Bowlers dominate as WTC final heads for a tight finish

Cummins and Ngidi put on a show for their respective sides as 14 wickets fall on Day 2 at Lord's

- Ashis Ray

LONDON: The English invented it and Indians now underwrite it. But it's Australia who have cornered the most crowns in the lustrous history of cricket. Defending champions in the game's ultimate challenge — the World Test Championship (WTC) — the Aussies had, perhaps, stolen a slight march over South Africa at stumps on the second day of the final in a dramatically low scoring match.

A plucky 43 by Alex Carey had advanced the former to 144 for eight in the second innings — a lead of 218.

The Australia captain Pat Cummins' return of six for 28 in the South African first innings, bejewelled as it was by a post-lunch haul of four for four in 4.1 overs, seemed a game-changer. But the quicks, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, from the 'Mother Continent' had other ideas. So, it's still all to play for on the third day.