Pat Cummins delivered a masterclass in seam bowling on Day 2 of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final, ripping through South Africa’s batting line-up with sensational figures of 6 for 28. The Australian skipper, who had managed just one scalp on the opening day, spearheaded a stunning fightback that handed his team a significant first-innings lead of 74 runs at Lord’s.
300-Club Entry: Cummins Joins Aussie Elite
In what was his 68th Test appearance in the whites, the 32-year-old also entered an exclusive club by taking 300 Test wickets, only the eighth Australian bowler to do so. He now joins greats such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Nathan Lyon, and Mitchell Starc.
Also Read: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma React After Tragic Air India Plane Crash Near Ahmedabad Airport
Record-Breaking Show In ICC Finals
Cummins’ masterful spell put his name in the record books. He is now the record holder for most wickets in ICC final matches, bettering teammate Mitchell Starc’s 11. The Aussie pacer also surpassed India’s Mohammed Shami (8) for most wickets in WTC final history.
First Skipper With 10-Wicket Haul In ICC Finals
Right-arm pacer wrote history by becoming the first skipper in history to take 10 or more wickets in ICC finals. His six-wicket haul stands as the highest bowling figure by a captain in any ICC title encounter, surpassing his own past record of 3/82 against India in the 2023 WTC final.
Lord’s Landmark: New Record For Captains
Cummins also took the best-ever captain’s bowling figures at historic Lord’s Cricket Ground. His performance broke the long-standing record of 6/101 of Bob Willis, who recorded it in 1992 against India.
Specialist In Topping Over Skippers
When Cummins sent off Temba Bavuma, he broke Richie Benaud’s record for the most dismissals of opposition captains in Test history. He has 19 such wickets now, reiterating his capability to perform under pressure and against major players.
Also Read: WTC Final: Kagiso Rabada Reflects On His 5-Wicket Haul, Says ‘To Be Listed Among…’
Collapse And Control: South Africa Falter
South Africa’s innings collapsed after a good start, losing their last five wickets for only 18 runs in the course of 37 deliveries. Cummins’ unrelenting pace and accuracy saw Australia leave with a firm upper hand in the match.
Webster, Smith Anchor Australia To 212
Earlier in the match, Australia had scored a total of 212 in their first innings, courtesy of gritty half-centuries from Beau Webster and Steve Smith. Their efforts proved critical in laying the platform for Cummins’ destruction job.
