South Africa fight back but still trail Australia by 91 runs in WTC final

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Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - South Africa v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 12, 2025 South Africa's David Bedingham in action Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers REUTERS

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Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - South Africa v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 12, 2025 Australia's Pat Cummins celebrates after taking the wicket of South Africa's Temba Bavuma, caught out by Marnus Labuschagne Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers REUTERS

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Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - South Africa v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 12, 2025 South Africa's David Bedingham in action Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers REUTERS

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Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - South Africa v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 12, 2025 Australia's Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja in action as they attempt to take a catch to dismiss South Africa's Kyle Verreynne Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers REUTERS

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UPDATED Jun 12, 2025, 08:23 PM

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LONDON - South Africa fought back at the start of the second day of the World Test Championship final against Australia but had captain Temba Bavuma dismissed before going to lunch on 121-5, still trailing by 91 runs.

South Africa were in a precarious position at 43-4 overnight after Australia’s pace attack had run through their top order, leaving them trailing by 169 runs after the defending champions scored 212 in their first innings.

But Australia's hopes of more cheap dismissals on Thursday morning were stymied by Bavuma and David Bedingham as they employed a more attacking approach to their batting and put together a 64-run partnership before Bavuma was dismissed.

The skipper went for 36 after driving into the covers and being caught by a diving Marnus Labuschagne off Pat Cummins, who had figures of 2-24 off 14 overs.

Bavuma, whose innings included the first six of the match, had survived an lbw decision earlier when he was on 17 and trapped by Josh Hazlewood.

He took his time before deciding to review the umpire's decision, suggesting he did not hold out much hope of having it overturned, but the snickometer showed he had got bat to ball.

Bedingham was 39 not out, after hitting two boundaries in the last over before lunch, along with Kyle Verreynne on 11.

Verreynne had earlier nicked a Beau Webster delivery but it fell short of the slip cordon.

South Africa’s batting had none of the nervous defensiveness they showed at the start of their innings on Wednesday but runs still came slowly as they moved into three figures in the 45th over. REUTERS

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