The World Test Championship final has entered a thrilling phase, with Australia eight wickets down in their second innings at the close of Day 2. The Kangaroos currently hold a lead of 218 runs.

Pat Cummins led from the front with a six-wicket haul to bowl out South Africa for 138, and Australia followed it up by scoring 144 for 8 in their second innings on Day 2 of the ICC World Test Championship final, taking their overall lead to 218 runs.

South Africa were dismissed for 138 in 57.1 overs, with Pat Cummins leading the charge with outstanding figures of 6 for 28. Australia, who had scored 212 in their first innings, gained a 74-run lead. Mitchell Starc supported well, picking up 2 wickets for 41 runs. David Bedingham was South Africa’s top scorer, making 45 off 111 balls with six boundaries, while skipper Temba Bavuma contributed 36 runs.

South Africa collapsed after Pat Cummins fiery spell, losing their last five wickets for just 12 runs. In response, Australia struggled in their second innings, slipping to 73 for 7 against the incisive bowling of Lungi Ngidi (3 for 35) and Kagiso Rabada (3 for 44). However, Alex Carey (43 off 50 balls, with five boundaries) and Mitchell Starc (unbeaten on 16) steadied the innings with a valuable 61-run stand for the eighth wicket, taking Australia’s overall lead beyond 200. At stumps, Starc remained not out alongside Nathan Lyon, who was on 1.

Australia got off to a shaky start in their second innings. Opener Usman Khawaja was dismissed for 6, caught behind by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne off Kagiso Rabada. Cameron Green followed soon after without scoring, falling to the same bowler, caught by Wiaan Mulder. Marnus Labuschagne, who is under pressure to retain his spot in the Test side, failed to make an impact once again. Opening the innings for the first time in this match, he managed just 22 runs before being caught behind off Marco Jansen.

Steve Smith, who had scored a half-century in the first innings, was dismissed for 13, trapped lbw by Lungi Ngidi. Beau Webster, another half-centurion from the first innings, struck a boundary off Ngidi but was trapped lbw on the very next delivery, leaving Australia reeling at 64 for 5. In the following over, Wiaan Mulder bowled Travis Head for 9, and soon after, Ngidi cleaned up Pat Cummins for 6, further denting Australia’s innings.

Carey and Starc then steadied the innings for Australia. Starc brought up the team’s 100-run mark in the 34th over with a single off Marco Jansen. He had a stroke of luck when Kyle Verreynne dropped a catch off Rabada when Starc was batting on 12. Rabada eventually broke the crucial partnership by trapping Carey lbw.

Starc was lucky again in the final over of the day when Jansen dropped another catch off Wiaan Mulder. At the end of Day 2, Australia were 144 for 8, with a lead of 218 runs. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon were still at the crease.