The stage is set at Lord’s in England, where South Africa and Australia are clashes in the World Test Championship final. And what a start it’s been – Australia is already on the ropes. By lunch, they’ve lost four wickets for just 67 runs.
South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl, a decision that’s paying off big time. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada are breathing fire, taking two wickets each. Usman Khawaja was the first to fall, caught by Rabada for a duck. Cameron Green didn’t last much longer, scoring just four runs before Rabada struck again.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith then tried to steady the ship, but Jansen had other plans. Labuschagne fell for 17, and Travis Head followed soon after for 11. The pitch is assisting the fast bowlers, making life tough for the Aussie batsmen.
But Smith is holding firm, unbeaten on 26 from 51 balls with five fours. He’s got a tough job ahead, though – the rest of the batting lineup is thin on specialists. Alex Carey and Beau Webster are yet to come, but after that, it’s the tail. Can Smith anchor the innings and get Australia back in the game? The next session will be crucial.
The Damage So Far
- Usman Khawaja: 0 runs, caught by Kagiso Rabada
- Cameron Green: 4 runs, caught by Kagiso Rabada
- Marnus Labuschagne: 17 runs, caught by Marco Jansen
- Travis Head: 11 runs, caught by Marco Jansen
The South African bowlers are on a roll, and Australia needs a miracle to turn this around. Will Steve Smith be the hero they need? The second session is about to get underway, and it’s going to be a thrilling ride.