WTC Final 2025 Day 2 Highlights: Pat Cummins Fifer, Australia 144/8. Day 2 of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 between Australia and South Africa was a day of raw pace bowling. Australia ended Day 2 with an advantage. It was sensational fast bowling from skipper Pat Cummins, who took a career-best 6 wickets for 28 runs, bowling South Africa out for a mere 138 in their first innings. He also completed 300 wickets in Test cricket. It was a fantastic exhibition of seam and swing bowling, making the most of the overcast conditions and the best bowling display in a WTC Final innings.
South Africa started Day 2 at 43/4, and with some resistance through the 5th wicket partnership by captain Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham. The pair added 64 to the total, showing glimpses of a very slight fight back.
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Bavuma batted patiently for 36, and Bedingham finished as top scorer with 45, before both lads fell to the fury of Cummins before lunch. With the South Africans falling 74 runs behind on first innings scores, the Australians went out to bat in this WTC final 2025, setting a sizeable target.
However, South Africa’s pace attack bounced back hard. Lungi Ngidi (3 wickets) and Kagiso Rabada (3 wickets) bowled through the top order of Australia to reduce them to 64/5 and get a small period of momentum. Once again, though, it was the lower order for Australia, led by Alex Carey’s vital 43, who stepped up. Alex Carey, along with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, increased the Australian lead steadily throughout the night watchmen’s innings. By stumps, Australia was 144/8 in their second innings, leading by 218 runs and looking comfortable.
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Having three days remaining, South Africa is facing the tough task of clawing back into the match. A lot will depend on how early their bowlers can wrap up the Australian innings and then give a strong batting response. Australia is looking to take full advantage of its lead and take a giant step toward lifting another WTC title.
