WTC Final Day 1 Highlights, IND vs AUS: Head, Smith power Aussies to 327/3

World Test Championships Final, India vs Australia, Day 1 Highlights: Travis Head hit his first century outside home and sixth overall as the Aussies mounted 327/3 at the end of the first day's play

11:00 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS: Day 1 Summary

 

Travis Head and Steve Smith have had a great first day in the office as the Australian duo have so far added 251 and look set to add more runs to this tally. Beginning the third session post-Tea, the Indian team was not able to able to pick any wickets and conceded 157 runs in 34 overs. While Head hit his first century outside Australia to bring up his sixth Test ton, Steve Smith got his fifty and is currently batting on 95. 

 

Earlier in the day, India's captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bowl first looking at the overcast conditions. India benefited from that as well with Mohammed Siraj getting the wicket of Usman Khawaja, the highest run-getter for Australia in this cycle of WTC for a duck. 

 

Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner went on to add 69 for the second wicket before the latter tried chasing a wide ball down the leg and got caught behind the stumps, brilliantly by KS Bharat off the bowling of Shardul Thakur. This happened just eight balls before Lunch. 

 

Post Lunch, India picked up Labuschagne early via Mohammed Shami and it seemed like the perfect opening for the Indian team to build on and get more wickets. However, Travis Head came out all guns blazing and scored 60* off just 75 balls to shift the momentum completely.

 

10:34 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: Brilliant cover drive from Smith to end the day’s play

 

The day has come to an end courtesy of a great cover drive from Steven Smith hit through the line off Mohammed Shami on the last ball of the 85th over. However, that would also be the end of the day’s play and Australia will be heading into the dressing room with all smiles. They are 327/3 with the fourth wicket partnership 251 run strong.

 

10:29 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: Highest partnership against India outside Australia

 

The current partnership of 244 between Smith and Head is now the highest-ever partnership for any wicket by Australia against India, outside Australia. The previous best was 222 between KJ Hughes and Alan Border in Chennai in 1979.

 

10:10 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: 300 up for Australia

Travis Head while facing a short ball from an Indian pacer during the WTC Final 2023. Photo: Twitter/ @RyanPierse

10:01 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: 200-run partnership between Smith and Head

10:01 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: Australia nearing 300

 

The Australian team is nearing the 300-run mark courtesy of a brilliant partnership which is now 216 runs strong. The match has gone into a lull almost with no means seeming possible fro India to get the desired wicket. 

 

9:41 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: Head marches on

 

Travis Head is heading in the direction where he could be in for some more runs. There seems to be no danger at all to his style of batting as the Indian bowlers are bowling it flat into the wicket.

 

9:19 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: Drinks break

 

The drinks have been called on India needed it badly to assemble again and strategise because a breakthrough is a must here for them to get back in the game. 

 

9:04 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: Hundred for Head

 

Travis Head has played a magnificent inning here as he has brought up his hundred in just 106 balls to put Austra,ua un a firm position. The Adelaide left-hander has hit 14 fours and a six in his innings and this his sixth Test hundred. 

 

8:50 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: Fifty up for Smith

 

Steve Smith has brought up his fifty and it has taken laborious 144 balls,. He has played the sheet anchor to Head who has gone berserk with the bat. Smith has hit seven fours in his knock. 

 

8:32 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: 200 up for the Aussies

 

The Australian team has brought up its 200 in the 59th over and with the sun blazing hard and high in the sky, the batting is only going to get easier from here on. 

 

8:19 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: 100-run partnership between Smith and Head

 

Steve Smith and Travis Head have brought up the 100-run partnership and it looks like the Indian bowlers are not finding any way to dismiss them. The partnership has now moved to 109 off 191 balls and Head has scored 71 out of those 109. 

 

8:15 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: Session 2 Summary

 

Post Lunch, India picked up Labuschagne early via Mohammed Shami and it seemed like the perfect opening for the Indian team to build on and get more wickets. However, Travis Head came out all guns blazing and scored 60* off just 75 balls to shift the momentum completely.

 

He also filled Steve Smith with confidence and as a result, the duo have added 94 off 164 balls. With an entire session to play, they would be hoping to get some more runs, while India would hope to get quick wickets. 

 

7:20 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: Fifty up for Head

 

Travis Head has brought up his fifty in just 60 balls and completely hanged the dimensions of the game. In his innings, he has so far hit nine fours, giving a really tough time to the Indian bowlers.

 

6:56 PM

WTC Final Live Score, IND vs AUS, Day 1: Head becoming ‘headache’ for India

 

Travis Head is becoming a headache for India as the batter has swiftly moved to 37 off just 36 balls. He is also giving confidence to Steve Smith as the dup has now added 65 for the fourth wicket in just 86 balls and Australia have moved to 141 in only the 38th over.