UNITED KINGDOM: It was a perfect start for Australia (AUS) on day 3 as Scott Boland removed Srikar Bharat on the very first over of the day. This left India (IND) struggling 152/6. It was getting tough for India to even score 200 runs on the same wicket where AUS scored 469 runs.
Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur then saved IND by adding 108 runs together for the 7th wicket. The partnership came out to be frustrating for AUS. Although Thakur and Rahane had their fair chances of luck, it cannot be denied that the partnership was brilliant.
The partnership was finally broken by Pat Cummins as Rahane got a thick outside edge, and Cameron Green converted it into a wicket by taking an outstanding catch at the slips.
Rahane played well-fought 89-run innings; he deserved a century the way he played. His innings consisted of 11 boundaries and a six. Thakur, on the other hand, scored a gutsy 51 off 109 balls. On a wicket where pure batsmen are struggling to play 25 balls, a lower-order player comes and shows how to stay on the wicket by facing more than 100 deliveries.
After the dismissal of Rahane and Thakur, IND slipped quickly and was bowled out for 269 in their first innings, but they saved the follow on. This gave Australia a healthy lead of 173 and an edge over IND. Cummins took 3 wickets, while Starc, Boland, and Green took 2 wickets each.
The Australian second inning started cautiously, but soon, Mohammed Siraj removed David Warner to give IND an early breakthrough. Siraj was bowling well and was constantly asking questions to Australian batsmen.
After some tight overs, Umesh Yadav dismissed Usman Khawaja, and AUS was now 24/2. This could have been a turning point for IND to come back in the game again if bowlers had bowled tight lengths.
Steven Smith came to the crease and gathered some quick runs by scoring at a healthy strike rate which opened the Indian field. He scored 34 runs before getting out to Ravindra Jadeja, who was trying to come down the wicket and hit.
Marnus Labuschagne was taking his time in the wicket, and he also got a couple of blows from Siraj on his gloves. But he kept on batting and survived. After batting for a while, AUS passed the 100-run mark, and the lead became 296 runs.
India needs magic from here to win the game.
Day 3: IND (1st inning)- 296/10
AUS (2nd Innings)- 123/4
M.Labuschagne: 41* (118), C.Green:7* (27)
R.Jadeja: 2/25, U.Yadav: 1/21
Also Read: WTC Final IND Vs AUS: Australia on Front Foot as India Trails by 318 Runs on Day 2
