Australia fell all out on just 207, after picking up a quick early wicket. This left South Africa a challenging target of 282 runs to win and secure the World Test Championship final. The battle royale at the historic arena is getting fiery! South Africa preparing to come out and bat down this awesome total for a thrilling finish. Day three already looks like it will be full of high drama and exciting cricket with both sides desperate to gain the upper hand.
Mitchell Starc though was the star performer on the day, providing Australia with some stubborn resistance, notching up a fifty (58 off 131) runs from 131 deliveries. His innings involved three major partnerships, two of which added 264 runs to Australia’s total that far surpassed any other team. As he stepped into his 113th delivery, Starc had no intention of going down without a fight – literally. Enjoying the pressure, he played the longest innings of the match.
During the 58th over, Australia found themselves in dire straits at 186-9. Starc featured with the bat, holding up one end for an important 44, while Josh Hazlewood added a useful 10. The duo built a match-defining partnership, adding 59 runs in 135 balls. This performance was crucial in building Australia’s lead. Hazlewood’s second over didn’t look too special until he recorded a notable double sweep four off two balls, significantly adding to their work.
Starc’s half-century came as he steered a ball square of gully for four runs, raising the team’s total and growing their lead to 257 runs. Hazlewood then smashed a mighty cut through the protective cordon, adding another boundary. This shot pushed Australia’s lead to 264 runs. The duo batted for over an hour and a half in the morning session, showing maturity, resolve, and execution.
With the innings nearing its end, Australia starts to lose wickets but manages to rattle up a total of 207 runs. Starc’s contribution was key. His calm innings didn’t just help the scoreboard’s cause, it built a safety net of runs that were critical to countering South Africa’s ferocious bowling arsenal.
We expect this nail-biter of a tournament to come down to its exciting finish on Day 3. South Africa needs to make 282 runs to win the match! Now the pressure is really on the Proteas. Most importantly, they are getting ready to take on what might be one of the fiercest bowling attacks in international cricket.
Simon Reader emphasized the importance of patience and strategic mindset in his commentary:
“My comment to your colleague Daniel on Wednesday is even more relevant today: if I were coach Conrad, last night I would have been drilling the Proteas with clips of the Springboks’ 2019 Rugby World Cup. Now, more than ever, they need the patience and strategy. Hope springs.” – Simon Reader
As South Africa prepares to bat, these sorts of questions about pitch conditions often come into play. Bill Fuller inquired whether the pitch looks more batter-friendly compared to previous days and how it might impact Australia’s bowling attack.
Starc and Hazlewood bowled with amazing spirit. With their performance, they have set a thrilling scene for Day 3 of the World Test Championship final. Both teams are obviously starving to win a championship. For the billions of sports fans around the world, we all can’t wait for an electrifying finish to this high-stakes contest.