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Australia reached 190/5 at tea, with Beau Webster on 55 not out and Alex Carey unbeaten on 22.
Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch celebrate the wicket of Steve Smith during the second innings on day one of the WTC final at Lord’s. Picture: Alex Davidson/ICC/Getty Images
Steve Smith and Beau Webster combined well to stabilise Australia’s first innings, though South Africa remained in control after an impressive start to the first day of the World Test Championship final in London on Wednesday.
With Australia having lost four wickets in the first session, Smith and Webster shared 79 runs for the fifth wicket as the title holders began to fight back.
Smith was removed for 66 by spinner Aiden Markram, with Marco Jansen safely juggling the ball to take a superb catch, breaking the stand.
At the tea break, Australia had reached 190/5, with Webster on 55 not out and Alex Carey unbeaten on 22.
Morning session
Earlier, after the Proteas won the toss and chose to field, the bowling attack ripped through Australia’s top order in the morning session.
Frontline bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Jansen picked up two scalps each before lunch to put the defending champions on the back foot.
The match will be played over five days, but next Monday has been set aside as a reserve day which can be used if overs during the first five days are lost due to rain.
Australia are the defending champions after beating India in the final in 2023, while South Africa are competing in the WTC final for the first time.
Teams
South Africa
Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Australia
Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
