AUS vs SA Highlights, WTC Final 2025, Day 3: Ton-up Aiden Markram shines, South Africa 213/2 at stumps, need 69 more to clinch title
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THE TIMES OF INDIA | Jun 14, 2025, 14:56:37 IST
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AUS vs SA Highlights, WTC Final 2025, Day 3: Ton-up Aiden Markram shines, South Africa 213/2 at stumps, need 69 more to clinch title

Australia vs South Africa Live Score, ICC WTC Final 2025: Day 2 of the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s witnessed more extraordinary drama as Australia clawed back control, ending at 144/8 in their second innings with a lead of 218. With 28 wickets falling in just two days, the Test appears headed for an early finish—well before its scheduled Day 5.

The day began with South Africa at 43/4, and although Temba Bavuma (36) and David Bedingham (45) stitched together a brief resistance worth 64 runs, it was Australia captain Pat Cummins who stole the show. Cummins produced a remarkable spell of four wickets for one run post-lunch, dismantling South Africa for 138. He finished with 6-28 and claimed his 300th Test wicket, etching his name on the Lord’s honours board.

But Australia’s second innings soon descended into chaos. Kagiso Rabada removed Khawaja and Green in the same over, while Lungi Ngidi bowled a fiery spell that accounted for Cummins and Webster, leaving Australia tottering at 73/7.

Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc then mounted a critical eighth-wicket stand of 61. Carey’s composed 43 was vital, but he fell to Rabada just before stumps. Starc remained unbeaten on 16 and was lucky to survive when Marco Jansen dropped a sitter in the day’s final over.

Australia’s lead may already be decisive, but South Africa will believe that quick wickets on Day 3 could still keep them alive. The pitch has offered bounce and seam, but not excessively so—raising questions about batting techniques from both sides.

Earlier, Cummins’ fiery burst tore through South Africa’s lower order, claiming the final five wickets for just 12 runs. His dismissal of Bavuma, Verreynne, Jansen, and Rabada in quick succession underlined his mastery in favourable conditions. South Africa’s innings crumbled from 126/5 to 138 all out.

Australia’s approach to building on their slender first-innings lead of 74 was aggressive but flawed. Beau Webster, their first-innings top scorer, fell lbw to Ngidi, while Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith also perished without converting starts.

Despite the carnage, Australia’s 218-run advantage heading into Day 3 could prove pivotal. Yet, with just two wickets in hand, the margin for error remains slim. One more day of gripping cricket awaits before the baton passes to South Africa’s batters for the final act.
17:53 (IST) Jun 13
0
Overs2.3
Score9 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Wiaan Mulder, Angled across the right hander, outside off, on a hard length. Wiaan lets it through.

17:52 (IST) Jun 13
0
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Score9 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Wiaan Mulder, Full, on the stumps, Mulder pushes it straight back to Starc.

17:51 (IST) Jun 13

Wiaan Mulder walks in next at number 3, replacing Ryan Rickelton.

17:50 (IST) Jun 13

What's happened here? Ryan Rickelton played a loose drive and got a nick behind. The Aussies are claiming the catch but Rickelton feels that it is a bump catch. Referred upstairs by the umpire and the first replay indicates that it is a clean catch!

17:49 (IST) Jun 13
W
Overs2.1
Score9 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Australia get their first breakthrough and Starc, first frustrated the Proteas with the bat, has now drawn the first blood with the ball. Mitchell Starc bowls this full and gets an away shape from outside off. Ryan Rickelton tries to squeeze the ball through the off side, but it is a bit too full and hence, he does not lay the bat properly on it. The ball passes close to the bat and Alex Carey does the rest behind the wickets, with a dive to his left. EDGED? Or did the ball bounce off the bat? This is the question. However, the Aussies are celebrating in unison but there is no reaction by the umpire. Ryan Rickelton is not going anywhere. And the third umpire is summoned to check whether it is a bump ball. The first replay shows the ball bouncing before the bat. Next, the UltraEdge comes up and shows a clean spike when the ball is next to the outside edge. So, it is not a bump ball and is a clean catch. South Africa are 9/1 as Ryan Rickelton departs quite early.

17:48 (IST) Jun 13

A game comes to mind. It was between England and India, in Birmingham, in 2022. After posting 416 in the first innings, India managed a lead of 132. They then gave a target of 378 to England. And the hosts gunned it down with 7 wickets to spare. This was on Day 4 and then Day 5. Just goes to show, that in England, the pitches tend to get better as the days progress.

17:48 (IST) Jun 13
WTC Final 2025 Live Score: Markram and Rickelton aim for a strong start
With a massive ask of 282 runs, South Africa's openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton look to get the Proteas off to a good start.

Unlike serial winners Australia, the only piece of ICC silverware South Africa have to their credit is the 1998 ICC Knockout.
17:47 (IST) Jun 13
Score after 2 overs 9 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
010020
  • Aiden Markram 3 (5)
  • Ryan Rickelton 6 (7)
Josh Hazlewood1-0-3-0
0
Overs1.6
Score9 - 0

Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Nice and full this time around, aimed at the stumps. Aiden Markram presses forward and defends it right under his eyes.

17:47 (IST) Jun 13
2
Overs1.5
Score9 - 0

Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Keeps the line of attack on the off stump, does Josh Hazlewood, on a hard length. Aiden Markram weighs on the back foot and punches through the cover-point region for two runs.

17:46 (IST) Jun 13
0
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Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Straight and full, on off, Aiden Markram respects this and blocks it out.

17:45 (IST) Jun 13
0
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Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Nagging length, on the stumps, worked to the mid on region.

17:45 (IST) Jun 13
1
Overs1.2
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Josh Hazlewood to Ryan Rickelton, EDGED, SHORT! Full, outside off, Ryan Rickelton goes for the drive through the off side, but gets a thick healthy outside edge. The ball just doesn't get to the slip fielder. Beau Webster gets a bit of hand on the ball on his dive at second slip, and the ball rolls behind. Steve Smith from first slip chases it away as the ball slows down. A single taken.

17:44 (IST) Jun 13
0
Overs1.1
Score6 - 0

Josh Hazlewood to Ryan Rickelton, Across the batter, and fuller, around off. Ryan Rickelton makes the leave.

17:44 (IST) Jun 13

Absolutely no sign of swing in that opening over. Josh Hazlewood will share the new ball with Starc.

17:43 (IST) Jun 13
Score after 1 over 6 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
100401
  • Ryan Rickelton 5 (5)
  • Aiden Markram 1 (1)
Mitchell Starc1-0-6-0
1
Overs0.6
Score6 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton, Back of a length, on the top of off, Ryan Rickelton gets on the back foot and works this to the mid off region for a quick single. 

17:42 (IST) Jun 13
0
Overs0.5
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Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton, Sprays this further down the leg stump now, Ryan lets it pass.

17:41 (IST) Jun 13
4
Overs0.4
Score5 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR! Intent straightaway from Ryan Rickelton as he gets off the mark! A bit of a loosener from Starc, pushing it to the leg stump line, full in length. Ryan Rickelton flicks this through the square leg region for a boundary.

17:40 (IST) Jun 13
0
Overs0.3
Score1 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton, This one curves away a bit on and around off, on a length. Ryan Rickelton prods forward and blocks it out.

17:40 (IST) Jun 13
0
Overs0.2
Score1 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton, Bangs the ball hard onto the surface, does Starc, on middle. Ryan Rickelton hops a bit across and knocks the ball on the pitch.

17:39 (IST) Jun 13
1
Overs0.1
Score1 - 0

Mitchell Starc to Aiden Markram, Markram and South Africa are underway in the chase. Starc begins from over the stumps, gets a bit of inward shape on middle, on a length. Aiden Markram stays leg side of the ball and taps it in front of mid off for a single.

16:52 (IST) Jun 13
Australia vs South Africa Live Score, WTC Final: Jansen's drop proving costly
Marco Jansen dropped Mitchell Starc at gully in the final over on Day 2.

It is now proving to be an expensive mistake the way Starc has put in his innings today.

The Aussie is nearing a half-century, and the game looks like it's slipping away from the Proteas.
16:44 (IST) Jun 13
WTC Final 2025 Live Score: Familiar territory for Mitchell Starc
The last time Starc scored 40-plus in a Test innings was the second-innings of the WTC 2023 final against India at The Oval.

The veteran is now inching closer towards a fighting fifty.
16:38 (IST) Jun 13
WTC Final 2025 Live Score: Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewoof set record
Starc and Hazlewood's ongoing partnership of 42 from 108 deliveries and counting is the best 10th wicket partnership in an ICC Final match.

Starc has put up a valiant fight against South Africa, with his 46* from 117 balls.

His compatriot Hazlewood, has racked up 12 on the board so far.
16:12 (IST) Jun 13
WTC Final 2025 Live Score: Mitchell Starc puts up a fight for Australia
Despite the early wicket of Nathan Lyon at the start of Day 3, Starc is still going strong for the defending WTC champions.

The 35-year-old has amassed 43 runs from 101 deliveries by the end of the 55th over.
15:15 (IST) Jun 13
AUS vs SA WTC Final Live Score: Nathan Lyon gone for 2 runs, Rabada draws first blood on Day 3
Nathan Lyon has been adjudged lbw, as Kagiso Rabada celebrates after the review.

Rabada's 4th wicket in Australia's second innings. His 9th overall.
15:03 (IST) Jun 13
WTC Final 2025 Live Score: AUS and SA players pay their respects to the lives lost in Ahmedabad flight crash
Ahead of proceedings on Day 3, both South Africa and Australia players observed a minute's silence.

The players are also wearing a black armband as a sign of respect for the 241 lives lost in the plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12.


14:56 (IST) Jun 13
AUS vs SA WTC Final Live Score: Lungi Ngidi reacts to his devastating spell on Day 2
After Ngidi's 3/35 on Day 2, the South Afica quick reacted emohatically.

"I think because of the stage that we’re playing on, that’s probably the best wicket I could’ve gotten.," said Ngidi on dismissing Steve Smith for just 13.

In the other camp, skipper Pat Cummins' superb spell helped rout South Africa for just 138.
14:44 (IST) Jun 13
AUS vs SA WTC Final Live Score: Can South Africa chase it down? one innings left
With Australia at 144/8 and leading by 218 runs, South Africa still have a chance—if they bowl the last two batters out quickly on Day 3.

The match will then come down to one big chase. If South Africa can restrict the target to under 250, it’s game on.

But anything above 270 could be too much, especially with the pitch wearing down and Australian bowlers like Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood ready to attack. The first hour on Day 3 will be crucial.
14:31 (IST) Jun 13
Australia vs South Africa Live Score, WTC Final: Cummins turns the game after lunch with four-wicket burst
After a quiet first session, Pat Cummins changed the game after lunch.

He picked up four wickets in just 17 balls during a devastating spell. Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, and Rabada were all dismissed in quick succession.

Cummins’ pace, accuracy, and bounce proved too much for the South African tail. His energy lifted the entire Australian side, and they quickly ended the innings.

That spell was the turning point of the day and could well define the match.
14:17 (IST) Jun 13
WTC Final 2025 Live Score: Match moving fast as 28 wickets fall in two Days
The WTC Final is moving at a surprising pace. After just two days, 28 wickets have already fallen.

The Lord’s pitch is offering help to the bowlers but hasn’t been unplayable. Still, both teams have found it tough to build partnerships.

South Africa were bowled out for 138 after Cummins’ fiery spell. Australia then lost seven wickets quickly in their second innings.

With only two wickets remaining, they lead by 218 runs. At this rate, the match might not even reach Day 5.
14:00 (IST) Jun 13
AUS vs SA WTC Final Live Score: Australia collapse to 73/7 before late recovery
Australia suffered a dramatic collapse in their second innings on Day 2.

They went from 44/2 to 73/7 in a matter of overs, losing key players like Labuschagne, Smith, and Cummins. Rabada and Ngidi were the main destroyers, exploiting the pitch expertly.

Beau Webster, who top-scored in the first innings with 72, fell lbw to Ngidi for just 1. The Australian middle order was completely undone by some top-class fast bowling.

Only the late resistance by Carey and Starc saved them from complete disaster.
13:59 (IST) Jun 13
Australia vs South Africa Live Score, WTC Final: Lungi Ngidi’s comeback spell brings South Africa back
Lungi Ngidi bounced back strongly after a quiet first innings. He picked up 3 wickets for 35 runs in Australia’s second innings, including a brilliant yorker to bowl Pat Cummins.

He also got the important wickets of Beau Webster and Marnus Labuschagne. Ngidi admitted he was struggling for rhythm on Day 1 but found his groove thanks to Temba Bavuma’s encouragement.

His second spell showed great control and energy, helping South Africa fight back just when Australia threatened to pull away.
13:58 (IST) Jun 13
WTC Final 2025 Live Score: Rabada shines again with 3 key wickets
Kagiso Rabada continued his superb form with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 44 runs in Australia’s second innings.

He removed Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in the same over, putting pressure back on the Aussies.

Earlier, Rabada took 5 for 51 in the first innings, giving him 8 wickets in the match so far. His pace, bounce, and accuracy were too much for the top order.

Rabada is now one of South Africa’s key hopes as they look to restrict Australia’s second-innings lead and chase a manageable target on a tough pitch.
13:57 (IST) Jun 13
AUS vs SA WTC Final Live Score: Carey and Starc steady Australia after dramatic collapse
After Australia slumped to 73/7 in their second innings, Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc stepped up.

Carey scored a crucial 43, while Starc remained unbeaten on 16 at stumps. Together, they added a vital 61-run partnership for the eighth wicket.

Their stand helped Australia recover to 144/8 by the end of Day 2 and stretch their lead to 218 runs.

Carey’s innings was filled with smart strokeplay under pressure. Though he fell lbw to Rabada late in the day, his contribution was key.

Starc was given a lifeline too, dropped on 14 by Jansen in the final over.
13:56 (IST) Jun 13
Australia vs South Africa Live Score, WTC Final: Pat Cummins joins the 300 club with fiery spell at Lord’s
Australia captain Pat Cummins delivered a stunning bowling performance on Day 2 of the WTC Final.

He took 6 wickets for just 28 runs, tearing through South Africa’s lower order. His spell included four wickets in just 17 balls after lunch.

More importantly, he claimed his 300th Test wicket, becoming the eighth Australian to achieve the milestone.

He also earned a spot on the famous Lord’s Honours Board. Cummins received a standing ovation from the crowd—quite a contrast from the boos he got in the Ashes two years ago.

His effort helped Australia take control of the match after a low first-innings total.
Australia vs South Africa Live Score, ICC WTC Final 2025: Australia edged ahead on a bowler-dominated Day 2 of the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s, ending at 144/8 in their second innings, with a lead of 218 runs. On a pitch offering just enough help to seamers, 28 wickets have fallen in two days, leaving the match hurtling toward an early finish.

South Africa were bowled out for 138 in their first innings, undone by a devastating spell from Pat Cummins, who claimed 6-28 to reach 300 Test wickets and earn a place on the Lord’s honours board. Only Temba Bavuma (36) and David Bedingham (45) offered resistance.

Australia’s second innings mirrored the chaos, as Kagiso Rabada (3-44) and Lungi Ngidi (3-35) tore through the top and middle order to reduce them to 73/7. However, Alex Carey (43) and Mitchell Starc (16*) mounted a fightback, adding 61 valuable runs for the eighth wicket.

Carey fell late to Rabada, but Starc survived a drop in the final over to keep Australia’s hopes alive.

With South Africa needing early wickets on Day 3 and Australia looking to stretch their lead beyond 250, the match remains delicately poised—even as the finale inches closer than expected.