As many as 28 wickets fell in the first two days of the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's. Despite the wickets, the Test match has been fascinating so far with South Africa chasing 282 runs to win.
Day 3 started with Kagiso Rabada picking up Nathan Lyon early in the pace. Then Mitchell Starc scored an unbeaten fifty and along with Josh Hazlewood ensured that Australia stretch their lead past the 250-mark.
South Africa finally managed to pick up the last two wickets and are now chasing 282 runs to win. So far, they have already lost two wickets by the end of the second session at Tea. They have managed to bring down the deficit below the 200-mark.
Also Read: WTC Finals 2025: Dale Steyn Applauds 'Big Match' Rabada for Brilliant Spell at Lord’s
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Aakash Chopra Surprised As Lord's Pitch Termed "Sporting"
After 28 wickets fell in the first two days of the WTC final 2025, just four have fallen so far in day 3. The conditions to bat have been a lot better with the sun shining bright at Lord's.
Meanwhile, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra in his YouTube channel posted a video about the final where he criticised the Lord's pitch for the way it has played out in the first two days. He said that had 28 wickets fallen in the first two days in India, the pitch would have been criticised by the Western media.
“A big question I had about this Lord’s Test match was that if these 28 wickets had fallen in India in two days’ play, wouldn’t the western media have created an uproar, as to what sort of pitch they play, the ball is turning and bouncing, batting has become very difficult, and how such pitches can be allowed, that India is doctoring pitches and killing Test cricket," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda.
He further said that despite the pitch having played the way it has so far, publications overseas has hailed the pitch by calling it a sporting wicket.
“You would have seen these headlines from The Telegraph to The Sydney Morning Herald, and you would have felt what you have done. However, when it happens in England, it’s called a sporting pitch, that the batters’ defensive technique has gotten spoiled as the ball is not moving that much. If the batters’ defensive technique has gotten spoiled, it’s valid in India as well," he added.
Also Read: WTC 2025 Final: Why Are Australian & South Africa Players Wearing Black Armbands On Day 3
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South Africa Chasing Record Target To Win WTC 2025 Final
Meanwhile, just twice at Lord's has a target of over 280 been successfully achieved. 342 by the West Indies in 1984 and 282 by England in 2004. The Proteas are thus chasing history to win the WTC final.
