South Africa managed to bowl out Australia in the second innings in the first session on day 3. However, that happened not before Australia stretched past their lead past 250 runs and eventually ended with 281 runs.
South Africa, are now set to chase 282 runs in the second innings with more than two and a half days of cricket left. It will Test the might of the South African batting with the Australian pacers and Nathan Lyon waiting to pounce.
Australia started their day on 144 runs for 8 wickets. Kagiso Rabada removed Nathan Lyon early in the day with the team score on 148. However, it was then that Josh Hazlewood (17 runs off 53 balls) then added 59 runs for the tenth wicket with Mitchell Starc who ended unbeaten on 58 runs off 136 balls.
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Starc, Carey, Hazlewood Takes Australia Past 250
Together Starc and Hazlewood played over 100 deliveries as the South African bowlers were left frustrated. Skipper Temba Bavuma turned to his main bowlers. However, it was finally Aiden Markram, the part-time spinner who dismissed Hazlewood and brought a close to Australia's second innings.
Kagiso Rabada took four wickets for 53 runs in the second innings and nine wickets in the match. Lungi Ngidi after going wicketless in the first innings picked three wickets in the second innings. Marco Janse, Wiaan Mulder, Aiden Markram picked up a wicket each.
Meanwhile, SA, set to chase 282 runs to win, have a bit of history against Australia. They have chased down 200-plus total five times in Test cricket, three of them came against Australia. The last of them came way back in 2008 in Perth.
South Africa Set To Chase 282 To Win WTC 2025 Final
South Africa suffered a batting collapse in the first innings after the dismissal of Temba Bavuma. This time, however, they cannot afford to make that mistake as they need to get a good start and the entire batting-order needs to contribute.
Australia, on the other hand, are the defending champions of the WTC and know very well the job they need to do. Pat Cummins himself took a six-fer in the first innings and with Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon with him will certainly challenge the South African batters.
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