AUSTRALIA v INDIA, 2023 World Test Championship closing, The Oval, London – Day Four on Saturday.
SCORE: India (296 and 3-164) want 280 runs to beat Australia (469 and 8-270 declared) with seven second-innings wickets standing.
SUMMARY: Australia are nonetheless favourites to raise the ICC mace as world Test champions after grabbing three important wickets on a compelling, sun-baked penultimate day on this very good closing – however the nice Virat Kohli is maintaining Indian goals flickering. Set a world-record 444 to win, India attacked with brio earlier than Cameron Green’s newest superb one-handed catch, hotly disputed across the floor by 1000’s of India followers, to bag the harmful Shubman Gill earned the important thing breakthrough. Nathan Lyon halted Rohit Sharma (43) earlier than Cheteshwar Pujara bought out to an uncharacteristic uppercut tickle off Pat Cummins. But Kohli (44no), aided ably by one other cussed ex-captain Ajinkya Rahane (20no), was batting like a magician on a mission. Earlier, Alex Carey, with an unbeaten 66, and Mitchell Starc, with a brisk late 41, had carried out most to arrange Cummins’ declaration which has left all outcomes nonetheless doable on this beguiling advert for Test cricket.
PLAYER OF THE MOMENT: Lyon wanted simply 5 balls to tempt captain Rohit into an ill-advised sweep of 1 that pitched on center and straightened a fraction. His Test wicket quantity 484 was a significant intervention, with Rohit trying significantly threatening.
KEY MOMENT: Was it or wasn’t it? Indian followers, dominating at The Oval, reckoned the ball had scraped the bottom when Green stretched out his large left hand to scoop what appeared a breakthrough catch off Scott Boland. To most neutrals, although, it simply seemed like sheer brilliance – and the third umpire agreed.
STAT OF THE DAY: Zero. The variety of occasions Alex Carey performed the dreaded reverse sweep that had beforehand bought him out on 4 events in 16 makes an attempt this 12 months in opposition to India. Finishing 66 not out instructed admirable restraint labored for the wicketkeeper-batter.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Rubbish shot yesterday, Steve.” – Virat Kohli’s cheery apart to Steve Smith, overheard by Justin Langer, to which Australia’s genius may solely agree with India’s genius.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
