WTC Final 2023, Day 4: The final of the World Test Championship between India and Australia remains tantalizingly poised at the end of Day 4, with all still to play for on the last day.
Day 4 started with Australia firmly in command, resuming the day on 123/4 with a commanding lead of 296 runs. That soon became 124/5 as Umesh Yadav removed Marnus Labuschagne early in the day’s play. Cameron Green was then joined in the middle by Alex Carey and the duo were starting to look at ease when Green was bowled by Jadeja for 25.
Australia Set Mammoth Target of 444 Runs
Green’s wicket brought Mitchell Starc to the crease and the left-arm pacer, together with fellow southpaw Carey, stitched together an extremely beneficial partnership that frustrated the Indian bowlers. They had put on 93 runs before Starc was finally dismissed for an extremely well-compiled 41 off 57 balls. Captain Pat Cummins then joined Carey in the middle as he looked to extend his side’s lead, only to perish for 5 with his side’s score at 270/8. This was enough for Cummins and Australia, 443 runs ahead at this stage, as they declared and set India an improbable total of 444 to win. Carey ended up as the top-scorer in the innings, finishing unbeaten on 66 off 105 balls.
With a mountain to climb, the Indian openers set off in an aggressive fashion, maintaining a run rate of over six in the first few overs. However, their flurry of runs was halted in the eighth over, as Scott Boland induced the edge from Shubman Gill and Cameron Green took a low catch in the gully region. There was some controversy over whether Green had full control of the ball as he took the catch and the decision was referred to the third umpire, who ruled in the fielding side’s favour.
India Downed by 3 Wickets Despite Terrific Innings Start
Rohit Sharma and experienced middle-order batter Cheteshwar Pujara carried on scoring runs at a fair clip as the pitch seemed to aid the batters with the passage of time. However, Australia landed a double blow in consecutive overs to halt the Indian momentum. First, Lyon trapped Rohit Sharma leg before wicket in the 20th over, with the Indian skipper falling for 43 off 60 balls. Pujara followed in the next over, attempting an uncharacteristically loose uppercut but only managing to nick a short-pitched delivery from Cummins through to the keeper.
With India in trouble at 93/3, Virat Kohli was joined by Ajinkya Rahane in the middle, and the experienced duo calmed things down with some sensible batting. Kohli and Rahane left good balls alone and punished the bad ball when it came and remained together when stumps were called with India on 164/3. Kohli looked in excellent touch on 44 off 60 balls, with Rahane, nursing an injured finger following his exploits in the first innings, batting on 20 off 59.
With a mount-watering Day 5 in prospect, India requires 280 runs to win, while Australia, with the tie slightly favouring them at this stage, needs to take seven wickets as both teams aim to win the World Test Championship trophy for the first time in their history.
WTC Final 2023 Day 4 Highlights:
Brief Scores: India 296 & 164/3 (Virat Kohli 44*, Rohit Sharma 43, Nathan Lyon 1-32) need 280 to win vs.Australia 469 & 270/8 Decl. (Alex Carey 66*, Mitchell Starc 41, Ravindra Jadeja 3-58)
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