On the second day of the WTC Final 2025 at Lord’s, Pat Cummins bowled amazingly well and completely destroyed South Africa’s batting.
With figures of 6 for 28, Cummins entered the record books and helped Australia grab the upper hand in a tight contest.
This performance not only gave Australia a crucial lead, but also placed Cummins in elite company with some of Test cricket’s greatest leaders.
What records did Cummins break with his 6-wicket haul?
Cummins became the first-ever captain in ICC history to take a five-wicket haul in the final of a global tournament.
He dismissed six batters for just 28 runs in 18.2 overs, making it his ninth five-wicket haul as a captain in Test cricket. That tally is now level with Richie Benaud and just behind Imran Khan, who had 12.
He also became the first captain to take six wickets in a single innings at Lord’s, topping a list that includes names like Bob Willis and Daniel Vettori.
And just to add more sparkle, Cummins crossed the 300 Test wickets milestone during this spell. He’s only the 10th Australian to do so.
How did Cummins' spell unfold on Day 2?
Australia were bowled out for 212 in their first innings, leaving the match balanced. But once South Africa came in to bat, Cummins took charge.
He first broke the resistance of skipper Temba Bavuma before lunch. But the real damage came after the break. In the second session, Cummins picked up four of the five wickets that fell, including that of David Bedingham, who was looking solid until then.
South Africa could only manage 138 all out, giving Australia a 74-run lead. Cummins was supported by Starc and Hazlewood, but this show was all about him.