South Africa has been set a tricky 282-run target for victory in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s after Australia’s tailenders wagged with valuable runs on Friday morning.
Resuming at 8-144, the Proteas bowlers needed 117 minutes to account for the final two wickets on day three, with Mitchell Starc, who notched a team-high 58 not out, adding 59 alongside Josh Hazlewood, Australia’s highest tenth-wicket partnership at Lord’s since 1975.
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Superstar quick Kagiso Rabada, who finished with 4-59 from 18 overs, trapped Nathan Lyon on the pads early in the morning session before Starc and Hazlewood dropped anchor for 22.2 overs, making it the longest partnership of the match. Edges dropped short of the slips cordon, while Hazlewood elegantly ramped a bouncer from rival seamer Marcos Jansen over third man for a boundary.
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Starc brought up a half-century, his 11th in Tests, in 131 deliveries with an edge through the slips before part-time spinner Aiden Markram wrapped up the innings, with Hazlewood punching towards cover for 17.
Australia, who at one stage were 7-73, were all out for 207 — Jansen’s dropped catch from the previous evening, a regulation chance that gifted Starc an extra life on 14, proving a very costly error for the Proteas.
Starc’s heroics continued with the ball, removing Proteas opener Ryan Rickelton for 6 with a full outswinger that kissed the edge and carried to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Players and match officials wore black armbands at Lord’s on Friday to honour victims of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad.
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