INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: India's Ravindra Jadeja showcased his prowess with the ball, claiming two prized wickets in a thrilling third day's play at The
However, Australia managed to stay in control of the World Test Championship final despite a display riddled with errors on Friday.Jadeja's
scalps were the first-innings centurions, Steve Smith and Travis Head
Nevertheless, the third day witnessed dropped catches, wickets off no-balls, and rash shots, culminating with Australia finishing at 123/4
in their second innings, a commanding lead of 296 runs.As it happened: WTC Final, Day 3Facing an uphill battle, India suffered an early
setback when Scott Boland dismantled Srikar Bharat's stumps with just the second ball of the day
With a deficit of 317 runs and only four wickets remaining in their first innings, India's prospects appeared grim
However, Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur capitalised on Australia's mistakes during a resilient seventh-wicket partnership of 109
runs.1/11WTC Final: Australia heap misery on floundering IndiaPreviousNextShow CaptionsPat Cummins produced a vicious bowling onslaught to
leave India battered and bruised as Australia took a 296-run lead on Day 3 of the WTC final at The Oval on Friday
Australia's four-man pace attack claimed nine wickets between them to dismiss India for 296 in their first innings, with captain Cummins
Ajinkya Rahane top scored for India with 89, while Shardul Thakur survived some painful hits to his arm to contribute 51
The morning session got off to a painful start for India when Scott Boland dislodged KS Bharat's stumps with the second ball of the day
While Thakur lived dangerously, Rahane went about rescuing India's hopes with his mix of delectable shot selection in the 109-run
partnership for the seventh wicket
Rahane followed up an exquisite four with a belter of a six to bring up his 26th Test 50 and crossed 5,000 Test runs during his knock which
included 11 fours and a six
Rahane fell 11 runs short of scoring a century after Cummins had him caught by Green and Thakur steered India past the follow-on target
before bringing up his 50 with a four
Thakur soon fell after he edged a Green delivery straight into the gloves of wicketkeeper Alex Carey
Umesh Yadav (5), Thakur (51) and Mohammed Shami (13) were out in quick succession as India lost their last four wickets for 35 runs
Australia's two first-innings century-makers fell to Ravindra Jadeja as Steve Smith (34) skied a catch to Thakur, while Travis Head (18) was
Rahane exhibited fine form with a knock of 89, while Thakur contributed a vital half-century
Their performance propelled India past the follow-on total before eventually being dismissed for 296.Australian captain Pat Cummins was
instrumental for India's fall in their first innings, taking 3/83 in his 20 overs
However, his figures could have been even more impressive had it not been for six no-balls
Australia's scorecard showed 2/1 when David Warner, under pressure after a string of underwhelming innings, was caught behind off Mohammed
Siraj.Usman Khawaja, Warner's opening partner, failed to make a significant contribution for the second time in the match
On 13, he carelessly edged a wide delivery from Umesh Yadav to wicketkeeper Bharat, becoming his first wicket of the final.Left-arm spinner
Ravindra Jadeja then stepped up, removing the dangerous duo of Smith and Head
However, both batsmen played a part in their own dismissals
Smith, who had spent over five-and-a-half hours at the crease for his first-innings century, gifted his wicket for 34 by skying a drive off
Head, the architect of Australia's strong position in the final with his dynamic 163, continued his aggressive approach but fell for a
quickfire 18 as he miscued a shot against the turn, offering Jadeja a straightforward return catch.At 111/4, Australia held a lead of 284
runs against an Indian side that missed the services of Ravichandran Ashwin, the top-ranked Test bowler
Ashwin was omitted in favour of an additional seamer.During the course of the match, both Rahane and Thakur endured painful blows
Furthermore, Thakur was dropped twice while still in single figures, including a straightforward chance put down by Cameron Green at gully
off Cummins' bowling.In an eventful session before lunch, Thakur survived an lbw appeal off Cummins as the batsman's review revealed a
Rahane, who had previously escaped an lbw dismissal thanks to another Cummins no-ball, reached his half-century off just 92 balls with a
beautifully timed six, prompting thunderous cheers from the Indian fans among the sun-drenched crowd of over 25,000.However, Rahane's hopes
of reaching a century in his first Test in over a year were dashed when a brilliant diving catch by Cameron Green in the gully off Cummins'
delivery removed him for 89.As the WTC final heads into its final stages, Australia maintain their dominant position despite the resistance
put up by India and the impact made by Jadeja.(With inputs from AFP)
