Fourteen wickets fall as bowlers dominate enthralling day at Lord's
Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen combined for eight wickets as Australia's bowling attack responded in style on an action-packed opening day of the Ultimate Test.
Aussie pacers hit back after Rabada shines with the ball | Day 1 Highlights | WTC25 Final
After Kagiso Rabada nabbed his 17th five-wicket haul to bundle out Australia, Pat Cummins and Co respond to set up an exciting Day 2.
By Jonathan Healy, at Lord's
A total of 14 wickets fell at Lord's on Wednesday as bowlers dominated an exciting opening day of the ICC World Test Championship between South Africa and Australia.
Pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada collected his 17th five-wicket haul in Tests to help dismiss Australia for just 212, but the reigning World Test Championship winners responded strongly through experienced trio Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood who combined to have South Africa in trouble at 43/4 at stumps with both sides well an truly in the contest.
Skipper Temba Bavuma (3) and No.6 David Bedingham (8) remain unbeaten at the crease, with the pair still with plenty of work to do given the Proteas trail by 169 heading into the second day.
Rabada five-for puts South Africa in the driving seat | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final
Kagiso Rabada led the bowling efforts for South Africa with his 17th Test five-for on Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship Final.
It was an enthralling day of Test cricket, with the momentum changing between the two finalists on numerous occasions and London's ever-changing weather also ensuring the conditions took their turn in favouring different sides.
South Africa's bowlers enjoyed the best of the overcast morning conditions, with Rabada (5/51) and Marco Jansen (3/49) picking up a pair of wickets each early as the Aussies were reduced to 67/4 at lunch after Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bowl first.
All 14 wickets to fall on Day 1 of WTC25 Final
A scintillating day with the ball as South Africa and Australia combine in a 14-wicket day.
Jansen got the prized wicket of Travis Head right on the stroke of lunch to give South Africa the ascendancy, but it was Australia that fought back during the middle session as firstly Steve Smith (66) and then Beau Webster (72) got on top to ensure Australia went to tea at 190/5 and with the prospect of a big score still within their sights.
But Rabada and Jansen had other ideas, with the pair returning to wrap up the tail as the Aussies lost 5/22 and leave South Africa in the box seat.
Australia's trusted fast bowling trio of Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood showed their class, with the trio removing four of South Africa's batters prior to stumps to have the one-off Test evenly poised.
Steve Smith's fighting fifty for Australia | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final
On a tricky Day 1 at Lord's, Steve Smith buckled down with a gritty half century.
Earlier, teams were greeted with overcast conditions at the iconic north London venue and Bavuma had no hesitation in giving his top class pace attack the first chance to take advantage.
And Rabada repaid his captain with a pair of excellent deliveries that caught the outside edge, with David Bedingham and Aiden Markram holding on to good catches in the slips to help South Africa's cause.
Jansen got in on the act when had Marnus Labuschagne (17) edging one through to Kyle Verreynne and the tall left-armer then got the prized wicket of Head for 11 with the final ball of the opening session when the Australian was caught down the leg side.
Smith helped his side gain the ascendancy and Webster and Alex Carey continued to score at will, until Rabada and Jansen once again combined to put South Africa in the box seat.
But Australia's bowlers had the last laugh, picking up four valuable wickets at the end of a long day to leave the race for the coveted mace delicately poised.
Beau Webster helps Australia's cause with half-century | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final
Beau Webster marked his first Lord's Test with a half century in the World Test Championship Final.
Both teams announced their playing XI on Tuesday, with South Africa selecting Lungi Ngidi in front of Dane Paterson and Australia choosing to include Marnus Labuschagne as opener to partner with experienced left-hander Usman Khawaja.
The nations will face off for the coveted mace in what stands to be one of the most important Test matches these players will ever be a part of.
South Africa belt out their national anthem | WTC25 Final
The Proteas with a passionate singing of their national anthem before the Ultimate Test against Australia.
It ends what was a gripping World Test Championship cycle, where the Proteas won seven straight Test matches to seal their spot in the decider, while Australia will look to become the first team to claim back-to-back championships, with the concept commencing in 2019.
South Africa XI: 1. Aiden Markram, 2. Ryan Rickelton, 3. Wiaan Mulder, 4. Temba Bavuma (c), 5. Tristan Stubbs, 6. David Bedingham, 7. Kyle Verreynne (wk), 8. Marco Jansen, 9. Keshav Maharaj, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Lungi Ngidi
Australia XI: 1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Marnus Labuschagne, 3. Cameron Green, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Beau Webster, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood
.png)