This veteran player got injured while catching Bavuma’s catch, may be out for a long time

WTC Final 2025: South Africa Fight Back Against Australia at Lord’s

The final of the World Test Championship 2025 is currently being played between Australia and South Africa at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. The clash has lived up to expectations, delivering high-quality cricket and moments of intense drama. On Day 3, South Africa made a strong comeback while chasing a target of 282 set by Australia. With bold batting and strategic partnerships, they reached 94/2 by tea, keeping the match alive. The injury to Steve Smith during a crucial moment added to Australia’s woes and shifted some momentum toward the Proteas.

Australia had earlier batted in their second innings and posted 207 runs, thanks to a gritty unbeaten half-century from Mitchell Starc. Starc's 58\* was instrumental in extending the lead, especially through his crucial 59-run partnership for the final wicket with Josh Hazlewood, who scored 17 valuable runs. Their effort meant South Africa would need 282 runs to win the WTC title — a challenging but not impossible target.

South Africa responded with aggressive intent. Opening batsman Ryan Rickelton started the chase with a boundary off Starc, signaling their attacking approach. However, Starc struck early to remove Rickelton, handing Australia the initial breakthrough. Despite this, South Africa didn’t retreat. Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder displayed confidence and composure against a top-quality Australian pace attack. Markram, in particular, looked in great touch, finding the boundary against both Hazlewood and Starc. Mulder, too, showed positive intent, playing fluent strokes off Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.

By the 13th over, South Africa had reached 50 runs, showing that they were not afraid to go after the target. However, Starc once again came to Australia’s rescue, dismissing Mulder for 27 and halting a building partnership. But Australia’s grip on the match loosened with what came next.

In a major turning point, Steve Smith injured his finger while attempting a low catch in the slips to dismiss Temba Bavuma off Starc’s bowling. At that moment, Bavuma was on just 2 runs. Not only did the catch go down, but Smith also had to leave the field due to the injury. His absence from the field was a significant setback for Australia, especially in a high-pressure chase where experience in the field is crucial.

Taking advantage of the reprieve, Bavuma began to settle in. His calm presence at the crease complemented Markram’s stroke-filled innings. As the pair built a partnership, Nathan Lyon was introduced in the 10th over to control the scoring rate. While Lyon was able to slow things down, the partnership continued to flourish. Markram brought up his half-century, highlighting his maturity and hunger to guide his side to a historic win.

By tea, South Africa had reached 94/2, with both Bavuma and Markram looking composed and focused. Their partnership has laid a solid foundation for the final two sessions of the match. With 188 more runs needed and 8 wickets in hand, South Africa find themselves in a promising position to pull off a memorable win. On the other hand, Australia will be banking on their bowling depth and experience, but they’ll be concerned about Steve Smith’s fitness and the missed opportunity that could haunt them.

The WTC Final 2025 is shaping up to be a thrilling finish — a battle of nerves, skill, and resilience between two top sides.