NEW DELHI: Australia skipper Pat Cummins delivered a breathtaking bowling performance at Lord’s, grabbing 6 for 28 to rip through South Africa’s batting order and tilt the World Test Championship final heavily in his side’s favour.
Cummins’s masterclass saw him register his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests and reach a major personal milestone, surpassing Indian great Bishan Singh Bedi and matching Richie Benaud with nine five-fors as a Test captain, the second-most in history behind Pakistan's Imran Khan (12).
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- 12 - Imran Khan
- 9 - Richie Benaud
- 9 - Pat Cummins
- 8 - Bishan Singh Bedi
- 7 - Courtney Walsh
- 7 - Jason Holder
The South African innings collapsed spectacularly on Day 2, skittled out for just 138 in reply to Australia’s modest 212.
Cummins, who had already taken two wickets in the morning session, returned after lunch to produce a blistering burst, four wickets for one run in just 17 balls, leaving South Africa reeling.
Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham had briefly steadied the ship with a 64-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Bavuma, who started the day on 3 not out, showed some fight with a stylish six off Cummins and a lofted drive off Starc, but was dismissed soon after, caught at cover by a diving Marnus Labuschagne.
Cummins struck again quickly after lunch, removing Kyle Verreynne lbw and trapping Marco Jansen for a duck in the same over. He then ended Bedingham’s 111-ball effort by inducing an edge to the keeper before the lower order completely disintegrated.
A farcical run-out of Keshav Maharaj only added to South Africa’s woes, and Cummins fittingly wrapped up the innings with his 300th Test wicket, dismissing Kagiso Rabada, caught at deep square leg by Beau Webster.
With this performance, Cummins not only reaffirmed his status as one of the premier fast bowlers of his generation but also etched his name alongside the game’s greats as a captain who leads by fiery example.
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