Pat Cummins breaks Lord's record with 300th Test wicket as Labuschagne's screamer sparks collapse

Marnus Labuschagne might be struggling with the bat, but his value in the field was on show after he snared a screamer to dismiss South Africa's Temba Bavuma and help Pat Cummins on his way to 300 wickets.

The Proteas skipper had worked hard to get to 36 after starting the day on 3.

Early in the first session he was given out lbw but had it overturned via DRS when ultra edge showed a spike next to his edge.

READ MORE: NRL star suspects 'rat' in Maroons ranks ruining 'tight ship'

READ MORE: Rivals rejected as Collingwood lock up cult hero

READ MORE: Roosters rocked by fresh blow as star set for surgery

However, his innings ended in the 40th over when he tried to drive Pat Cummins through the covers but Labuschagne dived to his right and snaffled the ball.

"Labuschagne who's a fantastic athlete shows that athleticism, brilliant, really good, they needed something special to break the partnership and Labuschagne provides that," Nasser Hussain said on Amazon Prime.

Bavuma's departure meant South Africa were 5-94 after he combined for a 54-run partnership with David Bedingham.

Apart from the delivery prior to his dismissal, South Africa's captain hadn't faced a ball for two overs.

Ravi Shastri suggested the mistimed cover drive was due to him being "over-anxious".

"He'd not got the strike for some time, he'd faced five of the last 26 deliveries," he said.

"So he wanted to move on."

Hussain continued by praising the anticipation of Labuschagne at cover.

"Look at the position Labuschagne's in, he's not standing up tall, he was crouching down low expecting, anticipating it ... an exceptional catch, brilliant technique," he said.

"What I like about Labuschagne is before the catch, if you watch him prepare for a delivery ... he's already getting low like a goalkeeper expecting a penalty.

"He does that every single ball in the field and that for me is a sign of somebody who wants to be involved in the field."

Afer Bavuma's wicket, Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne combined for 32 runs before the latter was gone. Verreynne was initially given not out for an lbw shout but Australia reviewed.

Comically, the keeper-batter was running down the wicket and collided with Cummins as he appealed.

He then walked off the pitch following a successful review.

Cummins struck three balls later, taking a catch off his own bowling to send Marco Jansen on his way.

Bedingham departed for 45, caught behind for Cummins' fifth wicket before Keshav Maharaj was then run out by Travis Head.

Cummins then snared his 300th Test wicket, as Beau Webster caught Kagiso Rabada on the boundary, to have South Africa bowled out for 138.

"Stunning figures for Pat Cummins ... what a performance," Ravi Shastri said.

Cummins' 6-28 means he now holds the records for best Test bowling figures by a captain at Lord's. Bob Willis previously held the title since 1992 after his 6-101 against India.

"Way more than I could've asked for," Cummins said post-innings.

"(I'm) really happy. For any fast bowler 300 is a big number, it means you battled through injuries and niggles and played well in different conditions, so I'm pretty happy."