WTC Final at Lord’s: Bowlers Dominate as Australia Take Narrow Edge

Day 2 of the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s delivered another dramatic chapter in an already thrilling contest. A staggering 28 wickets have fallen across six sessions—14 each day—leaving the match on a knife’s edge. At stumps, Australia lead by 218 runs but have just two wickets in hand, setting up a potentially decisive third day.

Cummins Creates History

The morning belonged to Australian skipper Pat Cummins, who etched his name into the Lord’s record books as the first overseas captain to take a five-wicket haul at the iconic venue. In the process, he also reached the 300 Test wickets milestone. Cummins’ 6-wicket burst bundled South Africa out for 136, handing Australia a 74-run first-innings lead.

South Africa Fight Back, Then Collapse

South Africa showed brief resistance through a 64-run partnership between Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham. But Bavuma’s dismissal—courtesy of a brilliant diving catch by Marnus Labuschagne—sparked another collapse. The Proteas lost 5 wickets for 35 runs, crumbling under pressure.

Australia's Second Innings Stutters

South Africa’s pace attack came roaring back. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen reduced Australia to 44/3, before Lungi Ngidi ran through the middle order. At 73/7, it looked like South Africa had clawed their way back into the game.

But a crucial 61-run stand between Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc steadied the innings. Carey eventually fell, but Starc remained unbeaten at the close of play. Notably, Jansen dropped a late catch off Starc, a potentially costly miss.

Match Poised for a Dramatic Finish

South Africa now face the daunting task of chasing what could become the fourth-highest successful run chase in Lord’s history, against a rampant Australian bowling unit. While Australia hold the upper hand, especially with Cummins in top form, the match remains wide open.

With the way wickets are tumbling, a result could be on the cards as early as Day 3. Test cricket at its finest—unpredictable, gritty, and utterly captivating.