In a stunning passage of play at Lord’s on Day 2 of the World Test Championship Final, Australia collapsed to a dismal 64 for 5, handing South Africa a golden opportunity to claw back into the contest. What began as a day promising consolidation for the Australians turned into a nightmare as South Africa’s pace attack tore through their top and middle order under classic English conditions.
Resuming with a first-innings lead of 74 runs, Australia were expected to build on their advantage and put South Africa under scoreboard pressure. But the Proteas bowlers, led by a fired-up Lungi Ngidi and the disciplined Wiaan Mulder, had other plans. The morning session belonged entirely to South Africa, whose precise and aggressive bowling unsettled Australia’s batters, triggering a collapse reminiscent of the great Lord’s spells from years past.
Steve Smith, the pillar of Australia’s first innings with a resolute 66, was removed early by Ngidi with a ball that nipped in sharply and shattered the stumps. Smith’s dismissal exposed Australia’s vulnerability against the moving ball—a problem that compounded quickly. Travis Head, who had played with freedom in recent months, fell cheaply, nicking behind in Ngidi’s next over. Beau Webster, the hero of the first innings with a composed 72, was undone by a Mulder delivery that swung late and trapped him in front.
From 38/2, Australia slipped to 64/5 in the space of 45 minutes. The middle order, often Australia’s strength, faltered under pressure as Cummins too was dismissed for a duck—beaten by Mulder’s pace and accuracy. The alarm bells were ringing loudly, not just for the loss of wickets but for the complete momentum shift that saw the Proteas camp energized and vocal.
The most shocking aspect of the collapse was how sudden it appeared. Just a session ago, Australia looked well placed, having dominated Day 1 with both bat and ball. Their 212 in the first innings was built around Smith and Webster’s stand, and Pat Cummins had led a bowling masterclass that saw South Africa bowled out for just 138. Cummins’ six-wicket haul was among his best performances on English soil, making Australia look like strong contenders to control the match.
However, the fickle nature of Test cricket, particularly at Lord’s, surfaced once again. Overhead clouds and early morning moisture played into South Africa’s hands. Ngidi’s rhythm improved with each over, while Marco Jansen’s bounce from a high release point made scoring difficult. Mulder, meanwhile, showed why he’s fast becoming a dependable third seamer in South Africa’s setup.