Cummins and Ngidi Shine as WTC Final Remains Intense

The first day of the World Test Championship final showcased an eventful 14 wickets, with both Australia and South Africa relying heavily on their fast bowlers. Pat Cummins delivered a fiery performance (6-28), quickly wrapping up South Africa’s innings for 138 after they resumed from lunch at 121/5. This gave Australia a substantial 74-run advantage, but South Africa fought back robustly with impressive bowling from Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, reducing Australia to 73/7. However, Alex Carey’s aggressive 43 and a sturdy partnership with Mitchell Starc helped Australia end the day at 144/8, leading by 218 runs.

In their second innings, after dismissing South Africa swiftly, Australia started steadily, pushing their lead closer to the hundred mark. A review for a caught-behind against Usman Khawaja was unsuccessful, allowing Australia to reach a three-figure lead. Rabada revitalized South Africa’s hopes by taking two critical wickets – Khawaja and Cameron Green – in one over, both dismissed just before the Tea break.

Labuschagne and Steve Smith attempted to stabilize Australia’s innings in the final session, but runs were hard to come by as South African bowlers maintained a disciplined line. Labuschagne was dismissed after edging a drive to the keeper, and Ngidi struck again, trapping Smith leg-before wicket. The South African pacers continued their assault, with Ngidi also dismissing Beau Webster lbw and then Wiaan Mulder bowling Travis Head; Australia was in dire straits at 66/6.

An unsuccessful review by South Africa for Carey’s lbw ended with the ball shown to have been going over the stumps. However, Ngidi claimed the captain’s wicket soon after. Although both Carey and Starc edged a few deliveries that fell short of slips, they managed to gather crucial runs, with Carey overturning an lbw decision through a successful review to show an inside edge. This over added 11 runs, pushing Australia’s lead past 180, with Starc supporting Carey effectively.

Rabada nearly picked up another wicket when Starc edged the ball, but Verreynne missed the difficult catch. Carey’s fine innings eventually came to a close when Rabada bowled him, despite showing signs of fatigue. In a tense finish to the day, Mulder missed an opportunity to dismiss Starc, who survived in the last over of the day.

Brief scores: Australia 212 & 144/8 (Alex Carey 43, Marnus Labuschagne 22; Lungi Ngidi 3-35, Kagiso Rabada 3-44) lead South Africa 138 (David Bedingham 45, Temba Bavuma 36; Pat Cummins 6-28, Mitchell Starc 2-41) by 218 runs.