- India and Australia are competing in the 2021-23 ICC World Test Championship final, which is being played in England’s Oval.
- India are 151/5 at the end of Day 2, with Ajinkya Rahane and KS Bharat at the crease.
- Ravindra Jadeja top-scored for India with a 51-ball 48.
- Australia scored 469 runs after being asked to bat first.
- Travis Head and Steve Smith scored centuries, whilst for India, Mohammed Siraj picked up a four-wicket haul.
Australia will wear a contented smile as the day’s action draws to a close. Smith and Head seamlessly continued their impressive form from the previous day, scoring 100 and 150, respectively, in the early hours. The Indian bowlers, however, swiftly managed to dismiss them, injecting a glimmer of hope into the team India’s prospects.
Adding to the fireworks, Alex Carey delivered a swift 48 runs to propel Australia to a total score of 469.
Responding in kind, India kicked off with Rohit and Gill showcasing their aggressive intent. Nevertheless, the Australian bowlers strategically aimed at the stumps, displaying remarkable precision. Cummins executed a masterful delivery that caught the captain LBW, the ball artfully jagging back in. Boland compelled Gill to misjudge a deceptive delivery, which elegantly seamed in and struck the top of the off stump. Pujara soon followed suit, falling prey to a cunning delivery from Green that seamed in and decisively hit the off stump.
Kohli found himself compelled to engage with a back-of-length ball from Starc, yet the added bounce led to an unfortunate meeting between the ball and the bat’s shoulder, nestling securely into the awaiting hands of Steve Smith at slip. As Rahane and Jadeja attempted to forge a partnership, Nathan Lyon skillfully spun and bounced the ball, successfully claiming an edge of Jadeja’s bat that was expertly taken by slip fielder Smith, leaving no room for error.
India’s situation appears dire, and they can only hope that the current pair of Rahane and KS Bharat manages to accumulate as many runs as possible in the upcoming morning to salvage their standing in the game.
Stay tuned and accompany us for live updates from Day 3 of the final match tomorrow, as the action unfolds.
Brief scores
Australia 1st innings: 469 all out in 121.3 overs (Travis Head 163, Steve Smith 121; Mohammed Siraj 2/122, Shardul Thakur 2/83).
India: 151/5 in 38 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 29*, Ravindra Jadeja 48; Nathan Lyon 1/4).
Playing XI
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
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