On Stumps Day 4 of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023, India need 280 runs against Australia to win the championship at the Kennington Oval in London.
The day started decently for the Australians as their batters played Indian bowlers cautiously in the morning session, scoring only 78 runs for the cost of two wickets. Post lunch, they batted significantly more aggressively, with Alex Carey (66*) and Mitchell Starc (41) contributing 93 runs for the seventh wicket partnership, allowing Pat Cummins to declare with one and a half sessions remaining in the day.
The Indian openers, Rohit Sharma (43) and Shubman Gill (18) scored quickly in response to a challenging total. Soon after, Cameron Green grabbed a controversial screamer at gully to dismiss Gill at the stroke of tea. In the last session, however, India kept the scoreboard ticking as Rohit and Cheteshwar Pujara (27) looked in fine form. Nonetheless, the Indian captain was struck by Nathon Lyon in the opening over with a sweep shot, and Pujara followed him in the following over with an uncommon shot. Australia were once again on the front foot in the innings but the chase master Virat Kohli (44) along with Ajinkya Rahane (20) assured that there would be no additional setbacks. They batted really well together, combining for 71 runs.
It was a tense day at the Oval and now there is one day left in this ultimate final. The equation is as follows: Australia need seven wickets and India need 280 runs.
Stumps called with Kohli, Rahane keeping India in the hunt! 👊
— ICC (@ICC) June 10, 2023
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Scorecard:
1st Innings:
Australia: 469/10, Overs 121.3, Travis Head 163, Mohammad Siraj 4/108
India: 296/10, Overs 69.4, Ajinkya Rahane 89, Pat Cummins 3/83
2nd Innings:
Australia: 270/8d, Overs 84.3, Alex Carey 66*, Ravindra Jadeja 3/58
India: 164/3, Overs 40, Virat Kohli 44*, Nathan Lyon 1/32