Australia were in the driver's seat at the end of the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India at The Oval on Friday (3) as they accumulated a lead of 296 runs over the Asians with six wickets in the second innings still intact.
The Kangaroos ended the day on 123 for 4 with Marnus Labuschagne (41) and Cameron Green (7) batting against an India bowling attack that looked more disciplined in the second essay. Spinner Ravindra Jadeja picked two wickets while Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav took one wicket each.
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For Australia, first innings centurions Steve Smith (34) and Travis Head (18) fell quickly, giving much relief to the Indian fans.
Pat Cummins's men have now taken a lead of 296 runs over the Indians, thanks to their 173-run lead that they got in the first innings after bowling out India for 296 earlier in the day. Australia scored 469 in their first innings.
Cummins himself was the pick of the Australian bowlers with three wickets for 83 runs while Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Green took two wickets each. India, who resumed the day from their overnight score of 151 for 5, lost their sixth wicket early in the form of Srikar Bharat (5) but Ajinkya Rahane, the other overnight batter, continued to resist the Australians to score 89 and complete 5,000 runs in the long format. He added 109 runs with Shardul Thakur, who also hit a half century (51), to take India's score to 260 for 6 at lunch. But Australia came back strong after the break to pick Rahane and the remaining three India wickets for just 36 runs.
Brief scores: Australia 469 & 123 for 4 (Marnus Labuschagne 41 not out, Ravindra Jadeja 2 for 25) vs India 296 (Ajinkya Rahane 89, Shardul Thakur 51, Pat Cummins 3 for 83) at stumps Day 3
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