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LONDON: Australia opener Usman Khawaja set an unwanted record with his 20-ball duck against South Africa on the opening day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final here at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
The opener’s fifth duck in WTC history has added him to the list alongside India’s Shubman Gill and former South Africa batter Dean Elgar, who share the record for most ducks in the tournament.
Usman Khawaja was removed duck in the seventh over by South African pacer Kagiso Rabada.
For the unversed, Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah holds the record for the most ducks in the WTC history. He has gone without scoring 20 times while Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi is behind with eight ducks to his name.
At the time of filing this report, Australia were 109-4 in 34.3 overs.
After opting to bowl first, South Africa took four early wickets to leave Australia reeling at 67-4 after the first session.
Usman Khawaja was the first wicket to fall, caught in the slips by David Bedingham after facing 20 deliveries without scoring.
Cameron Green came out to play his first Test innings since his back surgery; however, his stay was short-lived as he fell prey to Rabada after scoring four runs off three balls.
Labuschagne (17) was joined by an ever-dependable Steve Smith, but they could not form a solid partnership as Marco Jansen removed the former to leave Australia struggling at 46-3.
Travis Head (11) joined Smith but failed to add much to the total, getting caught behind off Jansen at the stroke of Lunch after scoring a meagre 11.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verrynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
READ: WTC Final: South Africa pacers strike early to put Australia under pressure
