INTRODUCTION
1. The highly anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 is set to unfold today, featuring a thrilling clash between South Africa and Australia at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
As the first day of this prestigious match commences on Wednesday, cricket enthusiasts can look forward to real-time updates and live scores that will capture every moment of the action. Steve Smith
Fans around the globe will be eager to follow the developments as both teams vie for supremacy in this ultimate test of skill and endurance, showcasing the best of international cricket on one of the sport’s most revered stages.
WTC Final 2025, SA vs AUS Live Cricket Score Updates: Kagiso Rabada showcased his exceptional talent on a significant platform for South Africa, claiming five wickets for 51 runs as the team dismantled Australia, restricting them to a total of 212 runs.
Marco Jansen also made a notable contribution, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 49, while Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram each added a wicket to the tally.
Although Australia experienced a brief resurgence during the second session, their batting was largely dominated by South Africa’s bowlers, who exhibited remarkable control and skill.
The Australian side suffered a dramatic collapse, losing five wickets in a mere 6.4 overs after the Tea break.
Earlier in the day, South Africa had already established their dominance by claiming four wickets in the first session, positioning themselves firmly ahead as Day 1 progressed.
Smith and Webster navigated a phase of play where the bowlers were significantly aided by the conditions, allowing them to assert their dominance during the second session.
Despite their strong partnership, it was Smith who ultimately succumbed to the pressure, falling victim to a spectacular catch by Marco Jansen at first slip off the bowling of Aiden Markram.
The former Australian captain, who had appeared composed and in control throughout his innings, departed after scoring 66 runs from 112 balls.
In contrast, Webster continued to build on the momentum established prior to Smith’s dismissal, effectively keeping the scoreboard moving and surpassing the milestone of his second Test half-century with relative ease.
Smith exhibited remarkable resilience as South Africa asserted their dominance during the initial half of Day 1, ultimately achieving his 42nd Test fifty in the second session.
Despite facing challenges against the formidable bowling duo of Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada, Webster appeared somewhat unsteady at the crease.
However, as the frontline pacers were rotated out of the attack, he gradually began to settle in, demonstrating an ability to adapt and find his rhythm amidst the pressure of the match.
South Africa dominated the first session of play, leaving Australia in a precarious position with four wickets lost by its conclusion.
Among the Australian batsmen, only Steve Smith managed to effectively counter the challenges posed by the South African pace attack and their sharp fielding.
The Proteas’ success in this session was significantly bolstered by exceptional catches from the slip cordon and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, who played a crucial role in dismissing three of the four Australian batsmen.
The frontline bowlers, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, showcased their skills by each claiming two wickets, demonstrating a well-coordinated effort that put Australia on the back foot early in the match.
South Africa established a commanding position early in the match, with Kagiso Rabada making a significant impact by claiming two wickets in the seventh over, followed by Marco Jansen’s dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne in the 18th over.
Rabada’s early strikes, which included the dismissals of Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green, set the tone for South Africa’s dominance in the first hour of play.
As a result, Australia now finds themselves in a precarious situation, relying on the experienced duo of Steve Smith and Travis Head to navigate their way out of this early predicament at Lord’s.
The South African bowlers, particularly Rabada and Jansen, effectively stifled Australia’s scoring opportunities during the initial phases of the game.
This match marks South Africa’s inaugural appearance in the World Test Championship Final, while Australia enters as the defending champions, having triumphed over India by 207 runs in the previous final held at the same venue in 2023.
