SA dismiss Australia's Smith in WTC final
June 12, 2025 00:00:00
South Africa's Marco Jansen celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne (unseen) for 17 runs during day one of the ICC World Test Championship cricket final match between Australia and South Africa at Lord's cricket ground in London on Wednesday. — AFP
LONDON, June 11 (AFP): South Africa dismissed the dangerous Steve Smith to wrest back the initiative on the opening day of the World Test Championship final Wednesday but the defending champions recovered to reach 190-5 at tea.
Australia had earlier collapsed to 67-4 at Lord's after being sent in to bat by Proteas captain Temba Bavuma, with fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen taking two wickets apiece.
As conditions for batting eased at the increasingly sunny ground, Smith and all-rounder Beau Webster shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 79.
But Smith, having survived against South Africa's frontline quicks, fell to part-time spinner Aiden Markram for 66, leaving Australia struggling at 146-5. At tea, they had moved on to 190-5, with Webster 55 not out and Alex Carey unbeaten on 22.
Australia were in desperate trouble in overcast conditions in the early overs in London, reduced to 16-2 after losing Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in a single Rabada over. Khawaja fell for a 20-ball duck in the seventh over, edging behind to David Bedingham at first slip.