- It's pack up for team India and for us. The day was full of fireworks as both the team went through the ebbs and flows, more ebbs for India but the target is yet too far to harbour high hopes. It would be up to the batter tomorrow how he taken on from there.
- Virat Kohli remained undefeated on 44 as India reached 164 for 3 at stumps on fourth day after Australia set a huge 444-run target in the final of the World Test Championship here on Saturday. Kohli and first innings hero Ajinkya Rahane (20 batting) added 71 runs for the fourth wicket as India need to score 280 runs in 90 overs on the final day.
- Shubman Gill (18), skipper Rohit Sharma (43) and Cheteshwar Pujara (27) were the Indian batters dismissed. Earlier, Australia declared their second innings at 280 for 8 with Alex Care scoring 66 not out and Ravindra Jadeja taking three wickets.
Brief Scores:
Australia: 469 and 270 for 8 declared in 84.3 overs (Alex Carey 66 not out, Mitchell Starc 41; Ravindra Jadeja 3/58).
India: 296 and 164 for 3 (Rohit Sharma 43, Virat Kohli 44 batting; Scott Boland 1/38, Nathan Lyon 1/32).
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- India has lost two wickets in a flurry in Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara. While Rohit (43) was adjudged lbw as he tried to sweep Nathan Lyon, Pujara got out uncharacteristically trying to upper cut a Cummin's delivery. He scored 27 runs.
Gill departs early as Australia set record 444-run chase for India
Australia set India a record 444-run target on a tricky pitch after Alex Carey propped up their second innings total to 270 for eight before declaring midway into the afternoon session. India kept things tight in the morning but Carey (66 not off 105) and Mitchell Starc (51 off 47) showed aggressive intent to share a 93-run stand off 120 balls for the seventh wicket.
They collected 69 valuable runs off 87 balls before Pat Cummins declared the innings after his own dismissal. The time of the declaration was questionable considering the 263 is the highest fourth innings chase at The Oval and 418 in overall Test history. Skipper Rohit Sharma (22 batting) and Shubman Gill (18) looked comfortable against Cummins and Scott Boland.
However, at the stroke of tea, Boland got one to bounce little extra from length and it flew from ball the shoulder of Gill's bat only to be lapped up by a diving Cameron Green at gully. It was the second time in the game that Green took a screamer though replay suggested it was a close call with the ball very close to the ground.
Rohit began with pull shot off Cummins before hitting him past the mid-on fielder in the following over. A crowd full of Indians really got going when Rohit pulled Mitchell Starc's second ball of the opening for a six over fine leg. In the first session, India picked up a couple of wickets but Australia chugged away to take extend their overall lead to 374 runs after reaching 201 for 6 at lunch on day four of the World Test Championship final here.
Australia had to battle hard to get 78 runs in 26 overs from the morning session. On the hottest morning of the game, the pitch continued to play plenty of tricks with both seamers and spinners being in business. Australia, who resumed the day at 123 for four, lost Marnus Labuschagne (41 off 126) in the third over of the day. The Aussie batter was not able to add to his overnight score as he edged a beauty from Umesh Yadav (2/32 in 12 overs) that pitched around off-stump and nipped away.
Considering the ball was 44 overs old, Umesh and Shami started the proceedings for India looking for reverse swing in dry and hot conditions. The ball has been taking off or skidding through from a particular spot on length from the pavilion end and that kept the batters guessing on Saturday. Mohammed Siraj, who has troubled the Aussie batters the most in the game, got one to kick off the from the spot and hit Green's right shoulder.
Ravindra Jadeja (3/45 in 18 overs) was brought into the attack after eight overs and his tactics were pretty clear: get the ball to turn sharply from outside the leg stump. The ploy worked as Green, offered a big stride in order to play a forward defensive stroke but the ball bounced a tad more and hit the glove before bouncing on to hit the stumps. Ajinkya Rahane, who was hit on the finger while batting, did not take the field as a precautionary measure.
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- India lost opener Shubman Gill to reach 41 for 1 at tea on the fourth day after Australia set an imposing target of 444, having declared their second innings at 270 for 8 in the World Test Championship final. At the break, Rohit Sharma was batting on 22 after Gill (18) edged one off Scott Boland (1/10) to Cameron Green, stationed at gully, who took a diving catch inches off the ground. Gill wasn't happy with the decision as tea was taken immediately.
- Australia had taken a massive first-innings lead of 173. Resuming at 123 for 4 on Saturday, Australia added 147 runs before skipper Pat Cummins declared the innings an hour into the post-lunch session on the fourth day. Alex Carey was the top-scorer for Australia in the second innings, scoring an unbeaten 66. Mohammed Shami (2/39), Ravindra Jadeja (3/58) and Umesh Yadav (2/54) picked up the four wickets for India on day four.
Brief Scores:
Australia: 469 and 270 for 8 declared in 84.3 overs (Alex Carey 66 not out, Mitchell Starc 41, Ravindra Jadeja 3/58).
India: 296 and 41/1 (Rohit Sharma 22 batting, Scott Boland 1/10).
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WTC final Scoreboard: India vs Australia, Tea Day 4
Australia: 469 all out and 270/8 decl
India 1st Innings: 296 all out
India 2nd Innings:
Rohit Sharma batting 22
Shubman Gill c Green b Boland 18
Extras (NB-1) 1
Fall of wickets: 1-41.
Bowling: Pat Cummins 3-0-18-0, Scott Boland 3.1-10-10-1, Mitchell Starc 1-0-13-0.
- Shubman Gill has been dismissed by Boland against, caught by Green. India loses its first wicket.
- Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill has provided a quick start to their innings so far. No movement has been witnessed so far with Rohit, in particular, playing pulls and Gill striking his signature back-foot punch. The onus is on Indian batters now.
Australia declared their second innings at 270 for 8 on day four, setting India a mammoth 444-run target to the win the World Test Championship final here on Saturday. Australia had taken a massive first-innings lead of 173. Resuming at 123 for 4 on Saturday, they added 147 runs before skipper Pat Cummins declared the innings an hour into the post-lunch session on the fourth day. Alex Carey was the top-scorer for Australia in the second innings, scoring an unbeaten 66.
Mohammed Shami (2/39), Ravindra Jadeja (3/58), Umesh Yadav (2/54) and picked up the four wickets for India on day four. Ajinkya Rahane (89) and Shardul Thakur (51) had guided India to 296 in the first innings after the top order collapsed.
Brief Scores:
Australia: 469 and 270 for 8 declared in 84.3 overs (Alex Carey 66 not out, Mitchell Starc 41, Ravindra Jadeja 3/58).
India 1st Innings: 296.
WTC final Scoreboard: India vs Australia, Day 4
Australia 1st Innings: 469 all out
India 1st Innings: 296 all out
Australia 2nd Innings (Overnight 123/4)
Usman Khawaja c Bharat b Yadav 13
David Warner c Bharat b Mohd Siraj 1
Marnus Labuschagne c Pujara b Umesh 41
Steven Smith c Thakur b Jadeja 34
Travis Head c & b Jadeja 18
Cameron Green b Ravindra Jadeja 25
Alex Carey not out 66
Mitchell Starc c Kohli b Shami 41
Pat Cummins c (sub)Axar b Shami 5
Extras: (B-9, LB-9, W-6, NB-2) 26
Total: (for 8 wickets in 84.3 overs) 270
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-24, 3-86, 4-111, 5-124, 6-167, 7-260, 8-270.
Bowling: Mohammed Shami 16.3-6-39-2, Mohammed Siraj 20-2-80-1, Shardul Thakur 8-1-21-0, Umesh Yadav 17-1-54-2, Ravindra Jadeja 23-4-58-3.
- News from Oval, Australia have declared their innings at 270-8 in the second lead, earning a massive lead of 443 runs. India needs 444 runs to win the World Test Championship title
Here's a sum-up to what has happened so far...
India picked up a couple of wickets but Australia chugged away to take extend their overall lead to 374 runs after reaching 201 for 6 at lunch on day four of the World Test Championship final. Australia had to battle hard to get 78 runs in 26 overs from the morning session with Alex Carey going strong at 41 off 61 balls. Mitchel Starc was unbeaten on 11 at the other end.
On the hottest morning of the game, the pitch continued to play plenty of tricks with both seamers and spinners being in business. Australia, who resumed the day at 123 for four, lost Marnus Labuschagne (41 off 126) in the third over of the day. The Aussie batter was not able to add to his overnight score as he edged a beauty from Umesh Yadav (2/32 in 12 overs) that pitched around off-stump and nipped away.
Considering the bowl was 44 overs old, Umesh and Shami started the proceedings for India looking for reverse swing in dry and hot conditions. The ball has been taking off or skidding through from a particular spot on length from the pavilion end and that kept the batters guessing on Saturday. Mohammed Siraj, who has troubled the Aussie batters the most in the game, got one to kick off the from the spot and hit Green's right shoulder.
Ravindra Jadeja (3/45 in 18 overs) was brought into the attack after eight overs and his tactics were pretty clear: get the ball to turn sharply from outside the leg stump. The ploy worked as Green, offered a big stride in order to play a forward defensive stroke but it bounced a tad more and hit the glove before bouncing on to hit tbe stumps. Ajinkya Rahane, who was hit on the finger while batting, did not take the field as a precautionary measure.
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- Australia remained in control of proceedings as they extended their overall lead to 374 by reaching 201 for 6 against India at lunch on the fourth day of the World Test Championship final here on Saturday. Starting the day at 123 for 4, Alex Carey (41 batting, 61 balls) and Cameron Green (25) added 43 runs for the sixth wicket after Umesh Yadav (2/32 in 12 overs) picked up the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne (41 off 126 balls) at the start of the day. Ravindra Jadeja (3/45 in 18 overs) had the best figure among the Indian bowlers as he had Green played on while trying to play a forward defensive shot.
Brief Scores:
- Australia: 469 and 201 for 6 in 70 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 41, Alex Carey 41 batting, Ravindra Jadeja 3/45).
- India 1st Innings: 296.
- Cameron Green and Alex Carey are starting to slowly forge a partnership here with Ravindra Jadeja at the other end bowling on the rough. Green is on 21, Carey on 15 as Australia takes a healthy lead.
- Rohit's gamble at starting with Umesh Yadav paid dividends as the ball angled in with a slight outside movement took Marnus Labuschagne outside edge. India will look to fold Australia at cheap hereon. He scored vital 41 runs.
Fresh days are for new beginnings and India would like to delete what happened in the first two days and take more from the spirited fight they showcased yesterday as Rahane and Thakur came to the rescue. The refurbished team, ignited largely by Siraj would look to wrap Australia up quickly and chase the impossible. Well, Good afternoon to all our readers and stay tuned for the action-packed match scenarios and all the intricate details you may need for that oxytocin hit.
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Earlier yesterday...
India's Ajinkya Rahane revived his international career with a courageous effort in seaming conditions but it could not prevent Australia from extending their supremacy in the World Test Championship final here on Friday. Playing his first Test in 18 months and with his side's back against the wall, Rahane weathered a hostile spell from Australian pacers on way to a memorable 89 off 129 balls on the third day and took India to 296 all out from 152 for six.
His 109-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Shardul Thakur (51 off 109) kept India in the game but Australia still managed to take a massive 173-run lead. At stumps, Australia extended their lead to 296 runs by reaching 123 for four in 44 overs in their second innings. Marnus Labuschagne (41 batting) and Cameron Green (7 batting) were in the middle.
The pitch continues to offer seam movement but the spinners also came into play on Friday with Ravindra Jadjea taking two wickets and reigniting the debate on R Ashwin's non-selection for the title clash. Mohammed Siraj was the standout Indian pacer once again as he got rid of David Warner (1) with a ball that seamed away from off-stump and took the edge on way to the wicketkeeper. Usman Khawaja's second failure of the game came after a loose drive off Umesh Yadav.
A rare positive from India's point of view was that Australia's first innings centurions Steve Smith (34) and Travis Head (18) departed in quick succession. Umesh made a mess of a regulation catch offered by Head at deep midwicket but Jadeja had him caught and bowled in the same over. Smith had a rare lapse in concentration and his attempted slog led to him being caught by Thakur. It will take a special effort from India to bounce back in the game but Rahane showed that runs could be scored against a formidable pace attack. His gritty innings had 11 fours and a spectacular six over fine leg off opposition captain Pat Cummins.
Rahane could not add to his tally after the lunch break, and having once again delivered in challenging overseas conditions, fell to a stunning one-handed catch by Green at gully. Rahane went through with the shot away from his body off Cummins and a diving Green plucked the flying ball out of thin air for an excellent catch. Thakur was able to get to his third half century at The Oval with a couple of straight drives off Cummins. India's tail hardly put up any resistance and the team was bowled out midway into the second session.
In the morning, Rahane stood tall amid the ruins in his comeback game as he showed remarkable skill and courage against a hostile Australian pace attack. But India remained behind in the game despite the resilience of Rahane and Thakur's much- needed support. Thakur also survived two nasty blows on his forearm and was dropped twice as India managed to score 109 runs in the 22 overs bowled in the first session.
The way Scott Boland and Cummins got the ball to kick off length in the first hour, one could sense a wicket off every ball. Boland ripped through the defense of K S Bharat on the second ball of the day as the Indian wicketkeeper had no answer to a delivery that jagged back in sharply from length. Cummins looked equally threatening from the other end and hit Thakur's forearm back-to-back with extra bounce, forcing the batter to seek the physio's intervention.
Like Thakur, Rahane too had luck going his way as he was dropped by Warner at first slip when he was on 72. After getting a few streaky boundaries, Rahane got to his fifty with a spectacular six off Cummins over fine leg. The Australian skipper angled one into his body and Rahane made room to pull it for a maximum. His best shot of the morning however was a cover drive off Green, and it came after a thick edge that flew over the slip cordon, showing that one had to take his chances on this wicket.
The final moments of the morning session were full of action. Rahane got consecutive fours off Nathon Lyon via a back foot punch and a crisp drive through the cover. The last over before lunch saw Thakur being adjudged lbw but it ended up being a no ball from Cummins. The Aussie skipper had also overstepped after trapping Rahane in front of the stumps on day two.
