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The highly-anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 Final got underway at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Wednesday, June 11. While the Temba Bavuma-led Protea Men are coming after a brilliant home and away season, Australia enter as the defending champions.
For the unversed, the South African skipper, Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bowl first at Lord’s. After inviting the Aussie to put to bat first, pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada began with a bang, starting the innings with three staright maiden overs.
Aiden Markram takes a low catch to give Kagiso Rabada his second wicket in WTC 2025 Final
Walking out to bowl his fourth over of the inning, which was the seventh of the Aussie first innings, Rabada got a crucial breakthrough as he dismissed veteran batter, Usman Khawaja on duck. Khawaja, who has been Australia’s highest run-getter in WTC 2023-25 cycle departed without scoring, courtesy a neat catch from David Bedigham.
What followed was another brilliance from Rabada. Bowling the final delivery of the seventh over, the new batter in Cameron Green pressed it forward to defend it. As the fuller delivery nicked Green’s bat, it went straight into the slips where Aiden Markram took a low catch to send the batter packing.
Watch video of Aiden Markram’s fine low catch:
Mrakram, who was stationed at second slip, dived towards his right to get the ball just in time, knowing that Wiaan Mulder too went towards the ball. While the wicket was a crucial one for the Protean side, Rabada too was seen in excitement as he punched in air after getting two to his name in just four overs at the end of the seventh over.
SA vs AUS WTC 2025 Final Playing XI
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verrynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
