🏏 WTC Final 2023, India vs Australia: Kennington Oval, London 🏏 - Page 88

AUS 469

IND 296 (69.4)

CRR: 4.26

Day 3: 2nd Session - India trail by 173 runs

Rahane's departure has opened the flood gates to Australia.

Fingers crossed for a draw at the least🤞 Team India, routing for you

2pm A superb fightback from India but Australia still ahead, and massively so. A lead of 173 is a huge one on this surface. Australia were not at their disciplined best but they were threatening enough to get India out for what is a par score on this pitch. But India's bowlers also allowed them to score well above par in the first innings. So here we are. Ten minutes later,

India bowled out for 296 and Australia have a healthy lead of 173! It would have been a bigger one had they held onto their chances in the morning session. They didn't and the two Mumbaikars - Rahane and Thakur - stitched a century partnership. At 152/6, India were in trouble and the duo batted out an entire session after losing Bharat in the second ball of the day. Cummins broke the partnership in the second over post lunch with Green taking a screamer. Thakur hung around and notched up his third fifty at the Oval in his third innings.Australia were made to toil hard and they managed to remove the last four wickets inside an hour in the middle session. Right then, two and a half days done, two and a half days left, Australia on top! Can India still stage a comeback in this WTC final? Let's find out, Australia's second essay coming up in 10 minutes...

Hardik Chordia: From 71-4 to 296-10 has been a wonderful battle from India, though may fall short.

India bowled out for 296 and Australia have a healthy lead of 173! It would have been a bigger one had they held onto their chances in the morning session. They didn't and the two Mumbaikars - Rahane and Thakur - stitched a century partnership. At 152/6, India were in trouble and the duo batted out an entire session after losing Bharat in the second ball of the day. Cummins broke the partnership in the second over post lunch with Green taking a screamer. Thakur hung around and notched up his third fifty at the Oval in his third innings. Australia were made to toil hard and they managed to remove the last four wickets inside an hour in the middle session. Right then, two and a half days done, two and a half days left, Australia on top! Can India still stage a comeback? Let's find out...

Hardik Chordia: From 71-4 to 296-10 has been a wonderful battle from India, though may fall short.

Australia are in control despite the knocks from Rahane and Shardul, 173 is a huge elad at any venue and they can look to bat India out of the contest with a strong second innings. Wickets are the key for India and they need plenty of them if they're to stay with a chance of victory.Warner and Khawaja stride out to the middle with the latter on a pair, India in a long huddle which took a good 2-3 minutes, lots of talking by Rohit I suppose - Shami with the new ball, he's coming from round the wicket, two slips and a gully in place

Khawaja and Warner are at the crease. Khawaja is on strike. Shami will open the attack

3.3 Siraj to Warner, out Caught by Srikar Bharat!! Edged and it just carries through to Srikar Bharat - Siraj provides the early breakthrough ponce again for India, on a length and it nipped away sharply from the left-hander, Warner was shaping for the back-foot cover-drive, but he can't cover for the movement, a thick outside edge is found, went low and to the left of the keeper, was hardly carrying, but Bharat does well to dive across and iun front of first slip, gets his gloves under and holds on. Warner c Srikar Bharat b Siraj 1(8)

Siraj to Warner, THATS OUT!! Caught!!