Pat Cummins' fiery fifer floors South Africa as Australia seizes control of WTC final

Australia captain Pat Cummins delivered a sensational performance with the ball against South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's Stadium in London. The speedster picked up six wickets to completely dismantle South Africa’s batting lineup. After Australia managed 212 in their first innings, South Africa were bundled out for just 138, giving Australia a crucial 74-run lead and a firm grip on the match.

Bavuma Falls Early as Cummins Strikes Again

South Africa’s reply got off to a shaky start on Day 1, finishing the day on 43 for 4. On Day 2, skipper Temba Bavuma (who resumed on 3*) and David Bedingham (on 8*) tried to shift the momentum, but the resistance didn’t last long. Cummins struck early in the morning session, removing Bavuma for 36, giving Australia a massive breakthrough and tightening their hold on the game.

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Bedingham Battles, But Cummins Wreaks Havoc

After Bavuma’s dismissal, David Bedingham was the only South African batter to offer any real resistance. He fought hard for his 45 runs off 111 balls, hitting six boundaries. But even he couldn’t withstand the relentless pressure from Cummins and co. The rest of the batting lineup crumbled, with no other player managing to reach double figures. South Africa’s innings folded for 138, trailing by 74 runs.

Pat Cummins finished with brilliant figures, claiming 6 wickets, while Mitchell Starc chipped in with 2 crucial scalps. With a strong first-innings lead, Australia now find themselves in a commanding position in this high-stakes final at Lord’s.