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Mitchell Starc’s early strike against South Africa in the WTC Final after Australia was bowled out for 212 by Kagiso Rabada’s five-wicket haul.
Mitchell Starc celebrates the dismissal of South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton (Picture credit: AP)
Star Australia pacer Mitchell Starc dealt an early blow to South Africa after he dislodged Aiden Markram’s stumps in the first over of their innings, soon after the defending champions were restricted to a below-par 212 and one would have thought that the Proteas would have a massive upper hand.
South Africa had all of the momentum after bagging the last five wickets for only 22 runs. Earlier in the innings, the Proteas’ new ball bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen got help from the track and the weather to trouble the Aussie top order.
Although the weather was clear after tea, Starc used his prowess to make the new ball talk. Watch the video here:
Starc found his trademark swing and got the ball to move off the track as well. Markram just about managed to survive an inswinger midway through the over after it caught the inside edge.
In the final delivery of the over, Markram had to deal with yet another inswinger. This marks the seventh time that he has been dismissed for a duck in Tests and the first time in four years.
Starc came back in the ninth over to dismiss Ryan Rickelton, who was caught by Usman Khawaja, to reduce South Africa to 19/2.
Earlier, Kagiso Rabada took five wickets as South Africa dismissed Australia for 212 after tea on Wednesday’s opening day of the World Test Championship final at the Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Rabada finished with impressive figures of 5/51 in less than 16 overs, the second time he has taken five wickets at the London ground.
Rabada struck twice in a single over as he reduced Australia to 16/2, dismissing Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green following South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma’s decision to field in overcast conditions.
Rabada dismissed Australia skipper Pat Cummins and top-scorer Beau Webster (72) as well before bowling Mitchell Starc to end the innings.
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