The hallowed turf of Lord’s Cricket Ground bore witness to a pulsating opening day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 yesterday, as defending champions Australia locked horns with a spirited South Africa, appearing in their maiden WTC decider. June 11, 2025, will be remembered as a day of relentless drama, with 14 wickets falling in 78.4 overs, culminating in South Africa limping to 43/4 at stumps, trailing Australia’s first-innings total of 212 by 169 runs. From Kagiso Rabada’s fiery spell to Beau Webster’s gritty debut, and a devastating Australian pace attack, Day 1 was a Test cricket masterclass. Here’s an in-depth, original account of the scorecard and the moments that set the tone for this epic clash.
The Toss and South Africa’s Early Dominance
Under overcast London skies, South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma called correctly at the toss and opted to bowl, eyeing early movement on a Lord’s pitch with a tinge of green. The decision proved inspired as Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s pace spearhead, tore through Australia’s top order with a spell of controlled aggression. In the seventh over, Rabada struck twice in four balls: Usman Khawaja (0) edged a full-length delivery to David Bedingham at first slip, and Cameron Green (4) was undone by a sharp outswinger, caught spectacularly by Aiden Markram diving to his left at second slip. Australia were 16/2, and the Proteas were buzzing.
Marco Jansen, sharing the new ball, compounded Australia’s woes. Marnus Labuschagne (17) poked at a probing delivery outside off, nicking to keeper Kyle Verreynne, while Travis Head (11) fell to a similar trap, edging Jansen to Verreynne just before lunch. At 67/4 after 23.2 overs, Australia were in disarray, with South Africa’s seamers exploiting the seam movement and swing to perfection. Rabada’s figures of 2/16 and Jansen’s 2/20 at the interval reflected their dominance, as Indian cricket fans on social media drew parallels to India’s own pace heroics at Lord’s in 2021.
Smith and Webster’s Rescue Act
Steve Smith, Australia’s talisman, and debutant Beau Webster walked out post-lunch with the weight of a nation on their shoulders. The duo stitched together a vital 79-run fifth-wicket partnership, shifting the momentum in Australia’s favour. Smith, playing his 113th Test, was at his fluent best, caressing eight boundaries in his 66 off 76 balls. His cover drives and deft flicks off Rabada and Maharaj were a treat for purists, and he overtook Warren Bardsley’s record for the most runs by a visiting batter at Lord’s during his knock. Webster, the Tasmanian all-rounder, began tentatively, surviving a close lbw shout and a dropped catch, but grew in stature. His 72 off 108 balls, laced with 10 fours, was a masterclass in grit, with a straight drive off Jansen earning applause from the Lord’s faithful.
The partnership took Australia to 146/4 by tea, raising hopes of a 300-plus total. However, South Africa clawed back in the final session. Aiden Markram, introduced as a part-time spinner, broke the stand by dismissing Smith, who miscued a lofted cover drive to Jansen at point. Alex Carey (20) counterattacked briefly but fell to a reckless reverse sweep against Keshav Maharaj, bowled through the gate. Pat Cummins (2) was outfoxed by Jansen’s late swing, and Rabada returned to mop up the tail. Nathan Lyon (0) was trapped lbw, Webster edged to Verreynne, and Mitchell Starc (2) was castled, as Australia collapsed from 146/4 to 212 all out in 56.4 overs.
Rabada’s 5/51 earned him a place on the Lord’s Honours Board, his relentless accuracy and late movement proving decisive. Jansen’s 3/49, Maharaj’s 1/28, and Markram’s 1/13 complemented the effort, but the Proteas would rue their inability to restrict Australia below 200, as Webster’s defiance and Smith’s class had lifted the total to a competitive mark.
South Africa’s Batting Woes: Australia Strike Hard
With 22 overs to bat under fading light, South Africa’s openers, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton, faced a daunting task against Australia’s fearsome pace trio of Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood. Disaster struck in the first over, as Starc cleaned up Markram (0) with a thunderbolt that swung back to rattle the stumps, sending the Lord’s crowd into a frenzy. Rickelton (12) showed intent with two crisp boundaries but succumbed to Starc in the ninth over, edging a lifting delivery to Khawaja at first slip.
Wiaan Mulder, promoted to number three in a tactical move, battled hard for 38 balls, scoring 4, but Cummins outsmarted him with a gem that seamed back to clip the off stump. Josh Hazlewood, leveraging the Lord’s slope, delivered the killer blow by bowling Tristan Stubbs (2) with a delivery that jagged in sharply, leaving South Africa at 30/4 after 20.2 overs. Temba Bavuma, unbeaten on 3 off 37 balls, played with monk-like patience, while David Bedingham (8* off 9 balls) provided a late flourish, stroking two boundaries off Cummins to take South Africa to 43/4 at stumps.
Starc’s 2/10, Cummins’ 1/10, and Hazlewood’s 1/10 underlined Australia’s bowling discipline, with Carey’s solitary blemish—a dropped catch of Mulder off Hazlewood—failing to dent their dominance. For Indian fans, the collapse evoked memories of South Africa’s 55 all out against India in Cape Town in 2024, raising questions about the Proteas’ batting frailties in pressure situations.
The Lord’s Pitch: A Seamer’s Paradise
The Lord’s surface, true to its reputation, offered generous assistance to fast bowlers. Seam movement was pronounced throughout the day, with the ball swinging late under overcast conditions. The famous Lord’s slope aided Hazlewood and Jansen, as noted by former Indian seamer Irfan Pathan in his commentary stint. Beau Webster, speaking to Star Sports post-match, described the pitch as “challenging but fair,” crediting Rabada’s length and Jansen’s bounce for South Africa’s early breakthroughs. Former South African captain Graeme Smith predicted the pitch could slow down by Day 3, potentially bringing Lyon and Maharaj into play, but warned that the first-innings lead would be crucial.
Standout Performers
- Kagiso Rabada (5/51): The Proteas’ pace ace was unplayable at times, his five-wicket haul dismantling Australia’s batting with pace, swing, and precision.
- Beau Webster (72): The debutant’s resolute knock, blending caution with aggression, was a silver lining for Australia, earning him plaudits from coach Andrew McDonald.
- Steve Smith (66): His 42nd Test fifty showcased his mastery, anchoring Australia’s innings and setting a platform for their bowlers.
- Mitchell Starc (2/10): Starc’s fiery opening burst, dismissing Markram and Rickelton, swung the game decisively in Australia’s favour.
Day 2 Outlook
South Africa face a herculean task on Day 2, with Bavuma and Bedingham tasked with resurrecting the innings. The duo will draw inspiration from South Africa’s 251/7 against Australia in Perth in 2022, where Bavuma and Verreynne staged a comeback. With Verreynne, Jansen, and Rabada capable of wielding the bat, the Proteas will aim to bat till lunch and reduce the deficit to under 100. Australia, however, will unleash their pace battery early, with Lyon potentially testing Bedingham’s footwork against spin. Weather forecasts predict clearer skies, which could ease batting conditions, but the new ball, just 22 overs old, remains a threat.
Scorecard at Stumps
Australia 1st Innings: 212 all out (56.4 overs)
- Beau Webster: 72 (108 balls, 10 fours)
- Steve Smith: 66 (76 balls, 8 fours)
- Alex Carey: 20 (37 balls, 2 fours)
- Kagiso Rabada: 5/51 (17.4 overs)
- Marco Jansen: 3/49 (15 overs)
- Keshav Maharaj: 1/28 (10 overs)
- Aiden Markram: 1/13 (4 overs)
- Fall of Wickets: 12/1 (Khawaja, 6.3 ov), 16/2 (Green, 6.6 ov), 46/3 (Labuschagne, 17.6 ov), 67/4 (Head, 23.2 ov), 146/5 (Smith, 41.6 ov), 192/6 (Carey, 51.1 ov), 199/7 (Cummins, 52.4 ov), 210/8 (Webster, 54.4 ov), 211/9 (Lyon, 55.5 ov), 212/10 (Starc, 56.4 ov)
South Africa 1st Innings: 43/4 (22 overs)
- David Bedingham: 8* (9 balls, 2 fours)
- Ryan Rickelton: 12 (25 balls, 2 fours)
- Temba Bavuma: 3* (37 balls)
- Mitchell Starc: 2/10 (7 overs)
- Pat Cummins: 1/10 (6 overs)
- Josh Hazlewood: 1/10 (5 overs)
- Fall of Wickets: 0/1 (Markram, 0.6 ov), 19/2 (Rickelton, 8.4 ov), 25/3 (Mulder, 15.2 ov), 30/4 (Stubbs, 20.2 ov)
A Final Word
Day 1 of the WTC Final 2025 was a testament to Test cricket’s enduring allure, with both teams showcasing skill, tenacity, and heart. For Indian fans, who have followed India’s WTC campaigns closely, the match served as a reminder of the format’s unforgiving nature. As South Africa fight to stay alive and Australia aim to tighten their grip, Lord’s is poised for another day of high-octane cricket. Will Bavuma’s men stage a comeback, or will Cummins’ side march towards a second WTC title? The answers lie in the drama that awaits on June 12.
Also read: WTC Final 2025: Australia vs. South Africa at Lord’s
