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SportCricketWorld Test Championship

This was published 1 year ago

World Test Championship final as it happened: South African top order crumble as Australian quicks fire late on day one

Tom Decent and Jon Pierik
Updated ,first published

Key Posts

Tea: Australia 5-190
Smith is gone for 66
Brettig at lunch: ‘Top-order looked brittle’
KP takes aim at Labuschagne
Australia are 2-29 at drinks - here’s how Brettig has seen the morning so far
Here’s the final standings for the World Test Championship
Why Marnus and Hazlewood got the nod
Carey back to the scene of the crime

Stumps: South Africa 4-43, trail Australia by 169 runs

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That’s stumps. Bit going on!

Fourteen wickets fell on day one of the World Test Championship final, with South Africa 4-43 in response to Australia’s 212. They managed two boundaries off the final two deliveries of the day.

Pat Cummins’ men slumped to 4-67, fought their way back through gritty half centuries from Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72), before losing 5-20. Kagiso Rabada was fabulous, snaring 5-51 in his comeback Test after serving a drugs ban.

Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates with teammates. Getty Images

Then it was Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood showing why they have been so dominant for so long. They produced so many good balls and were able to dry up South Africa’s scoring to great effect. Cummins had the highest economy rate at two runs per over, which says it all.

Hazlewood has Australia’s fourth wicket

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Wow.

Josh Hazlewood joins the party by bowling Tristan Stubbs for two.

What a ball. In the corridor of uncertainty. Hits the seam and nips back in. Beaten all ends up.

Magic stuff from Australia.

South Africa 4-30

We’re into the final 15 minutes

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Can Australia jag another wicket?

You wouldn’t back against this pace trio, who have been on song.

Nathan Lyon is also going to have a bowl.

South Africa 3-29

Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Wiaan Mulder. Getty Images
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Cummins strikes with wicket of Mulder

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BOOM. Clean bowled.

Wiaan Mulder plays all around a Cummins delivery and is clean bowled.

He’s gone for six from 44 balls.

Australia right on top as the end of day one approaches. Superb stuff.

South Africa 3-25

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Slow-going for South Africa as final half hour approaches

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Australia aren’t bowling too many bad balls at the moment. Scoring is hard to come by for the Proteas.

Cummins has 0-3 off four, while Josh Hazlewood now replaces Mitchell Starc, who finishes a magnificent spell of 2-10 from seven, including three maidens.

South Africa are 2023 from 15 overs. Going so slow is fine - they’re not in a rush given Australia were bowled out for 212 - but they do run the risk of not being able to gain a lot in the final 30 minutes.

Because they are shutting up shop, more wickets could be potentially damaging. Maybe trying to take a few more runs on offer would be beneficial.

Mitchell Starc in action. Getty Images

Bavuma almost dismissed

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Temba Bavuma survives an LBW scare to a Starc inswinger. Very close. The not out decision would have remained had the Aussies reviewed that.

Great energy early from the 2023 WTC winners.

South Africa 2-19

Australia’s Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates the dismissal of South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton. AP
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Starc removes Rickelton as Australia pounce

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Pat Cummins starts his spell nicely, with plenty of deliveries in the corridor of uncertainty.

At the other end, Starc is getting good away swing from the left-handed Ryan Rickelton. A little grin emerges after the South African plays and misses at one.

BANG. Not that time. Rickelton gets a big edge and Usman Khawaja takes a sharp catch to his right.

He’s making his way back for 16 off 23 balls.

Starc is doing the damage.

South Africa in strife at 2-19

Mitchell Starc of Australia celebrates with teammates. Getty Images

How many first innings runs will South Africa make?

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‘That is an absolute sitter’: Carey misses simple chance

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Oh my goodness.

Alex Carey has dropped one of the easiest catches you will ever see behind the stumps.

You have to think the ball wobbled a bit after it took the edge of Wiaan Mulder’s bat there. Can happen. But jeez, that was bad. Starc can’t believe it. Stunned, not angry.

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Starc and Hazlewood going to work

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Ryan Rickelton punches Starc down the ground for a boundary to get his innings going.

At the other end, Josh Hazlewood is getting good momentum as he charges in to the crease.

From all reports, Hazlewood bowled with excellent pace at the IPL. Appears to be in a decent rhythm as Australia search for wickets No.2 and No.3. If they can have South Africa three down early that will be massive.

South Africa 1-7

Mitchell Starc of Australia celebrates dismissing Aiden Markram of South Africa.Getty Images
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