In a low-scoring, bowler-dominated World Test Championship (WTC) Final between Australia and South Africa, fans had to wait an astonishing 547 deliveries before witnessing the first six of the match. With power-hitters like Cameron Green, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Ryan Rickelton, and Tristan Stubbs in the mix, one would have expected fireworks early on.
But it was the ever-unassuming Temba Bavuma who broke the deadlock. The South African skipper, who had crawled to just 3 off 37 balls on Day 1, came out with a renewed sense of purpose in the second innings. Facing Australian captain Pat Cummins, Bavuma danced down the track and lofted a mighty six over mid-wicket in the 35th over — the first maximum of the final.
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The crowd roared, and one particular fan stole the spotlight by catching the ball cleanly and celebrating like a seasoned outfielder. In a fun twist, the fan happened to be a lookalike of Cummins himself. But Pat Cummins wasn’t to be denied. He had the last laugh, dismissing Bavuma for 36 with the help of a sharp catch by Marnus Labuschagne.
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At stumps on Day 1, 14 wickets had fallen in 78.4 overs, underlining the dominance of the bowlers. Kagiso Rabada’s five-wicket haul helped bowl out Australia for 212. Steve Smith and Beau Webster briefly resisted with a 79-run stand, but the tail didn’t wag for long.
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When it was South Africa’s turn to bat, they were rattled early by Australia’s fearsome quartet. Starc struck twice, Cummins and Hazlewood grabbed one apiece, leaving the Proteas tottering under 50 for four. Bavuma and Bedingham now carry the hopes of a turnaround on Day 2, as South Africa desperately seek stability.
