Temba Bavuma's Grit Shines Amidst Australian Bowling Dominance in WTC Final
Day 1 Highlights of the World Test Championship Final
During the opening day of the World Test Championship final, South Africa's captain, Temba Bavuma, showcased a style reminiscent of Rahul Dravid, much to the delight of the crowd. At Lord's Cricket Ground, Bavuma faced the Australian fast bowlers with remarkable patience, blocking nearly 30 deliveries before finally scoring his first run. As he sprinted for a couple of runs, the audience erupted in cheers.
Watch the video here:
— Birdman (@kingbirdman22) June 11, 2025
31 balls of survival — and finally, a run! 😬
— Root Jaiswal (@JaiswalRoot) June 11, 2025
Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma breaks the shackles, but Aussie pacers continue to dominate at Lord’s. 🇦🇺⚡#WTCFinal #TembaBavuma #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/Yaxu3p8rUr
The reference to Rahul Dravid stems from his iconic innings in Sydney back in 2008, where he faced 40 balls before scoring a run, earning a standing ovation despite already having 18 runs.
Steve Smith's run of dot balls made us think of another famous SCG dry spell - this time it was Rahul Dravid's 40 consecutive dots in 2008!#AUSvNZ #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/xArETgVYVq
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 3, 2020
South Africa Struggles Against Australian Bowlers
What started as a modest score for Australia transformed into a significant challenge for South Africa on a thrilling first day at Lord's. Australia was bowled out for 212, despite half-centuries from Smith and Webster, as their innings struggled to gain momentum. Rabada's impressive 5 for 51 highlighted the vulnerabilities in Australia's batting order.
At one point, Smith seemed poised for a memorable innings, but his dismissal to Markram's part-time spin initiated a collapse, with five wickets falling for just 20 runs. However, any concerns about the total quickly faded as Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood took charge.
South Africa, aiming for stability, found themselves at 43 for 4 by the end of the day. While Bavuma held his ground, his teammates faltered, with Mulder and others providing minimal resistance. The final session shifted the narrative, turning what appeared to be a below-par total into a daunting target. This World Test Championship final may not require the full five days.