Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur’s gutsy half-centuries helped India stay in the hunt against Australia in World Test Championship (WTC) final. After avoiding follow-on, Indian bowlers took four wickets on Day 3. At the end of day’s play Australia had a 296-run lead as they are still dominating the proceedings.
Siraj strikes early
With a 273-run lead in the bag, Australian openers came out to bat and India needed early wickets. Mohammed Siraj drew first blood as David Warner edged one to wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat on the third ball of fourth over. Warner scored just a single. Labuschagne was once again troubled Siraj as he copped a few blows on his finger due to extra bounce. At the end of second session, Australia were 23/1.
Umesh finally strikes, Smith errs
Umesh Yadav got his first wicket of the Test in the second over he bowled in second innings. Usman Khawaja edged one to Bharat as he played a loose shot away from his body. The opener scored just 13 runs from 39 balls. Labuschagne and Steve Smith found a few boundaries and Rohit was forced to introduced Ravindra Jadeja into the attack. Jadeja troubled the batters and did not let them score easy runs. Smith decided to step down the wicket and threw his wicket away. Smith got caught by Thakur inside the 30-yard circle. He scored 34 runs from 47 balls including three fours. This was the eighth time Jadeja dismissed Smith in Test cricket.
Jadeja achieves major feat after Head’s wicket
Travis Head showed attacking intent from the start. He was dropped by Mohammed Shami at deep mid-wicket but it did not turn out to be expensive. Head stepped down the track as well but the extra bounce got the better of him. Jadeja took the catch on followthrough. Head scored 18 runs from 27 balls including two sixes. With Head's wicket, Jadeja surpassed Bishan Singh Bedi to become India's highest wicket-taker as left-arm spinner in Test cricket. Labuschagne and Cameron Green stayed in the middle till the end of Day's play as Australia's score read 123/4 with a 296-run lead. Labuschagne remained unbeaten for 41 off 118 balls whereas Green scored seven runs.
Australia drop too many
Earlier, India lost the wicket of Srikar Bharat off the first ball he faced. Scott Boland beat him with a delivery that went through his defense and crashed into stumps. After Bharat’s wicket, Australian fielders erred in the slip cordon as they dropped two catches of Thakur and one of Rahane. Skipper Pat Cummins overstepped too on the wicket delivery once again to give Thakur a third lifeline.
Rahane, Thakur’s fifties help India post 296
Rahane got to his half-century and looked to score quickly as conditions favoured the batters. Credit to sloppy fielding, India dominated the first session. Rahane was unlucky to miss his century as Green took a spectacular catch diving to his right. Cummins got the big breakthrough. Rahane scored 89 runs from 129 deliveries including 11 fours and a six. Cummins followed it up with Umesh’s wicket. Thakur got to his half-century as well. This was his third consecutive half-century at the Oval, equalling Don Bradman and Allan Border's feat. Green got the wicket of Thakur who scored 51 runs from 109 deliveries including six fours. Shami contributed with two fours in his 13-run knock as India posted 296 in first innings.
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