India Or Australia, Who Will The Oval's Pitch Favour On Day 5 Of WTC Final?
India are 164 for 3 with Kohli and Rahane batting in the middle [Source: AP]
After enthralling the spectators with four days of intriguing action, the World Test Championship final will mark its conclusion today. Chasing a mammoth target of 444, India had a mini-collapse, losing their top order for 93 runs. However, the experienced duo of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane kept their hopes alive, adding an unbeaten 71-run stand for the fourth wicket. So, the stage is set for a thrilling finish on day five of the ultimate Test, with India and Australia needing 280 runs and seven wickets, respectively, for victory.
Meanwhile, the surface at the Kennington Oval has changed significantly over the last four days. So, before the final showdown, let's see how the Oval surface will likely behave on the final day.
WTC Final day 5: Kennington Oval pitch report today
In the beginning, the surface at the Oval had a decent grass covering and offered significant seam movement and steep bounce to the Indian seamers, who had the advantage of bowling first in the game. However, the track dried up and flattened, becoming a batting beauty in the next two days.
But on day four, the deck assisted the spinners from both sides, with Ravindra Jadeja and Nathan Lyon showcasing their prowess with the ball. Also, the bounce was sometimes uneven, challenging the Indian batters to the core.
So, moving on to day five, if the heavy roller is used, the track might seem flat for the first 30-45 minutes. However, once the roller's effects vanish, we will see the Australian pacers troubling the Indian batters with variable bounce, particularly from the hard length area around the off-stump channel.
Furthermore, Nathan Lyon will definitely get enough grip off the fifth-day pitch and challenge the Indians by keeping the ball on the stumps. So, it will be a daunting task for India to score 280 more runs and emerge triumphant in this match.
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