Highlights| SA Vs AUS WTC Final Cricket Score and Updates Day 1: South Africa Trails Behind At Day 1

South Africa vs Australia, WTC Final 2025 Cricket Score And Update: On a dramatic opening day of the World Test Championship final, 14 wickets fell as both teams battled fiercely in testing conditions at Lord’s.

Last Updated: Thursday, June 12, 2025 - 19:09
SA vs AUS WTC Final 2023-25 Live Updates

SA vs AUS WTC Highlights Day 1: On a dramatic opening day of the World Test Championship final, 14 wickets fell as both teams battled fiercely in testing conditions at Lord’s.

Opting to bowl first under overcast skies, South Africa reduced Australia to 67/4 by lunch. Kagiso Rabada led the charge with a fiery spell, finishing with figures of 5/51. He dismissed Khawaja and Green in quick succession, while Jansen and Ngidi kept the pressure tight. Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72) steadied the innings with a crucial 79-run fifth-wicket partnership, but a late collapse saw Australia lose five wickets for just 22 runs after tea, eventually getting bowled out for 212.

In response, Australia’s pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood hit back hard, reducing South Africa to 43/4 by stumps. Starc removed Markram and Rickelton, Cummins bowled Mulder, and Hazlewood castled Stubbs with a beauty. South Africa ended the day trailing by 169 runs, with skipper Temba Bavuma (3*) and David Bedingham (8*) at the crease.

Despite a modest total, Australia’s bowlers ensured they stayed firmly in the contest at the end of a gripping Day 1.

SA vs AUS Playing XI

Australia Playing XI: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

South Africa Playing XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verrynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.

Stay Tuned To Zee News For Highlights And Latest Updates On SA vs AUS WTC Final 2023-25

12 June 2025, 18:42 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Innings Break

Pat Cummins claims a brilliant five-wicket haul as South Africa are bowled out, trailing Australia by 74 runs. 

SA: 138 (57.1)

12 June 2025, 18:35 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Maharaj Run Out

A tight second run costs Maharaj his wicket. Flicked to square leg, Head sprints in with his pads still on, slides, recovers quickly, and fires a throw to Carey, who whips off the bails. Maharaj, opting not to dive, stretches his bat but falls short. A needless run-out, and Australia edge closer to wrapping up the innings.

SA: 138/9 (57)

12 June 2025, 18:25 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Fall Of Wickets

After the dismissal of skipper Temba Bavuma, the collapse continued in the second session as the in-form David was also sent back to the pavilion. South Africa have now lost their eighth wicket, still trailing Australia’s first-innings total by 77 runs.

SA: 135/8 (56)

11 June 2025, 22:29 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Tristan Stubbs Departs

Another one! Hazlewood’s metronomic line does the trick as he angles in from a fuller length, sneaks through Stubbs’ defence, and clips the top of middle. South Africa is reeling in this WTC final.

SA: 34/4 (21)

11 June 2025, 22:07 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Mulder Departs

Cummins ends Mulder's misery with a beauty! A quick, full delivery nips back in and bursts through Mulder's attempted drive, crashing into the middle stump. Too good for him. 

SA: 27/3 (17) 

11 June 2025, 21:31 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Ryan Rickelton Departs

Rickelton survives earlier chances but not this time. Tempted by the drive, he edges a swinging delivery to first slip where Khawaja takes a sharp catch. Starc strikes again, and South Africa are wobbling.

SA: 19/2 (9)

11 June 2025, 20:54 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Markram Departs

Mitchell Starc does it again! Aiden Markram becomes another of his many first-over victims, bowled by a delivery that shaped in. One of South Africa's most experienced batters, gone for a duck.

SA: 3/1 (2)

11 June 2025, 20:37 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Five-Wicket Haul For KG

It took South Africa just 5.4 overs to dismantle the last five Australian wickets, rounding off a superb bowling and fielding display. After winning the toss, the Proteas opened with three maidens, piling pressure on the Aussie openers. Rabada then struck twice in an over, removing Khawaja and Green. Kagiso Rabada ended Australia's innings with a 5-wicket haul and showed a masterclass and experience.

AUS: 212 (56.4) 

11 June 2025, 20:14 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Rabada On Fire 

Kagiso Rabada is on fire, snaring two wickets in two overs to dismiss the in-form Webster and skipper Pat Cummins. Australia are now eight down, though they’ve managed to cross the 200-run mark.

AUS: 210/8 (55)

11 June 2025, 20:13 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Maharaj Removes Carey

Kesh delivers the breakthrough after the Tea break. It was a loopy delivery onto off, spins in after pitching. Carey with a premeditated reverse sweep off the first ball of the spinner in this session. The ball ends up sneaking under his bat and spins inwards to peg back the middle pole. 

AUS: 194/6 (52)

11 June 2025, 19:18 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Steve Smith Departs

What a move, South Africa’s plan works! Smith falls as Markram’s flighted delivery draws an edge. Jansen juggles and finally holds on at slip. The Proteas celebrate the crucial breakthrough as Smith departs. Australia is now 5 down with Alex Carey joining Beau Webster 

AUS: 167/5 (45)

11 June 2025, 18:13 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live: Fifty For Smith

Fifty for Smith! A simple raise of the bat, and he gets on with it. Smith, one of the modern masters of Test cricket, is proving his class once again. While wickets keep tumbling at the other end, he has maintained the momentum for his team with a composed and determined knock.

AUS: 104/4 (33)

11 June 2025, 18:10 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Start Of Session Two

As the second session begins, Beau Webster joins Steve Smith to anchor the innings and keep the runs flowing for Australia. At the end of 30 overs, Australia are nearing the 100-run mark, with Smith still solid at the crease.

AUS: 94/4 (30)

11 June 2025, 17:02 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Lunch Break 

Marco Jansen strikes again and removes Travis Head. A huge moment on this first morning. A full delivery angling down leg, Head, on the back foot looking to flick it away, gets a faint tickle. It flies to the keeper’s right, and Verreynne takes a stunning one-handed catch. The Proteas charge towards him in celebration as a crestfallen Head trudges off.

AUS: 67/4 (23.2)

11 June 2025, 16:34 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Marco Jansen Removes Marnus

Clear edge and the finger goes up! Jansen claims the first wicket of the day as South Africa's impressive start to this Test match rolls on. Bowling from around the wicket, Jansen delivers a good length ball in the corridor of uncertainty. Labuschagne, with tentative footwork as he tries to defend, ends up poking at it and edges it straight through to the keeper.

AUS: 46/3 (18)

11 June 2025, 15:51 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Smith Is In Th Crease

After the quick dismissals of Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green, the dependable middle-order batter Steve Smith, has joined Marnus Labuschagne at the crease to help Australia post a big score to defend. As one of the most consistent batters in Test cricket, Smith's role is crucial for Australia’s prospects.

AUS: 29/2 (13)

 

11 June 2025, 15:39 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live Score: Kagiso Rabada On Fire

Kagiso Rabada has set the tone for South Africa in the WTC Final with a fiery opening spell, removing both Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in the same over to leave Australia reeling early. Rabada’s double strike has lit up the final, putting South Africa firmly on top as Australia finds themselves two down in no time.

AUS: 16/2 (7)

11 June 2025, 14:39 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final Live: Toss Crucial for Bowling First?

The toss could play a major role. With early moisture on the pitch and overcast skies, bowling first may be tempting—especially for the seam-heavy lineups.

11 June 2025, 14:01 PM

SA Vs AUS Live Score: Bavuma Eyes History

Temba Bavuma carries the hopes of a nation still chasing its first senior men’s ICC title. A win at Lord’s would be the defining moment of his career.

11 June 2025, 13:19 PM

SA vs AUS WTC Final LIVE Score: Khawaja Ready for Redemption at Lord’s

Veteran opener Usman Khawaja gears up for a crucial knock at a venue where he’s had mixed results.

11 June 2025, 12:15 PM

SA Vs AUS WTC FINAL 2025 Live: Australia To Defend Title

Pat Cummins continues to lead Australia, looking to retain the WTC title with another dominant performance.

11 June 2025, 11:19 AM

SA vs AUS WTC LIVE Final: Historic WTC Showdown

All eyes are on the ‘Home of Cricket’ as it hosts the second WTC Final in its history.