The ICC World Test Championship Final 2023 has seen its fourth day of play and the competition is now more intense than ever. The day started with Australia adding quick runs to their total and declaring their second innings at 270 for 8. India lost their top three in the chase, and were 164 for 3 at the end of the day’s play, in pursuit of a mammoth target of 444.
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India went into the morning session with the objective of keeping Australia’s scoring rate under control while also inflicting further damage to their wickets column. Thanks to disciplined bowling, Australia didn’t take off with their lead in the first hour of play, scoring at a mere average run rate of 2.35 runs per over.
Umesh Yadav brought some success to India by securing the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne (41). He bowled a beautiful delivery that jagged slightly away from Labuschagne’s bat, and the Queensland batter ended up giving an outside edge towards first slip, where Cheteshwar Pujara safely pouched it. Cameron Green was bowled by Ravindra Jadeja in the second hour, but some purposeful batting from Alex Carey ensured that Australia scored at an improved run rate of 3.75 and steadily furthered their grip over the match. At lunch, Australia had a score of 201 for the loss of six wickets, with an overall lead of 374 runs.
The second session saw Australia turn up the heat on India’s bowlers even further. Carey used good support from Mitchell Starc to help Australia’s lead speed past 400. The duo added 93 runs from 120 balls for the seventh wicket, a partnership that featured 13 boundaries.
Australia declared after Starc and Pat Cummins fell in quick succession to Mohammed Shami while going for quick runs. Alex Carey, unbeaten on 66, was the highest run-scorer in the third innings as Australia finished at 270/8, setting India a target of 444 runs.
India’s task of chasing a formidable score of 444 runs became even more challenging as it was greater than the highest-ever fourth innings total in a Test at The Oval, achieved by Srinivas Venkataraghavan’s India in 1979 when they finished at 429 for eight in a drawn Test against England, nine short of their target of 438.
Like their first outing, the Indian openers Rohit and Shubman Gill were proactive at the start of India’s innings. The batters unfurled a series of attractive punches, pulls, and drives to help India score nearly a run-a-ball for the first seven overs. However, Gill edged a Scott Boland delivery to Green in the Gully region, and the all-rounder grasped it just before the ball touched the ground. India walked back at 41 for one at the end of the second session.
Despite this setback, India didn’t alter their approach at the start of the third session. Rohit and Pujara punished any loose delivery from the bowlers and kept the run rate close to four for the first hour. However, the introduction of off-spinner Nathan Lyon brought a breakthrough for Australia, as Rohit was trapped lbw after he tried to go for a sweep in Lyon’s very first over, and ended up missing one which straightened and hit the pads. In the very next over, Pujara fell after he tried to uppercut a Cummins bouncer, and got a toe edge which deflected to Carey’s gloves.
The repair job fell to Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. The experienced duo helped rebuild the India innings with a confident 71-run stand for the fourth wicket. Kohli wasn’t afraid to go for his shots from the very start, whereas Rahane focused on holding the other end.
The stage is set for a crucial and thrilling fifth day of play as all results are possible. Play will start at 10:30 local time on Sunday morning.
