Day 2 of the ICC World Check Championship (WTC) Closing 2025 between Australia (AUS) and South Africa (SA) at Lord’s continued to be a bowler’s den. After ending Day 1 on 43/4, trailing by 169 runs, South Africa resumed their innings with Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham on the crease.
The pair cautiously navigated the morning session, with Bavuma surviving an in depth LBW name off Josh Hazlewood, efficiently overturned on evaluate. The duo added 44 runs in 13 overs, and Bavuma introduced up an important 64-run stand with Bedingham, narrowing the deficit to 118. Nonetheless, Pat Cummins supplied the much-needed breakthrough for Australia, dismissing Bavuma for 36 with a pointy catch from Marnus Labuschagne and at lunch, South Africa reached 121/5.
Cummins unleashed a devastating spell post-lunch towards the Proteas. He struck twice in a single over, eradicating Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen, decreasing South Africa to 126/7. The collapse continued because the Proteas misplaced 5 wickets for simply 12 runs in 35 balls.
The Australian captain accomplished his six-wicket haul, ending with figures of 4.1-1-4-4 in his post-lunch innings and claimed his three hundredth Check wicket. In consequence, Australia bowled out South Africa and secured a first-innings lead of 74 runs.
Australia collapse in second innings as South Africa combat again
Australia’s second innings started briskly, with the lead crossing 100 very quickly. However Kagiso Rabada hit them again, eradicating Usman Khawaja and Cameron Inexperienced in the identical over, and Australia went into tea at 32/2. After the break, the wickets continued to tumble. Labuschagne was dismissed for 22 by Jansen, whereas Lungi Ngidi despatched again Steve Smith (13) and Beau Webster in fast succession. Wiaan Mulder bowled a magnificence to knock over Travis Head, and Ngidi adopted up by castling Cummins, leaving Australia in bother at 74/7.
Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey provided some resistance, calmly stitching collectively a invaluable 50-run partnership for the eighth wicket and increasing the lead past 200. Simply earlier than stumps, Rabada returned to dismiss Carey for a well-made 43, although he appeared to stretch his groin within the course of. Nathan Lyon survived a scare late within the day as an edge fell wanting the slip. At stumps on Day 2, Australia had been 144/8, main South Africa by 218 runs, with Starc (16*) and Lyon (1*) on the crease.
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