- India and Australia are competing in the 2021-23 ICC World Test Championship final, which is being played in England’s Oval.
- After being asked to bat first, Australia scored 469 runs.
- India scored 296 runs in their first innings.
- At the end of Day 3, Australia are 123/4, enjoying a lead of 296 runs.
- Marnus Labuschagne is unbeaten on 41.
One-Two-Three-For-Four.
No, we are not returning to pre-school, this is Australia’s scorecard at the end of Day 3. Analyzing the day’s play, it will be tough to predict who of the two teams will be happy.
India resumed on overnight 151/5, but Ajinkya Rahane (89) and Shardul Thakur (51) combined 109 runs for the seventh wicket which helped their team avoid follow-on at The Oval.
However, India promptly lost the remaining wickets after the lunch break, bringing the total to 296 all out in 69.4 overs.
Captain Cummins picked up 3 wickets for Australia while there were 2 wickets apiece for Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Cameron Green.
Australia scored 123/4 at stumps in their second innings on Friday, extending their overall lead against India to 296 runs. Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green were batting on 41 and 7, respectively.
The main question for tomorrow will be Australia’s tactics. Will they go all out to take the lead to over 400 runs and declare around lunchtime? Will they, on the other hand, try to play it out cautiously in order to avoid a possible collapse? And, most significantly, when will they consider declaring if India does not take the remaining six wickets soon?
Brief scores
Australia: 469 and 123/4 in 44 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 41*; Ravindra Jadeja 2/15).
India 1st innings: 296 all out in 69.4 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 89, Shardul Thakur 51, Ravindra Jadeja 48; Pat Cummins 3/83).
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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