What happened the last time Mitchell Starc scored 40-plus runs in a Test innings before SA vs AUS 2025 WTC final?

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, known for his prowess with the ball, has put up a stellar show with the bat in the ongoing 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final. The game is being played between South Africa and Australia at the Lord's.

Mitchell Starc, in Australia's second innings on day three, scored a brilliant half-century with the bat. The last time Starc scored 40-plus runs in a Test innings before the 2025 WTC final was during the 2023 WTC final against India at The Oval.

Batting first, Australia had put up 469 runs in the first innings and bowled India out for just 296 in the second. When Australia walked out to bat once again, Starc made a crucial 41 off 57 balls, hitting seven fours, to take their total to 270/8 declared, setting India a daunting target of 444 runs. India were bowled out for just 234 as Australia went on to win the final by a huge margin of 209 runs.

Thus, the last time Mitchell Starc made 40-plus runs in a Test innings before the 2025 WTC final, Australia won the Test covincingly.

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Mitchell Starc stars with unbeaten fifty as Australia set South Africa a target of 282

In Australia's second innings of the 2025 WTC final against South Africa, Mitchell Starc produced a brilliant unbeaten half-century with the bat, walking in to bat at nine.

Australia resumed their innings on 144/8 at the start of play on day three. Starc was unbeaten on 16. The left-hander scored an unbeaten 58 off 136 balls with five boundaries, helping them take their total to 207 and the lead to 281.

South Africa struggled to pick up the final two wickets soon enough as the day started. Starc's innings can very well prove to be the game-changer for Australia as batting has not been easy from what has been observed so far.

The Proteas will now have to chase down 282 runs to win the 2025 WTC final and beat Australia, who are the defending champions having won the previous final as well. South Africa have chased down 250-plus totals in Tests only five times till date. Notably, three of them have come against Australia.