Pat Cummins Shines as Australia Faces Challenges Against South Africa in WTC Final

Day 2 Highlights of the WTC Final

On Day 2 of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, Pat Cummins showcased an impressive performance with figures of 6/28, while South Africa's aggressive pace bowlers made their mark. Australia ended the day at 144/8, holding a substantial lead but facing difficulties against the South African attack.

Match Overview

The Australian captain, Pat Cummins, and South Africa's pace bowlers were the standout performers on June 12 at Lord's. After South Africa was dismissed for 138, Australia began their second innings with a 74-run lead. However, they faced a severe setback, collapsing to 73/7. A resilient partnership between Alex Carey (43) and Mitchell Starc (16*) helped stabilize the innings, bringing the score to 144/8 by the end of the day, with a lead of 218 runs.

Key Takeaways from Day 2

1. Pat Cummins delivered a remarkable spell, achieving 6/28 at an economy rate of 1.50 over 18.1 overs. He took five wickets on Day 2, including Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada, marking the best bowling figures by a captain at Lord's.

2. Cummins became the first bowler to claim six wickets in a WTC Final, adding to his record of nine five-wicket hauls as captain, tying with the late Richie Benaud.

3. South Africa resumed their innings at 43/4 but lost their captain Bavuma at 94/5. They struggled to build momentum, ultimately collapsing from 121/5 to 138 all out, conceding a 74-run lead.

4. Kagiso Rabada was a constant threat, taking early wickets of Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green, finishing with figures of 3/44.

5. Australia's batting lineup struggled against South Africa's disciplined bowling, with Lungi Ngidi claiming three key wickets and contributing to the collapse from 48/4 to 73/7.

Australia's Batting Struggles

Australia's decision to promote Marnus Labuschagne to the top order did not yield the expected results. He scored 17 in the first innings and 22 in the second, failing to provide the stability needed after Khawaja's dismissal. This shift in the batting order disrupted their usual rhythm, making it challenging to cope with South Africa's relentless bowling attack.