Clinical Australia clinch maiden WTC title

Australia rounded off their clinical showing against India in the ICC World Test Championship Final at the Oval with a ruthless performance on day five, dismissing Rohit Sharma’s side for just 234 in the fourth innings to complete a resounding 209-run victory. Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon provided the key breakthroughs for Australia on the final morning, running through the Indian batting line-up to help Pat Cummins’ side clinch their maiden ICC World Test Championship title.

Having topped the standings throughout the WTC cycle, Australia become just the second team after New Zealand to be crowned World Test Champions, while India fall at the final hurdle for the second time in a row, extending their trophyless run in ICC competitions.

The Men in Blue began the fifth morning with a daunting 280 runs still required and just seven wickets in hand. Although the dream of an unlikely victory remained with Virat Kohli still at the crease, India’s hopes lasted just half an hour on the final day as the chase master added just five runs to his overnight score. Kohli was caught guilty of poking at another wide delivery that could have been left alone, edging Boland to Steve Smith at second slip, who took a sharp two-handed catch to kickstart Australia’s march on the final day.

Two balls later, Boland produced another peach to see the back of Ravindra Jadeja, getting the ball to angle in before seaming away and taking the outside edge through to Alex Carey behind the stumps.

Boland’s twin strikes ended any chances of an Indian miracle, with the remaining five wickets falling before Lunch to complete Australia’s victory. Just like in India’s first innings, Ajinkya Rahane offered some resistance, driving Mitchell Starc down the ground with immaculate precision to give the fans in blue something to cheer.

Unfortunately, the smiles didn’t last long as Rahane pushed at one away from his body in Starc’s next over, feathering a catch to Alex Carey on 46. Starc delivered another snorter to remove Umesh Yadav, while Nathan Lyon did the rest, wrapping up the Indian tail. The off-spinner pinned Shardul Thakur on the pads with a beauty before removing KS Bharat and Mohammed Siraj in successive overs, rounding up the Indian innings for 234 to complete Australia’s resounding win by 209 runs.

Victory for Australia adds to their envious silverware cabinet, supplementing their six ODI and T20I World Cup trophies with their first WTC final win, and Pat Cummins’ side will look to build on this success this summer as they look to retain the Ashes against England.