icc world test championship final 2025

Rabada to Mitchell Starc, out Bowled!! All over! A fifer for Kagiso Rabada. After some difficult times on and off the field this year, what a great time for South Africa's premier paceman to turn up. He's come up trumps when the lights were shining the brightest. A length ball at good pace that angles in from outside off. Starc looks to defend and plays the wrong line as the ball ends up hitting the top of leg. Australia all out for 212. Mitchell Starc b Rabada 1(12)

Marco Jansen to Lyon, out Bowled!! Through the gates! Fires in full from round the wicket, gets a nasty inward angle. Lyon goes for a big heave through the line, big gap between bat and pad. The ball sneaks through and rattles the furniture behind them. South Africa are charged up here after the Tea break. Lyon b Marco Jansen 0(4)

Rabada to Webster, out Caught by Bedingham!! Another one falls early in this session, and this time it is the set batter! A hard length delivery from Rabada outside off, just hangs it out there for the batter to chase. Webster with a lazy waft at that one with no real foot movement, looked like a tired stroke. Catches an edge and straight to first slip! Webster c Bedingham b Rabada 72(92) [4s-11]

Rabada to Cummins, out Bowled!! Beauty! An absolute pearler from KG Rabada to send back the Australian captain, who can be quite the stickler if he's allowed to bat. On a length and angling in from outside off, straightens just a bit and also kisses the outside edge as Cummins tried to defend. Ends up knocking back the top of off. Maybe just kept a tad lower than expected. Wickets off successive overs, South Africa smell blood now. Cummins b Rabada 1(6)

Maharaj to Carey, out Bowled!! Knocked over! Kesh delivers the breakthrough after the Tea break. It was a loopy delivery onto off, spins in after pitching. Carey with a premeditated reverse sweep off the first ball of the spinner in this session. The ball ends up sneaking under his bat and spins inwards to peg back the middle pole. An unexpected breakthrough here for South Africa. Carey b Maharaj 23(31) [4s-4]

Markram to Smith, out Caught by Marco Jansen!! What a move and it has worked. South Africa are cock-a-hoop. How crucial was that last-ball stop by short mid-wicket. That kept Smith on strike and next-ball he is gone. Is nicely tossed up full outside off, Smith's eyes light up, he gets forward to drive, but it's a thick outside-edge and Jansen has three goes at it at slip and catches it on the third attempt. The move to bring on Markram has provided the crucial breakthrough. Markram has the ability to take big wickets and is a very under-rated bowler, he does the job. Jansen picked it up late to his left, it popped out, then he had another juggle and finally hangs on to his right as he tumbles to ground. South Africa know the importance of this wicket. Smith who was looking good for so many more, has to go. Massive moment in the game. Smith c Marco Jansen b Markram 66(112) [4s-10]

Marco Jansen to Head, out Caught by Verreynne!! Massive bonus for South Africa as Head is burgled down the leg-side. Absolutely huge moment on the first morning. Full ball angling down leg, Head's weight is on the back foot as he looks to flick it away and he gets a faint tickle on it. Goes flying to the right of the keeper and Verreynne does so well to dive across and grab it one-handed. The Proteas are jubilant as they charge towards Verrynne in celebration while Head stands crestfallen. Head c Verreynne b Marco Jansen 11(13) [4s-1]

Marco Jansen to Labuschagne, out Caught by Verreynne!! Clear edge and up goes the finger! First wicket of the day for Jansen as South Africa's superb start to this Test continues. Round the wicket, good length ball in the channel, Labuschagne's footwork is tentative as he looks to defend, ends up poking at it and nicks it through to the keeper. It was the scramble seam release from Jansen and may have held its line a touch. Labuschagne c Verreynne b Marco Jansen 17(56) [4s-1]

Rabada to Green, out Caught by Markram!! Another one!! It had to be KG Rabada to wreck damage in this big final. A fuller delivery that angles in towards off, shapes away late and catches the outside edge as Green presses forward to defend that one. A stunning low take by Markram to the right, as he had Mulder in his eye line as well diving towards the ball. Gets his fingertips underneath the ball and Australia have lost two wickets in the space of four balls. Rabada punches the air in delight, he might be buzzing from the inside! Green c Markram b Rabada 4(3) [4s-1]

Rabada to Khawaja, out Caught by Bedingham!! Gone! KG Rabada has deserved this one! Kept bowling it in that corrdior of uncertainity, and this time induces the edge. On a length on fourth stump, gets a bit of uneven bounce as Khawaja was jumping and expected that rise more. Catches a thick edge and flies to the left of first slip where Bedingham takes a neat catch. Rabada gets his reward for his consistency, Australia's leading run scorer of this WTC cycle goes without scoring. Khawaja c Bedingham b Rabada 0(20)

Cummins to Rabada, out Caught by Webster!! And the ploy works immediately. Just one ball of the short-ball tactic and Rabada holes out. It's a short of length delivery on off, Rabada pulls that nicely, it is dipping and dying on Webster at deep mid-wicket who picked it up late, but adjusted well and dove forward to take it with two hands just before the turf, fine catch that. Six-fer for Cummins and also his 300th Test wicket. What better place and venue to take your 300th Test wicket. South Africa have been bundled out for 138. Rabada c Webster b Cummins 1(6)

Mitchell Starc to Maharaj, out Maharaj Run Out!! 1 run completed. Tight second and no dive, costs Maharaj his wicket. Full and sliding into the pads, flicked wide of Head at square leg, he runs with his shin pads on, yet slides and gets up with the ball, throws it on the bounce to Carey who does the rest. A dive could have saved Maharaj but he tries to reach it with the bat sliding in, does not make it. A wicket gifted away and Australia are on the verge of bowling South Africa out. Maharaj run out (Head/Carey) 7(15) [4s-1]

Cummins to Bedingham, out Caught by Carey!! Michelle fifer for Cummins. He holds the ball aloft and acknowledges the applause. This is a good length delivery angled in on off, Bedingham gets forward to defend, pushes at it with a slightly angled bat and it's a thick outside-edge and held low by Carey diving forward. This came in with the angle and Bedingham was slightly squared up too, superb line and length and Bedingham had to play. Bedingham c Carey b Cummins 45(111) [4s-6]

Cummins to Marco Jansen, out Caught&Bowled!! Gone. Superb from Cummins. He set up Marco Jansen with two length deliveries just outside off, this he went wide of the crease and angled it in full on off, a tame push as Jansen gets forward to play that, lobs it off the outer half of the bat and it's a simple catch to the bowler. Cummins won't drop that and South Africa are now struggling. Two in the over for captain Cummins. Top stuff this. Marco Jansen c and b Cummins 0(3)

Cummins to Verreynne, out Lbw!! This looked close when Australia appealed for LBW. There is a collision between Verreynne and Cummins as the batter runs into him. Cummins gets up and reviews. It's three reds and Verreynne has to walk. This is a sharp nipbacker on the stumps, Verreynne shuffles across a bit too much, misses the flick, hit in line with middle and leg, looked like it would be ump's call at best, but it's hitting flush and that will do for Australia. As soon as Cummins saw the three reds on the big screen, he roared. He makes the breakthrough. Verreynne lbw b Cummins 13(39)

Cummins to Bavuma, out Caught by Labuschagne!! Labuschagne plucks a blinder to break the partnership. Cummins wins the battle of skippers. This is a massive wicket for Australia. South Africa's captain was looking in good touch this morning but has thrown it away. Intent is a double-edged sword - it can get you runs but there's also the risk of losing your wicket. Full pitcher outside off, Bavuma's eyes lit up on seeing the line and length, he goes for the drive and does not keep it down, Labuschagne dives to his right near cover and takes a two-hand beauty. South Africa are 5 down and still 118 runs behind. Bavuma c Labuschagne b Cummins 36(84) [4s-4 6s-1]

Hazlewood to Stubbs, out Bowled!! Another one! Angles in from a slightly fuller length, Stubbs plays for a much straighter line with his forward defence. Sneaks through the gap and hits the top of middle. Hazlewood with his metronomical line prices out a big wicket for the Aussies! South Africa are reeling here in this WTC final. Stubbs b Hazlewood 2(13)

Cummins to Mulder, out Bowled!! Mulder's misery comes to an end as Cummins goes right through the gate! Keeps it full at a good pace (140kph), targets the stumps, gets the ball to nip back in and it's too good for Mulder's attempted drive. He tries to hit down the ground but the nip-backer just bursts right through him and crashes into middle stump. Mulder b Cummins 6(44)

Mitchell Starc to Rickelton, out Caught by Khawaja!! He survived a couple of times earlier, but not this time. The temptation to go for the drive has consumed Rickelton. Pitched up outside off, swings away as he goes after it, takes a healthy edge and Khawaja takes a sharp catch to his right at first slip. Starc again with the breakthrough and South Africa are wobbling early. Rickelton c Khawaja b Mitchell Starc 16(23) [4s-3]

Mitchell Starc to Markram, out Bowled!! You beauty! How often has Mitch Starc done this for Australia. Aiden Markram becomes another of his many, many first over victims. On a length and shapes in from just outside off, Markram was a bit tentative in his defence. Pushes at it late and can only get an inside edge onto his stumps. One of South Africa's most experienced batters in this team is out without scoring. Markram b Mitchell Starc 0(6)