With only a handful of runs left for South Africa to secure victory in the 2025 World Test Championship final, Australia’s hopes are hanging by a thread. The Proteas need just a few dozen runs and still have eight wickets in hand, with Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs at the crease.
Earlier, Captain Pat Cummins claimed the key wicket of Temba Bavuma, who had played a strong innings despite a hamstring issue. Bavuma was dismissed by a sharp delivery that moved away and caught the edge, bringing a 143-run partnership to an end.
Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have bowled impressively on day four, with both testing the batters and beating the edge multiple times. However, Australia’s bowlers have found limited support from a flat Lord’s pitch, which had lost all of its bite by the end of day three.
Hazlewood did manage to dismiss Bavuma and has continued to bowl tight lines, but with South Africa only needing 69 runs at the start of play, the equation was always in their favour.
The Australian side is under pressure, having lost the momentum after a dramatic collapse in their own second innings, where they fell from 0/28 to 7/73. Even though early in the match conditions heavily favoured the bowlers, day three’s sunshine flattened the pitch, giving the Proteas the upper hand.
Key highlights:
- Damien Markram remains composed at the crease, closing in on a match-winning century.
- Cummins and Hazlewood have bowled well but need quick wickets.
- Tristan Stubbs has shown early composure in his innings.
- South Africa’s chase has been steady, despite early nerves.
- Australia is desperate for another collapse from the Proteas to keep their title hopes alive.
Australia may still hope for a miracle collapse like the ones seen earlier in the match — but as things stand, South Africa is firmly in control.
