Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur led India’s fightback on Day 3 as they managed to avoid follow-on against Pat Cummins’ Australia at Kennington Oval, London. Rahane and Thakur had help from Australian slip fielders’ sloppiness in the slip cordon. India managed to post 296 on the board as Australia took a 173-run lead after first innings.
Early strike
Starting Day 3 at 151/5, Srikar Bharat got out off the first ball he faced from Scott Boland. Bharat's defense was laid bare as Boland's good length delivery nipped back and crashed into the stumps. The wicketkeeper-batter scored just five runs from 15 deliveries.
Thakur’s dropped catches, Rahane’s fifty
Thakur got an early reprieve in the same over as Usman Khawaja dropped his catch in the slip cordon. Few overs later, Thakur was also given the second chance. Cameron Green dropped a simple catch in the slips. Rahane looked to attack and got to his half-century with a massive six off Cummins' short ball. Rahane became the first Indian batter to score a half-century in WTC final.
Rahane, Thakur dominate
Rahane continued to find boundaries. After the drinks break Thakur hit the odd boundary as well. Rahane also achieved a personal milestone as he reached 5,000 Test runs. Rahane was given a second chance as well. Usually the safest in slips, David Warner dropped Rahane's catch at first slip. Thakur got the third reprieve when he was given out lbw by the umpire but upon reviewing it turned out to be a no ball. At the end of first session, India were 260/6.
Green’s acrobatic catch
Early into the second session, Cummins got the big breakthrough. Rahane missed a chance to score century as he got out after scoring 89 runs. Green pulled off a screamer diving to his right to breaking the seventh-wicket stand that lasted 109 runs. His 129-ball 89 included 11 fours and one six.
Thakur hits fifty
Umesh Yadav hit a four but missed a straight delivery from Cummins and got bowled. Mohammed Shami came in to bat and hit two consecutive fours. Thakur targetted Cummins and got to his half-century with a boundary. He took 108 deliveries to reach the fifty-run mark. Green then ended Thakur’s stay at the crease. He scored 51 runs from 109 deliveries including six fours.
Tail doesn’t wag
In the same over, Green pitched it up and umpire raised his finger. Siraj immediately reviewed and it showed a clear spike when the ball passed the bat. Mitchell Starc came back into the attack and banged one short of length. Shami went for the pull shot but it hit his glove and was caught by wicketkeeper Carey. India got all out for 296 as Australia took a 173-run lead.
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