London, Jun 11 (UNI) Kagiso Rabada produced a blistering five-wicket haul as South Africa dismissed Australia for 212 before battling through a torrid final session to finish Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s on 43 for 4, trailing by 169 runs.
Rabada (5/51) and Marco Jansen (3/49) led South Africa's charge after skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to field in seaming, overcast conditions. Despite defiant knocks by Steven Smith (66) and Matt Webster (72), Australia lost their last six wickets for just 66 runs, collapsing in under 70 overs.
South Africa’s reply, however, began in disarray as Mitchell Starc struck in the opening over. Aiden Markram was bowled for a duck, beaten by a sharp in-ducker that clipped his inside edge onto the stumps. Starc was soon in the thick of action again, removing the aggressive Ryan Rickelton (16 off 23) with a fuller delivery that swung late and caught the edge, with Usman Khawaja pouching a sharp catch at first slip.
Though Rickelton had looked positive with crisp strokes — including a sublime back-foot punch through cover and a straight drive off Josh Hazlewood — his shot selection eventually led to his downfall. He also punched a beautiful four down the ground early in his innings, but the start was short-lived.
Wiaan Mulder (6 off 44) survived a dropped chance early when Alex Carey fluffed a regulation catch, but couldn’t make it count. His long vigil ended when Pat Cummins breached his defence with a fast, nipping delivery that shattered the stumps.
Tristan Stubbs (2) was another casualty, undone by Hazlewood’s perfect length delivery that angled in and kissed the top of middle stump. The South African top-order, rocked at 30 for 4, looked completely out of depth against Australia’s relentless seamers.
Captain Bavuma had a nervy stay at the crease, edging Pat Cummins just short of slip, before settling into survival mode. David Bedingham, meanwhile, kept calm under pressure and played two exquisite strokes to steady the Proteas late in the day.
In the 21st over, Bedingham punished an attempted yorker from Cummins, converting it into a lovely push down the ground for four. He then closed the day with another confident boundary through square leg off a full delivery on the pads, ensuring South Africa finished on a slightly steadier note.
There was also a stroke of fortune for Bedingham when a loud LBW appeal against him was turned down (20.3), with the ball deflecting off the knee roll to the fine leg boundary for four leg-byes.
Earlier, Rabada delivered a fiery and clinical spell of fast bowling, taking 5 for 51 to help bundle out Australia for 212. Backed ably by left-arm seamer Marco Jansen (3/49), Rabada led South Africa’s pace attack after captain Bavuma opted to bowl first under overcast conditions — a decision that paid immediate dividends as wickets fell steadily throughout the innings.
Despite a fighting half-century from Smith and a fluent fifty from allrounder Webster, Australia never fully recovered from their early setbacks. The innings peaked at 146/4 before the second new ball and some inspired bowling saw the last six wickets tumble for just 66 runs. Part-timer Markram dismissed Smith with a clever delivery, while Webster’s edge to first slip off Rabada after Tea triggered the collapse.
Lower-order batsmen Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc offered little resistance. Starc was bowled by a Rabada beauty to wrap up the innings, capping a memorable five-wicket haul for the pacer. Carey (23) fell to a reverse-sweep against Keshav Maharaj, and Labuschagne (17) was undone by Jansen’s bounce. Rabada’s early breakthroughs had already removed Cameron Green and Khawaja cheaply.
Though not among the wicket-takers, Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder played vital roles by maintaining relentless pressure through tight spells, ensuring that Australia never found momentum. The disciplined, collective bowling effort left South Africa in control at the end of Day 1.
Brief Scores: Australia 1st innings: 212 all out in 68.4 overs (Steven Smith 66, Matt Webster 72; Kagiso Rabada 5/51, Marco Jansen 3/49)
South Africa 1st innings: 43/4 in 22 overs (Ryan Rickelton 16; Mitchell Starc 2/10, Josh Hazlewood 1/10, Pat Cummins 1/14)
Fall of wickets: 0-1 (Markram), 19-2 (Rickelton), 25-3 (Mulder), 30-4 (Stubbs)
At Stumps: David Bedingham 8* (9), Temba Bavuma 3* (37)
Day 1: Stumps – South Africa trail by 169 runs
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