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Temba Bavuma chose to bowl on a cloudy morning, and South Africa's pacers were spot on. He struck frequently to put Australia in a position in the opening session of the World Test Championship final at Lord's. Australia entered the lunch break on Day 1 at 63/4. Steve Smith not out at 26. Kagiso Rabada spearheaded the attack with well while Marco Jansen provided good support. Jansen and Rabada, South Africa's new-ball duo, bowled three consecutive maidens while maintaining discipline with the line and lengths. Even as Rabada delivered a hat-trick of maidens to Usman Khawaja, Labuschagne got Australia moving with three pairs off Jansen. He eventually got his reward when he had the left-hander edging to first slip to dismiss him for a 20-ball duck. The batter fell to Rabada, who was beautifully taken by Aiden Markram at second slip. Ending Cameron Green's attempt at number three. They subsequently got through the first hour without suffering any further damage as Smith and Labuschagne hit a couple of boundaries to defeat an outstanding spell from Rabada (6-4-9-2). They also defeated Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder. On the first ball of the second hour, Smith looked at a loose ball from Ngidi for a boundary. The bowler also caught the edge of his bat, but the ball went to the boundary. Mulder attempted to worry Labuschagne a few times without success, while Smith also hit a drive past point off Ngidi. Thirty minutes into the second hour, Jansen came back into the attack and got Labuschagne to edge to the 'keeper, breaking a 30-run stand. This was Jansen's breakthrough. Smith and Travis Head each hit a boundary off Jansen to begin the recovery process anew. The umpire's call spared Smith after he was slapped on the pad after crossing too far to an oncoming Jansen delivery. After that, Jansen struck hard just before lunch, catching Head down the legside on the final ball before the break.

In the first Test in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's only fighting spark was still Sean Williams' sixth Test century. A large 167-run lead was secured by the South Africans' combination bowling effort. Which was led by Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, and Codi Yusuf. South Africa's lead has increased to 216 runs by the end of Day 2. After announcing their overnight total of 418 for 9. South Africa called Zimbabwe to bat first thing in the morning. Takudzwanashe Kaitano chipped one to mid-wicket, and Codi Yusuf took his first Test wicket off his fifth delivery, putting the tourists right on the money right away. As he quickly took two wickets, Yusuf then got Nick Welch to push one behind to the 'keeper. Brian Bennett, who just scored a century against England last month, sandwiched this by hitting three quick boundaries to maintain a strong scoring rate. However, Bennett's innings was ended when his helmet was struck by a bouncer from Kwena Maphaka. Due to a concussion, the right-hander was taken out. For the home team, it brought in the seasoned combo of Craig Ervine and Williams. Who stitched a partnership of 96 runs. Ervine approached with greater steadiness, but the latter got things started with two flat batted shots to the Maphaka barrier. Corbin Bosch and Yusuf battered the two hitters repeatedly. But they persevered before punishing the loose sounds. It gave the hosts a chance to recover a little before lunch. Sean Williams Keshav Maharaj put Williams down after lunch before he reached his fiftieth birthday, bringing the ship into balance for Zimbabwe. The left-arm spinner claimed his 200th Test wicket. When Ervine was stumped off Maharaj in the following over. After getting lucky with a streaking boundary over the slip trap. Wessley Madhevere, a new batsman, showed initiative by hitting threes early on and slog sweeping Maharaj for six. Williams, who rocketed into the 80s, too relished playing the left-arm spinner with two boundaries as Zimbabwe reached the 150. The