What happened on Day 1 of the SA vs AUS WTC 2025 final?

Fourteen wickets fell on an action-packed Day 1 of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's on Wednesday, June 11. Bowling first after winning the toss, the Proteas bowled out the Aussies for 212 in 56.4 overs as Kagiso Rabada starred with 5-51 and Marco Jansen 3-49. Australia made a strong comeback to reduce South Africa to 43-4 in 22 overs by stumps.

Australia lost Usman Khawaja for a duck as he nicked a wobble seam delivery from Rabada to first slip. Cameron Green (4) perished in the same over as he also nicked one to the slip cordon. Marnus Labuschagne (17) hung around for 87 minutes, but eventually ran out of patience and flirted at one outside off stump from left-arm pacer Marco Jansen.

Australia went to lunch on Day 1 at 67-4 as Travis Head (11) was caught down leg off Jansen, Kyle Verreynne pulling off a one-handed stunner. Steven Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72) lifted the Aussies with a defiant fifth-wicket stand of 79 runs. Smith scored a resolute fifty before perishing to Aiden Markram, getting a thick edge while going for an extravagant drive.

Alex Carey (23) was looking good, but gifted his wicket away. The Australian keeper-batter was bowled attempting a premeditated reverse sweep off Keshav Maharaj. Rabada produced a beauty to knock over Pat Cummins (1) and then ended Webster's stay at the crease with a delivery that nipped away outside off. Rabada completed a well-deserved five-fer by knocking over Mitchell Starc (1).

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Mitchell Starc leads Australia's brilliant fightback on Day 1 of WTC 2025 final

Having been bowled out cheaply, Australia struck in the first over as Markram (0) chopped a well-directed inswinger from Starc onto his stumps. Ryan Rickelton (16) also perished to the Aussie left-arm seamer, nicking a full delivery that moved away outside off. Wiaan Mulder (6 off 44) tried to hang around, but was bowled through the gate by a beauty from Cummins.

Things went from bad to worse for South Africa on Day 1 of the 2025 WTC final as Josh Hazlewood also produced a brute to clean up Tristan Stubbs for two. At stumps on Day 1, South African skipper Temba Bavuma was batting on three off 37 balls and David Bedingham on eight off nine deliveries. The Proteas trail Australia by 169 runs, with six first-innings wickets remaining.