[WATCH] WTC Final 2025: Big blow to Australia as Travis Head falls cheaply on opening day against South Africa
Australia scored 67 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the 1st session.
Australian batter Travis Head was dismissed moments before Lunch on Day 1 of the World Test Championship 2025 Final (WTC) at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, as South Africa seized control in the opening session of the one-off clash.
In the 24th over, with Head and Steve Smith at the crease, Marco Jansen bowled a fuller ball angling down the leg side. Head stayed at his crease and attempted a flick but managed only a faint tickle. The wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne reacted quickly, diving to his right to complete a brilliant one-handed catch. The dismissal of Travis Head triggered the lunch break and gave off a dominant session for the Proteas.
The Proteas pacers, Kagiso Rabada and Jansen, were relentless with the new ball while keeping the Australian batters under constant pressure. South Africa's decision to bowl first after skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss by pointing out the overcast conditions, which turned out to be in the favour of the Proteas.
Watch the viral dismissal of Travis Head here:
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Rabada's twin strikes pushes Australia on backfoot
Pacer Kagiso Rabada set the tone with a double blow, removing Usman Khawaja (0) and Cameron Green (4) in the same over. Both batters edged fuller deliveries behind, with the ball carrying nicely to the slip, giving South Africa the early upper hand.
While Jansen’s initial spell was without success, he returned to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne (17), who had looked to steady the innings with Smith. Wiaan Mulder also bowled tidy lines by helping the main pacers by maintaining pressure from one end.
By Lunch, Australia were struggling at 67/4, with Smith unbeaten on 26. The South African pacers exploited the conditions excellently, picking up three wickets at fuller length in the 46 deliveries and conceding 31 runs.
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