WTC Final: Second day’s play ends, India scores 151 after losing 5 wickets

London (Best Hindu News): Australia retained their top position in the World Test Championship final against India for the second day in a row on Thursday at The Oval. He rode on Travis Head’s 163 and Steve Smith’s 121, Alex Kerridge’s 48 to take the score to 469 in the first innings as India scored 151 for five in 38 overs. Australia is still ahead by 318 runs. All five of Australia’s bowlers took a wicket each as India’s top four batsmen failed to cross the 15-run mark.

A 71-run partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja kept India afloat until off-spinner Nathan Lyon was dismissed at stumps 15 minutes later.

The final session began with Cheteshwar Pujara playing a brilliant on-drive off Scott Boland for four, before punching Cameron Green for another boundary from the off side. But Green came back as Pujara misjudged the nip-backer’s line coming from outside off-stump and saw the top of his off-stump go out for 14.

Rahane, playing his first Test since January 2022, got off the mark by cutting Boland’s short and wide delivery over the slip cordon for four, then dismissed Pat Cummins for four and caught Mitchell Starc at second slip. Sitting

Jadeja edged past the non-striker for four off Starc, while Rahane pulled off a brilliant square drive off Cummins. Rahane was lbw for 17, but replays showed that Cummins had gone ahead, giving him and India a sigh of relief, although the latter injured his thumb.

Jadeja continues to play fluently, drives and flicks Starc for two boundaries. He then drove Green through mid-off for four more and flicked Boland exceptionally for a six. Rahane played a lovely cover drive off Boland for four while Jadeja edged towards a drive. Both completed the half-century partnership.

Jadeja was dismissed for 48, Rahane and KS Bharat remained not out on 29 and 5 respectively to take India past 150 at stumps.

Brief scores: Australia 469 in 121.3 overs (Travis Head 163, Steve Smith 121, Mohammed Siraj 4/108, Shardul Thakur 2/83) India 151/5 in 38 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 48, Ajinkya Rahane 29 not out, Nathan Lyon) 1 /4, Cameron Green 1/22) trailing by 318 runs.