A dramatic final session at Lord’s saw Australia storm back into control of the World Test Championship final, reducing South Africa to 4-43 after being bowled out for 212 earlier in the day.
Mitchell Starc set the tone with two early wickets—removing Aiden Markram for a duck and Ryan Rickelton for 16—before Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood struck late to dismantle South Africa’s top order under fading light.
The bowling trio’s late burst came after Australia had suffered their own batting collapse. From a promising 5-190 at tea, they lost 5-22 to finish with a total that initially seemed below par.
Only Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72) offered resistance, with no other Australian batter passing 23. Marnus Labuschagne, opening for the first time in a Test, managed 17 before falling before lunch. Kagiso Rabada led South Africa’s bowling with 5-51, surpassing Allan Donald to become the fourth-highest wicket-taker in South African Test history.
Despite the late batting collapse, Australia’s pace attack turned the game. Starc struck in his first over, Cummins broke Wiaan Mulder’s dogged resistance, and Hazlewood bowled Tristan Stubbs with a beauty.
“It looked like every ball was going to do something,” said Webster, reflecting on watching the bowlers from the slips.
Smith praised the veteran quicks, highlighting Starc’s durability across 97 Tests and their relentless pressure late in the day.
“They’ve done it for a long time, and today was no different,” Smith said.
“When you’ve got just a couple of hours to bowl, you can go flat out.”
South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma remains not out at stumps but struggled for fluency, managing just a handful of runs off more than 30 balls amid disciplined bowling from Cummins and Hazlewood.
With South Africa still trailing by 169 runs and four wickets already lost, Australia holds the upper hand heading into Day Two.
