The 2025 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final, held at Lord’s, London, from June 11 to 15, 2025, featured a thrilling contest between defending champions Australia and South Africa, who were making their maiden appearance in the WTC Final.
Below is a detailed explanation of the events on the first and second days of the 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final, based on available information.
Day 1: June 11, 2025
● Toss and Decision: South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first, likely due to cloudy conditions at Lord’s, which favored swing and seam bowling.
● Australia’s First Innings:
■ Australia was bowled out for 212 in their first innings. The innings was anchored by Steve Smith, who scored a gritty fifty, and Beau Webster, who contributed a solid half-century, helping Australia reach a respectable total despite challenging conditions.
■ South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada was the standout bowler, claiming his 17th Test five-wicket haul (5 wickets), becoming the first South African to achieve a five-for in a WTC Final and only the second overall after Kyle Jamieson. His performance was pivotal in restricting Australia early in the third session.
● South Africa’s First Innings:
■ South Africa began their reply but struggled against Australia’s pace attack. By the close of play, they were 43/4 after 22 overs, trailing by 169 runs. Australia’s bowlers, led by captain Pat Cummins, struck back in the evening session, taking four wickets to tilt the momentum in their favor.
■ A total of 14 wickets fell on a dramatic Day 1, with pacers from both sides dominating on a pitch offering movement.
● Key Performances:
■ Steve Smith (Australia): His fighting fifty was crucial in stabilizing Australia’s innings. He also set a new record Test score at Lord’s for a visiting batter with 591* (cumulative across career), surpassing Warren Bardsley’s 575.
■ Beau Webster (Australia): His half-century supported Smith in building a competitive total.
■ Kagiso Rabada (South Africa): His five-for dismantled Australia’s batting lineup.
■ Pat Cummins (Australia): Led the bowling response, taking key wickets to leave South Africa reeling.
● Summary: Day 1 was a bowler-dominated affair, with South Africa gaining an edge by bowling out Australia but losing ground with their top-order collapse. Both teams shared the spoils, setting up an exciting Day 2.
Day 2: June 12, 2025
● South Africa’s First Innings (Continued):
■ South Africa resumed at 43/4 and were bowled out for 138, giving Australia a first-innings lead of 74 runs. Pat Cummins was the star, taking a five-wicket haul to rip through the South African batting lineup.
■ Temba Bavuma showed some intent early on Day 2 with boundaries, but the Proteas couldn’t build substantial partnerships to counter Australia’s relentless pace attack.
● Australia’s Second Innings:
■ Australia began their second innings and faced early trouble as South Africa’s bowlers, led by Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, struck with the new ball. By the end of Day 2’s third session, Australia were 73/7 after 24.5 overs, with a lead of 147 runs.
■ Key moments included Ngidi dismissing Pat Cummins for 6, bowled by a searing yorker, and other quick wickets that triggered a dramatic collapse. Mitchell Starc (0*) and Alex Carey (2*) were at the crease when play ended.
● Key Performances:
■ Pat Cummins (Australia): His five-for in South Africa’s innings gave Australia a significant advantage.
■ Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi (South Africa): Their early strikes in Australia’s second innings, including Ngidi’s dismissal of Cummins, kept South Africa in the contest. Rabada continued his fine form with the new ball.
■ Temba Bavuma (South Africa): Showed positive intent with early boundaries but couldn’t convert it into a big score.
● Summary: Day 2 saw South Africa fight back with the ball after being bowled out, but Australia maintained a slender lead. The match remained finely poised, with Australia’s precarious 73/7 leaving the door open for South Africa to seize control on Day 3.