David Bedingham Confident as South Africa Eyes Lord’s Chase | WTC Final Preview

BEDINGHAM SAYS “AMAZING CHANCE” FOR PROTEAS TO WIN WTC FINAL AT LORD’S

LONDON, 12 June 2025 — After a roller‑coaster Day 2 at Lord’s, South Africa find themselves on the verge of Test cricket immortality, and middle‑order batter David Bedingham is urging his side to “embrace the pressure” and chase down what will be a record-breaking fourth‑innings target to win the ICC World Test Championship Final.

Australia stretched their first‑innings lead to 218 by stumps, but only after South Africa’s seamers launched a fierce resurgence, reducing the defending champions to 144/8 in the second innings. With Lungi Ngidi (3/35) and Kagiso Rabada (3/44) reinstating Proteas dominance, and just two tailenders at the crease, Bedingham believes his team has a golden opportunity.

“It is an amazing chance and we are very excited about the opportunity to win,” Bedingham said. “It could go either way but there is a lot of belief… we would have taken them at effectively 220 for eight.” news.com.au+15theguardian.com+15icc-cricket.com+15

From Cummins’ 300‑wicket milestone to seamer mayhem

South Africa began Day 2 on 43/4 in their first innings. They were bowled out for 138 as Pat Cummins seized the moment, delivering a blistering 6 for 28 that included his 300th Test wicket, becoming only the eighth Australian to reach the landmark theguardian.com+1talksport.com+1. Bedingham top‑scored with a gritty 45, noting:

“I don’t think he ever misses… He bowled 18 overs and his energy from over one to 18 was the same. He is world‑class.” theguardian.com+15theguardian.com+15icc-cricket.com+15

But Bedingham, along with captain Temba Bavuma, gave Australia a scare, especially when their pace attack unleashed late‑day magic. They reduced Australia from 73/1 to 73/7, with Ngidi and Rabada both claiming three‑wicket hauls indiatoday.in+3icc-cricket.com+3icc-cricket.com+3.

South Africa see momentum shift with tail‑end wickets

It was a magical session for the Proteas. Ngidi trapped Steve Smith lbw, Rabada claimed Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in the same over, while Ngidi returned to dismiss Pat Cummins all clean bowled news.com.au+15icc-cricket.com+15icc-cricket.com+15. The Proteas seamers had clawed back from despair, proving their fast bowling depth can unsettle even the best. Bedingham credited the seamers’ character:

“Lungi is a chilled guy… to bowl nine overs on the bounce takes a lot of effort and we are lucky to have him.” theguardian.com+15iol.co.za+15cricxtasy.com+15

Defiant tail‑end salvo from Carey and Starc

Australia’s hopes, however, were kept alive by a resolute late partnership. Alex Carey’s unbeaten 43 alongside *Mitchell Starc’s 16 lifted the lead to 218 by stumps crictracker.com+6theguardian.com+6talksport.com+6. Cummins praised Carey’s resolve:

“Carey bats brilliantly with the tail… he puts the pressure back on the opposition when it seems like they are on top.”

Historic chase awaits as Day 3 beckons

A few sessions of play remain before South Africa bats again, and Bedingham is optimistic. He pointed to historical fourth‑innings chases at Lord’s, including England’s run‑chase of 277 in 2022, as proof that targets in excess of 200 are achievable foxsports.com.au+13channelnewsasia.com+13indiatoday.in+13.

“The nicks aren't carrying… I think in the fourth innings, they'll maybe come a bit straighter,” he observed channelnewsasia.com+1hindustantimes.com+1.

He urged his teammates to stick to their plans and commit fully, warning that half‑measures against an attack like Australia’s could be their undoing channelnewsasia.com+1reuters.com+1.

Day 3 forecast: Seamer battles and batting bravery

Australia, now just two wickets away from setting South Africa a target, will look to defend fiercely. Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood have the upper hand in these conditions. Cummins noted:

“The trend is the runs are coming down… we’re going to have to bowl well still in the fourth innings.” news.com.auespn.com+2foxsports.com.au+2iol.co.za+2

South Africa, by contrast, must bat far better than in their first innings. The second‑innings debutantes—bedrock batters like Bavuma and Bedingham—will be crucial. Victory would be South Africa’s first ICC trophy since 1998’s Champions Trophy iol.co.za. Bedingham summed it up:

“It is an amazing chance… there is massive belief in this team.”