South Africa vs Australia, World Test Championship Final 2025, Day 3 Updates (as of June 13, 2025):
- Match Status: The World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s is on Day 3, with Australia having set South Africa a target of 282 runs to win. South Africa need 268 runs with 10 wickets in hand at the start of their second innings.
- Australia’s Second Innings: Australia were bowled out for 207 in their second innings, with Aiden Markram dismissing Josh Hazlewood (17) to end the innings. A crucial 61-run partnership between Alex Carey (43) and Mitchell Starc (16*) had earlier lifted Australia from 73/7 to 144/8 by stumps on Day 2, and they added further runs on Day 3 morning. The lead of 281 runs is challenging, as only three teams have chased more at Lord’s in a Test match.
- South Africa’s Second Innings: South Africa started their chase positively, reaching 58/1 in 13.4 overs. Wiaan Mulder and Aiden Markram were at the crease, with Mulder scoring quickly. Conditions on Day 3 are reported to be ideal for batting, with sunshine and a pitch easing out (false shot percentage at 13% compared to 25% on Day 1).
- Key Moments:
- South Africa lost Ryan Rickelton (6) early, caught behind off Mitchell Starc.
- Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham’s 50-run stand in the first innings was a highlight, but their collapse to 138 (from 87/4) handed Australia a 74-run lead.
- Pat Cummins was the star for Australia, taking 6/28 in South Africa’s first innings, including his 300th Test wicket, earning a place on the Lord’s honours board.
- Lungi Ngidi redeemed himself with 3/35 in Australia’s second innings after a wicketless first innings, while Kagiso Rabada took 3/44.
- A dropped catch by Marco Jansen off Starc late on Day 2 proved costly, as Australia extended their lead.
- Pitch and Conditions: The pitch is slower and more batsman-friendly on Day 3, with the sun out and minimal cloud cover. Spinners like Nathan Lyon and Keshav Maharaj may play a bigger role as the match progresses, with average turn higher than recent Lord’s Tests.
- Outlook: South Africa face an uphill task but are showing intent in their chase. Australia’s pace attack (Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood) remains a threat, and early wickets could tilt the game decisively. The match is poised for a thrilling finish, potentially concluding before Day 5.
- Sentiment on X: Posts reflect cautious optimism for South Africa, noting the chase is “improbable but not impossible” due to favorable batting conditions. Australia’s resilience, especially Carey and Starc’s partnership, has kept them slightly ahead.
Where to Follow: Live scores and commentary are available on ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz, and The Indian Express. The match is broadcast on Amazon Prime (7:30 PM AEST).
Note: Updates are based on information available up to the start of Day 3’s second session. For real-time ball-by-ball updates, check trusted sources like ESPNcricinfo or Cricbuzz. If you want me to search for more recent developments, let me know!