SA vs AUS WTC Final: Pat Cummins Achieves Double Milestone In South Africa 1st Innings

SA vs AUS WTC Final 2025: Australia captain Pat Cummins produced a sensational bowling performance at Lord's on Thursday, ripping through South Africa's batting lineup to claim his place in the record books during the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final.

The right-arm pacer bagged 6 wickets for just 28 runs in 18.1 overs, helping Australia skittle South Africa out for a mere 138 in their first innings.

Cummins' match-defining spell not only turned the game in Australia's favour but also etched his name in history with the best-ever bowling figures in an ICC final, surpassing Jacques Kallis' 5/30 against West Indies in the 1998 Champions Trophy final in Dhaka.

The Australian skipper had started his wicket hunt on Day 1 by dismissing Wiaan Mulder. On the second morning, he returned with more fire, sending back South African captain Temba Bavuma for 36. Cummins then triggered a mini-collapse in the second session by removing Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen in the same over. His fifth scalp came when David Bedingham edged one to wicketkeeper Alex Carey after making a gritty 45.

He completed his six-wicket haul by dismissing Kagiso Rabada on the first ball of the 58th over, caught by Beau Webster. This wicket not only wrapped up South Africa's innings but also marked Cummins' 300th Test wicket, making him only the 10th Australian to reach that milestone.

With this performance, Cummins has become the leading wicket-taker in the WTC 2023-25 cycle, reaching 79 wickets, the most by any bowler in the tournament's current edition. He also now holds the record for most wickets in WTC finals, with 10 scalps across three innings, overtaking India's Mohammed Shami, who has 8 from four innings.

This fiery spell at the iconic Lord's further cements Pat Cummins' legacy as one of modern cricket's most potent and consistent Test bowlers.