Australia remain on top despite spirited India fightback on Day 3

Counter-attacking half-centuries from Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur and an improved bowling display helped India produce a spirited fightback on day three of the ICC World Test Championship Final at the Oval. However, despite their impressive comeback, Australia retained their firm grip on the Test, bowling India out for under 300 before growing their lead to 296 at the close of play with six wickets in hand.

Resuming their innings on 152 for 5 on day three, India lost KS Bharat on the second ball of the morning as Scott Boland cleaned up the wicket-keeper with a probing delivery. The Men in Blue were in danger of conceding the follow-on after Bharat’s dismissal, but Shardul Thakur and Ajinkya Rahane combined to lead India’s fightback with a counter-attacking century stand.

The pair were peppered on the body and fingers by the relentless Australian pace attack but hit back with some aggressive stroke play to score 109 runs in the opening session. The duo also enjoyed a large slice of luck. Three catches went down in the cordon before Lunch, while Cummins picked up his second wicket of a no-ball in the match, with the skipper found guilty of over-stepping after rapping Shardul Thakur on the pads.

Rahane’s knock was filled with eye-catching cover drives off pace and spin, but the 35-year-old fell 11 runs short of his 13th Test ton, edging a wide delivery from Pat Cummins to Cameron Green at gully. Shardul Thakur, meanwhile, brought up his third consecutive half-century at the Oval in whites, but departed soon after as Australia wiped off the final three wickets for just 35 runs to restrict India to 296 in their first innings.

Leading by 173, Australia lost David Warner early on with Mohammed Siraj finding the left-hander’s outside edge in the third over. Usman Khawaja departed in a similar fashion after the Tea break, nicking off against Umesh Yadav for 13, before Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne stabilised the innings to prevent any collapse against the new ball.

The pair put on a half-century stand as the runs began to flow easily, but Smith threw his wicket away against the run of play to give India a lifeline before stumps. The number four was deceived by the extra turn after dancing down the track against Ravindra Jadeja, top-edging to Shardul Thakur at point to depart for 34. Jadeja also took a return catch to end Travis Head’s entertaining stay at the crease, before Cameron Green and Marnus Labuschagne saw Australia through till the close of play, growing their advantage to 296.