WTC Final Day 3 Highlights: India still in it; Australia 123/4, lead by 296

World Test Championship Final, India vs Australia Day 3 Highlights: India fought back hard as they not only got to 296 after being 151/6 early morning, but have held Australia at 123/4 with lead 296

11:14 PM

This is where the game stands at the end of Day 3 in WTC Final 2023

11:13 PM

Nearly 35 overs have been wasted so far in this match

 

If we look at the day-wise play in the WTC Final 2023 will show that a total of 34 overs have been lost due to timing, innings change and other things. On the first day, 85 overs were bowled and only one team batted. On the second day, only 74.3 overs were bowled. This meant a loss of nearly 15 overs. This is because Australia batted for 36.3 overs and India batted 38 overs on the same day. 

 

And now on the third day of play, India started its innings from the 39th over onwards and went on to play 30.4 more overs. Australia played 44 overs, making yet another day with only 75 overs of play possible. As a result, nearly 35 overs have been lost so far in the game. Though overs are always lost during the innings break, 35 overs is a huge number. 

 

10:56 PM

Why India will be the happier team at the end of Day 3?

 

India will be the happier of the two teams heading back to the dressing room at the end of the third day's play in the World Test Championship Final at the Kennington Oval. Why should this be the case even as Australia have a lead of 296 runs and are 123/4 with Cameron Green and Marnus Labuschagne at the crease? It is because the day belonged to India. 

 

After losing Kona Bharat in the first over, Ajinkya Rahane partnered Shardul Thakur to bring the Aussie lead below 200 which was 318 at the start of the day with only four wickets left. Both players scored half-centuries. 

 

The tail though didn't wag much, but they shone with the ball, removing Warner early on. Khawaja failed in the second innings too. The centurions from the first innings, Steve Smith and Travis Head played rash shots to get out and Australia now, do not have anyone to rely upon.

 

Carey did score 48 in the first innings, but other than him no one looked in great touch. So, if Indian bowlers come out firing all cylinders on Day 4 and restrict Australia below 200, it could be game on. 

 

10:35 PM

IND vs AUS Day 3 Live Score: Almost got Green here

 

Mohammed Shami beat Marnus early in the over by almost cutting him in half. But he nearly got him on the fifth ball of the last over of the day as Green almost chopped it on. But he survives and so does Australia as the day ends with their score at 123/4 and the lead 296 runs strong. 

 

Australia Live Score 123/4, Lead by 296 runs

 

10:28 PM

Moment of the day has to be Marnus waking up to find that he must go and bat

10:26 PM

WTC Final Live Blog: This one’s interesting

10:21 PM

What would Australia like to have from here on?

 

The last half an hour of play is in progress and the first thing that Australia would like is, not to lose any more wickets. Although 15 pavers are to be completed, hardly five of them would be. In those five, they would like to get past 130 if possible and then try and add 120 runs the next morning to get the target beyond 400 and then attack the Indian batters from ball one in the fourth innings. 

 

Australia Live Score 120/4, Lead by 293 runs

 

10:15 PM

What is the logic behind Australia playing the way they are?

 

It is very hard to comprehend Australia’s approach so far in the second innings. Leading by 173 runs, they should have gone gung-ho from the start and tried to get 250 runs as quickly as possible. 

 

However, after losing Warner early, they slowed down. Khawaja chased a wide one to get caught by the keeper. Smith stepped out to a short ball and got caught. Head, even after being dropped two balls ago, kept on the attacking approach and hit one back to the bowler. Yes, a left-hander got caught and bowled against a left-arm orthodox spinner. 

 

Australia Live Score 116/4, Lead by 289 runs

 

10:08 PM

Umesh Yadav drops, but Jadeja doesn’t as Head is removed

 

It seems like Australia are trying to achieve something that is very hard to decipher by people. They are attacking the Indian bowlers vehemently, but unfortunately not succeeding. Head hit one with the spin and almost got caught at deep mid-wicket by Umesh Yadav who dropped it. But two balls later he played it straight back to the bowler and Jadeja didn’t drop. 

 

Australia Live Score 112/4, Lead by 285 runs

 

9:42 PM

Perfect description by Harsha Bhogle

9:37 PM

Steve Smith bites the dust

 

Steve Smith, who was batting an aggressive approach has been removed by Ravindra Jadeja. It was a shot that Smith would not play even in his nightmares in Test cricket. He went down the ground way ahead of the ball being bowled, Jadeja shortened it and Smith, without reaching the pitch of the ball, went ahead with a slog, and got caught by Thakur near mid-off. Smith is out for 34 off 47.

 

Australia Live Score 87/3, Lead by 260 runs

 

8:57 PM

Steve Smith complaints, man in red T-Shirt is asked to change seats

 

Steve Smith, who hit a century in the first innings, complained of distraction by a man wearing a red T-Shirt and sitting in the stands, straight off the pitch. The man was eventually taken to a different seat by the authorities. The duke ball is also red and that’s why the distraction complain by Smith. 

 

Australia Live Score 62/2, Lead by 235 runs

 

8:54 PM

Australia past 50, Smith applies the aggressive approach

 

The Australian team has gone past the 50-run mark in the second innings and the lead has increased to 229 runs. Steve Smith has shown aggressive intent and as a result, Labuschagne too is looking to score quickly.

 

Australia Live Score 56/2, Lead by 229 runs

 

8:24 PM

Umesh concedes runs just after the wicket

 

India needed to tighten the screw on the Aussies after the wicket of Khawaja, however, Umesh ended up giving away seven on the next two balls, going for a three and a four back-to-back by Steve Smith and Labuschagne. 

 

Australia Live Score 31/2, Lead by 204 runs

 

8:21 PM

Umesh Yadav finally strikes, and Khawaja’s game over

 

Usman Khawaja, the highest run scorer for Australia in the World Test Championship 2021-23, would be walking back to the pavilion thinking what he had done. 21 dot balls and the pressure built on, and he threw his bat on the ball wide outside off from Unmesh Yadav and he nicked it to Kona Bharat behind the stumps. Umesh Yadav gets his first wicket of the match.