Steve Smith’s outing on Day 3 of the WTC Final 2025 at Lord’s took a painful turn when he dropped a sharp catch at first slip and walked off injured. The moment unfolded during South Africa’s second innings chase of 282, when Mitchell Starc induced a thick edge from Temba Bavuma.
Positioned in the cordon, Steve Smith failed to react in time as the ball ricocheted off his hand, causing a visible injury to his finger. Wincing in discomfort, the seasoned campaigner immediately called for medical attention and left the field.
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As the Australian physio attended to him on the sidelines, Smith was seen receiving treatment not just for his finger but also a back massage, indicating multiple niggles after a long day in the field. His absence was a blow to Australia’s slip cordon, especially with South Africa showing more resolve in their second innings than their first.
— Smith Reverie (@SMITHKADOST) June 13, 2025
Chasing 282 to clinch their first-ever World Test Championship title, South Africa came out with a noticeably more positive approach. Aiden Markram, in particular, led the resistance with a composed unbeaten 49 off 66 balls by the second session. However, despite his steady presence, wickets kept falling at the other end.
Ryan Rickelton edged a fuller delivery from Starc straight to Alex Carey, who made no mistake. Wiaan Mulder looked promising during his 27-run stay but was dismissed just as he began to settle in, against the run of play.
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With Markram and Bavuma now holding the fort, South Africa still need 188 more runs to script history. Mitchell Starc has been the standout for Australia, delivering with pace and precision to return figures of 2/37 so far. The final session promises gripping cricket with everything to play for at Lord’s.
