WTC Final 2025: Australia Book Lord's Meeting With South Africa After Victory Over India in Sydney

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WTC Final 2025: Australia sealed their World Test Championship title clash with South Africa following a 6-wicket victory over India in the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Sunday (January 5) in Sydney.

Chasing 162 on a tricky wicket at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Travis Head and Beau Webster brought some calm after the top four collapsed, helping Australia chase down the target to claim series honours and a spot in the World Test Championship 2025 Final at Lord's.

Test debutant Webster, who scored a crucial fifty in the first innings, completed the chase with a boundary off Washington Sundar to finish on 39 not out in the second innings to mark an impressive first appearance for the national side.

Head, who had a few quiet innings after a couple of big scores earlier in the series, remained unbeaten on 34 off 38 balls as Australia went on to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time after 10 years.

Openers Sam Konstas (22) and Usman Khawaja (41) also made useful contributions to wade away a depleted Indian pace attack in the first half hour. For India, Prasidh Krishna claimed three wickets, while Mohammed Siraj took the other wicket, but it wasn't meant to be for the visitors after the batters failed again.

With this win, Australia booked a Lord's showdown against South Africa, who sealed their first-ever WTC Final berth following an impressive 2-wicket win over Pakistan at home last week. The two sides will now clash at the Home of Cricket on June 11, 2025.

Earlier, Australia cleaned up the India tail, dismissing the tourists for 157. Scott Boland finished with a six-wicket haul, including Jasprit Bumrah, who batted in spite of a back injury, but the Indian stand-in skipper did not walk out with the rest of the team for Australia's second innings.

India resumed day three at 141/6, with Cummins drawing a Ravindra Jadeja (13) edge to wicket-keeper Alex Carey, before beating the defences of Washington (12). Scott Boland claimed Mohammed Siraj (4) for his fifth-wicket at the other end.