London, June 12 (Reporter) The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s remains tantalisingly poised a fter an action-packed second day that saw bowlers dominate, with both Pat Cummins and Kagiso Rabada putting on masterclasses for their respective sides. Australia skipper Cummins delivered a sensational spell of 6/28 — the best figures by a Test captain at Lord’s — to bowl out South Africa for a paltry 138 in reply to Australia's first-innings 212, giving his side a 74-run lead. Cummins’ performance marked his 14th five-wicket haul and moved him to joint-second for most five-fors as a Test captain, alongside legends like Bishan Singh Bedi. But just when it seemed Australia had seized control of the final, the South Africa pace attack, led by Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, stormed back into the contest. Rabada and Ngidi shared six wickets between them as Australia collapsed to 144/8 in their second innings by stumps, with only Mitchell Starc (16*) and Nathan Lyon (1*) remaining at the crease. With a slender lead of 218 and just two wickets in hand, the Australians will hope their tail can stretch the advantage further on Day 3, even as the Proteas eye a manageable chase to claim the WTC mace. The morning session began with a flurry as South Africa captain Temba Bavuma (36) briefly counter-attacked with flair, including a six off Cummins, before Marnus Labuschagne’s spectacular diving catch turned the tide. David Bedingham (45) offered resistance, but Cummins’ relentless precision dismantled the rest of the batting order. Only two other Proteas reached double digits. In Australia’s second innings, Rabada was again at his ruthless best, removing Usman Khawaja (6) and Cameron Green (0) in quick succession. Marco Jansen got Labuschagne (22) caught behind, while Ngidi snared the key wicket of Steve Smith (13). Travis Head (9) and Alex Carey (41) tried to rally, but wickets continued to tumble under sustained pressure from the South African seamers. Carey’s late resistance with Starc kept Australia afloat, ensuring the final remains in the balance heading into a pivotal third day. With both sides locked in a battle of attrition, the WTC Final is shaping up to be a classic. The match concludes a riveting WTC cycle — South Africa having stormed into the final after winning seven consecutive Tests, and Australia aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since the championship’s inception in 2019...////...