WTC Final: Kagiso Rabada takes five but Australia hit back as bowlers dominate first day

Rabada finished with figures of 5-51 in 15.4 overs as the Aussies were bowled out for 212 in the final session of the day but Australia's experienced pace trio did not give an inch away as the Proteas crawled and limped to 43-4 at the close of play.

The 30-year-old Rabada came into the contest under a cloud after testing positive for a banned substance but served a one-month ban just prior to the showpiece game at Lord's.

When Bavuma called correctly at the coin toss it was the paceman that got the ball rolling with the wicket of Usman Khawaja, caught at first slip for a duck in the seventh over after soaking up 20 balls, while the returning Cameron Green fell two balls later for just 4.

At 16-2, the experienced pair of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith strung together a stand of 30 but Marco Jansen, who did not quite his straps in his opening spell, returned to get Labuschagne to edge behind for 17.

The Proteas' first session could not have gone better when Jansen had the dangerous Travis Head strangled down the leg-side for 11 as Australia went into the lunch interval at 67-4.

Smith does not have more than 10 000 Test runs for nothing though and counter-attacked to good effect, alongside Beau Webster - playing in only his second Test - as the duo added a vital 79 for the fifth wicket.

Having looked comfortable and in control, Smith would have been gutted to fall to the part-time spin of Aiden Markram, caught by a juggling Jansen at first slip for 66.

After a scratchy and uncertain start, Webster went on to hit 11 fours and top-scored with 72 before becoming Rabada's third victim.

The fast bowler then castled Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to complete his 17th fiver in the longest format in his 71st appearance while it will be his second time on the famous Lord's honours board.

Australia currently are the defending WTC title holders and showed their mettle by striking back late in the day as left-arm paceman Starc found some good shape to remove Markram in the first over, for a duck, and Ryan Rickelton - caught in the slips  - for 16.

Wiaan Mulder, batting at number three for only for the second time  in his 19th Test, faced a tough examination before he eventually was bowled by Cummins for a painstaking six off 44 balls.

Josh Hazelwood then completed the day by bowling Tristan Stubbs (2) through the gate with skipper Bavuma at the crease on three not out and David Bedingham on an unbeaten eight.

The pair at the crease and Kyle Verreynne are the last remaining specialist batters in the Proteas line-up as they look to further reduce the deficit that currently is 169 runs.