stage for a thrilling finale, but for now, the momentum rests firmly with the reigning Test champions.
Brief scores:
South Africa 138 all out (Cummins 6/28, Starc 2/41) & 43/4 vs Australia 212 all out & 144/8 (Carey 43, Rabada 3/35).
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