Lord’s Cricket Ground witnessed something truly extraordinary on the opening day. Cricket history was made in the most unexpected way possible. Both teams created records that nobody saw coming before the match started.
Kagiso Rabada turned into an absolute bowling machine against Australia’s batsmen. His spell of fast bowling reminded everyone why he’s considered world-class. This historic milestone at Lord’s gave South African fans something special to celebrate.
Rabada Tears Through Australia’s Top Order
Rabada grabbed five wickets for just 51 runs and left Australia reeling. He bowled with pure fire and made experienced batsmen look completely helpless. The Australians managed only 212 runs before their innings collapsed dramatically.
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Every ball from Rabada seemed to threaten the stumps or find edges. Australian batsmen tried everything but couldn’t handle his pace and movement. His bowling partner Marco Jansen chipped in with three crucial wickets too.
These South African fast bowlers hunted in pairs like hungry lions. The WTC Final 2025 couldn’t have started better for the Proteas bowling attack.
Rabada’s 332nd Test wicket moved him past Allan Donald in South Africa’s record books. He now stands as his country’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket. Only Trent Boult has previously taken five wickets in a WTC Final match.
A Record That Shocked Cricket Historians
Something happened on day 1 that hasn’t occurred in 145 years of English cricket. Both teams’ opening batsmen scored ducks in the same Test match. Usman Khawaja and Aiden Markram both walked back without troubling the scorers.
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Cricket statisticians had to dig deep into their record books to confirm this. This historic milestone at Lord’s left even seasoned commentators scratching their heads in amazement. Both star batsmen will want to erase this day from their memories.
Khawaja usually starts Australia’s innings with steady runs and solid technique. Markram does the same job for South Africa with his elegant stroke play. Today, neither player could get off to a good start against some brilliant bowling attacks.
Australia Strikes Back Before Stumps
Mitchell Starc led Australia’s fightback when South Africa came out to bat. The left-arm quick bowler grabbed two early wickets and lifted his team’s spirits. Australia refused to lie down despite their disappointing batting performance earlier.
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South Africa reached 43 runs but lost four wickets before the day ended. Australian bowlers created pressure and made run-scoring extremely difficult for their opponents. The match balance shifted several times throughout this fascinating opening day.
Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins supported Starc well with tight bowling lines. They kept things interesting and ensured Day Two would be equally compelling. Both teams head into tomorrow with genuine chances of taking control.
