Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey was bowled while attempting a reverse sweep, handing South African spinner Keshav Maharaj a key breakthrough on Day 1 of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final. The high-stakes clash got underway on Wednesday, June 11, at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
The dismissal came on the very first ball of the 52nd over in Australia’s innings. Maharaj floated a loopy delivery outside off, drawing Carey into a premeditated reverse sweep. The ball sneaked under the bat and spun in sharply after passing it, crashing into the middle stump — giving South Africa an important wicket early in the post-tea session.
Watch the dismissal here:
The left-hander contributed 23 runs off 31 balls, striking four boundaries, before his dismissal reduced Australia to 192/6 in 51.1 overs.
Australia collapse with five wickets falling in under seven overs after tea, getting bundled out for 212
South African captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and chose to bowl first in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final. Kagiso Rabada struck early, producing a fiery spell that saw him dismiss Usman Khawaja for a duck and Cameron Green for four — both in the seventh over.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith attempted to steady the innings, adding 30 runs for the third wicket, but the former fell for 17 off 56 balls to Marco Jansen. The left-arm seamer continued the momentum by removing Travis Head for 11, as Australia went into lunch at 67/4 after 23.2 overs.
In the post-lunch session, Smith and Beau Webster led a recovery, stitching together a 79-run stand for the fifth wicket. Smith brought up a well-earned fifty and went on to score 66 off 112 balls before being dismissed by Aiden Markram. Alex Carey then joined Webster, and the pair guided Australia to 190/5 at tea after 50 overs.
However, the post-tea session triggered a dramatic collapse. Carey was bowled for 23 in the 52nd over, followed soon after by captain Pat Cummins for just one. Webster’s resilient knock of 72 off 92 deliveries came to an end in the 55th over, and Nathan Lyon was dismissed for a duck in the very next. Mitchell Starc was the last to fall, scoring just one, as Australia were bundled out for 212 in 56.4 overs.
Rabada was the standout performer with the ball, claiming five wickets, while Jansen supported well with a three-wicket haul to put South Africa firmly in control.
alt=”Dev Sharma” height=”72″ width=”72″>
Looking for fast live cricket scores? Download CricRocket and get fast score updates, top-notch commentary in-depth match stats & much more! 🚀☄️
Edited by Sudeshna Banerjee
