Pat Cummins created history at Lord’s as he helped Australia to a 74-run first innings lead, with a magical performance with ball in hand in the World Test Championship final. Cummins took figures of 6-26, but it was a spell after lunch on day two that did all the damage, as he took four South African wickets in quick succession in a one-man demolition act.
Cummins’ carnage, however, began in a slightly comical if concerning fashion. In his second over after lunch, Cummins got one to sharply seam inwards and strike South African wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne in his pads. Cummins appealed for the LBW, but was still running backwards while doing so — a move that forced him to accidentally crash into Verreynne while the latter set off for a single, his eyes also away from the bowler and following the ball.
Both players fell in a massive heap following the collision, with even the umpire reacting s he gave the decision as not-out. Cummins was unfazed by the crash, however, quickly getting to his feet and ensuring he took the review before the 15-second DRS timer ran out.
{{/usCountry}}Both players fell in a massive heap following the collision, with even the umpire reacting s he gave the decision as not-out. Cummins was unfazed by the crash, however, quickly getting to his feet and ensuring he took the review before the 15-second DRS timer ran out.
{{/usCountry}}It proved to be the right decision, as hawkeye went on to show that it was hitting enough of the leg stump to show three reds. It was a wicket after South Africa had dominated the morning session, and returned the advantage to Australia.
Cummins with a cascade of wickets post-lunch
Cummins would capitalise within the same over, breaking South Africa’s last batting partnership by dismissing Marco Jansen on a duck. A leading edge was taken for a caught-and-bowled, heavily swinging the match in Australia’s favour.
Cummins wasn’t done for his afternoon yet, as a couple of overs later, he removed the set batter in David Bedingham with a classic fast bowler’s dismissal, catching a thin outside edge. That was Cummins’ fifth of the innings, making him only the fourth player to take a five-fer as captain at Lord’s.
After he removed Bedingham for 45, Australia made quick work of the tail, with Cummins wrapping up proceedings with a sharp bouncer at Kagiso Rabada, who had taken a five-fer of his own in the first innings. Cummins also reached 300 Test wickets with that scalp, and ensured his team were in cruise control of the match.