Rabada storm on the first day of WTC Final, bowlers created ruckus, the condition of both teams thin
WTC Final 2025 Day 1: The final of the World Test Championship 2025 at Lord’s ground was filled with thrill on the first day. While Kagiso Rabada broke Australia’s back on one side, Stark, Cummins and Hazlewood on the other side pushed South Africa to the backfoot.
The bowlers were clearly dominated on the first day of the World Test Championship 2025 finals being played at Lord’s. South Africa captain Temba Bawuma won the toss and decided to bowl first, and Kagiso Rabada proved it completely correct. Rabada played an important role in consisting of Australia’s first innings for 212 runs by taking 5 wickets in just 15.4 overs.
Australia started very poorly. Usman Khwaja (0) and Cameron Green (4) were sent to the pavilion by Rabada in a single over, while Labushen (17) and Travis Head (11) could not last long. There were just 67 runs on the scoreboard and four wickets had fallen.
After this, Steve Smith (66) and Bu Webster (72) took over the innings and tried to bring the team on the path to return by partnering 79 runs for the fifth wicket. But as soon as Smith was dismissed with a brilliant catch in the slip off the ball of Aidan Markram, the hopes of Australia’s return gradually ended. Webster definitely scored 72 runs with the help of 11 fours, but the lower -order batsmen could not do anything special. The entire team was all out for 212 runs in 56.4 overs.
Rabada bowled brilliantly in this innings, taking 5 wickets and became the second bowler in the world to take five wickets in the WTC final. Earlier, New Zealand’s Kyle Jameson did this against India in the 2021 final. During this time, Rabada also became the fourth highest wicket -taker of South Africa in the Test, overtaking Allen Donald (332 wickets). At the same time, Marco Janson took three wickets.
However, Australia returned very soon. When South Africa came out to bat, Mitchell Starc bowled Markram in the first over. After this, Ricelton (16), Mulder (6) and Stubs (2) also settled cheaply. On seeing this, Africa scored 4 wickets for 30 runs.
Till the end of the first day’s play, captain Bawuma (2) and David Bedingham (8) were at the crease. South Africa scored 43 for 4 wickets and he is still 169 runs behind. Stark two, while Cummins and Hazlewood took one wicket each.
