WTC Final 2025: South Africa Trails by 69 Runs Against Australia on Day 3
Lord’s, London, June 14, (Sports Desk)
In the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 at Lord’s, South Africa is chasing 282 runs to win against Australia. At the close of Day 3, South Africa stood at 213/2 after 56 overs, needing 69 more runs to secure their first-ever WTC title. Australia, the defending champions, set the target after scoring 212 in their first innings and 207 in their second. South Africa managed 138 in their first innings, giving Australia a lead of 74 runs before the second innings began.
Match Scoreboard
Australia 1st Innings: 212 all out
- Key Performers: Beau Webster (72), Steve Smith (66)
- South Africa Bowling: Kagiso Rabada (5/51), Lungi Ngidi (3/42)
South Africa 1st Innings: 138 all out
- Key Performers: Temba Bavuma (28), David Bedingham (21)
- Australia Bowling: Pat Cummins (6/28), Mitchell Starc (2/34)
Australia 2nd Innings: 207 all out
- Key Performers: Alex Carey (43), Steve Smith (38)
- South Africa Bowling: Kagiso Rabada (3/44), Lungi Ngidi (3/35)
watch…..ICC Hall of Fame Inducts Seven New Legends South Africa 2nd Innings (Target: 282): 213/2 (56 overs)
- Aiden Markram: 102*
- Temba Bavuma: 65*
- Tony de Zorzi: 29
- Australia Bowling: Pat Cummins (1/45), Nathan Lyon (1/32)
- Current Run Rate: 3.80
- Last 10 Overs: 29/0 (2.90 run rate)
Match Highlights
- Day 1: South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl under cloudy conditions. Their pacers, led by Rabada, dominated early, but Australia fought back, ending the day with South Africa at 43/4.
- Day 2: Pat Cummins’ 6/28 bowled South Africa out for 138. Australia struggled in their second innings, reaching 144/8, with Carey and Starc adding a vital 61-run stand.
- Day 3: South Africa’s chase saw a solid 102* from Markram and 65* from Bavuma, bringing them within striking distance. Australia’s bowlers couldn’t break the partnership, leaving the match finely poised.
Key Records
- Steve Smith surpassed Sachin Tendulkar for the most 50+ scores in ICC knockouts and set a record for the most Test runs at Lord’s by a visiting batter (591*).
- Kagiso Rabada became the first South African to take a five-wicket haul in a WTC final.
- Mitchell Starc overtook Mohammed Shami for the most wickets in major men’s ICC tournament finals.
- Pat Cummins reached his 300th Test wicket.
With South Africa needing 69 runs and Australia hunting for 8 wickets, Day 4 promises a thrilling conclusion to the WTC Final 2025.
