WTC Final: Australia set South Africa 282 to win after Starc’s 58*

Mitchell Starc’s resilient knock of 58* guided Australia to set a target of 282 runs for South Africa on day three of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final at Lord’s. Australia resumed their second innings at 144 for 8, leading by 218 runs with Starc on 16 and Nathan Lyon on 1. Early in the morning, Kagiso Rabada trapped Lyon lbw, adding just one run to his overnight score. Despite the early breakthrough, Starc and Josh Hazlewood stitched a crucial 59-run stand, steering the defending champions into a dominant position. Starc led the charge with his 11th Test fifty, while Hazlewood played a steady supporting role. Their efforts pushed Australia’s lead beyond 250, putting South Africa under pressure. The partnership was finally broken before lunch when Hazlewood fell for 17, but Starc remained unbeaten. Rabada claimed four wickets, while Lungi Ngidi supported well with three scalps.