Marnus Labuschagne made a fantastic catch to break the ominous-looking pair of Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham in the first session of Day 2 of the World Test Championship (WTC 2025) final at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
On Thursday, June 12, South Africa resumed their innings at 43/4, with Bavuma and Bedingham playing counter-attacking cricket. The South African captain received a reprieve in the sixth over of the day. He was given out LBW by Josh Hazlewood’s bowling. Bavuma reviewed the ruling, and replays revealed a clear difference between bat and ball. However, third umpire Richard Kettleborough followed the rules and asked the on-field umpire to overturn his decision.
Bavuma and Bedingham continued to bat with determination, keeping the scoreboard ticking. However, Australian skipper Pat Cummins beat his South African counterpart off the second ball of the 40th over in the first innings. He bowled a lovely delivery full and outside the off stump. Bavuma went for a drive up and did not look to stay on the ground. Marnus Labuschagne, who was standing close cover, dove to his right and made a crisp catch with both hands. When his elbows hit the ground, he kept the ball in his clutches.
Watch Marnus Labuschagne’s stunning catch here:
Needed something like that to remove him what a take Marnus🥶 pic.twitter.com/HgMbP02v8R
— Shamilinho🇦🇺🇧🇷 (@shamilzaiin) June 12, 2025
Bavuma’s promising knock ended after he had scored 36 runs off 84 balls, with the help of four fours and one six. He stitched a crucial 64-run stand off 114 balls with Bedingham for the fifth wicket. At the fall of Bavuma’s wicket, South Africa were reduced to 94/5, still trailing Australia’s first-innings score by 118 runs. Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne have joined forces, and the onus will be on them to take the Proteas as close as they can to Australia’s total.
