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WTC Final, Day 3 | Australia In Commanding Position Despite India's Spirited Fightback

image-liou1ntzLabuschagne and Cameron Green on day 3 (AP Photo)

The Day 3 of the WTC Final turned out to be a fascinating day of Test cricket as despite Australia being ahead throughout the day, India made sure that they hung in there by some spirited performances with both bat and ball. Australia end the day with a lead of 296 with six more wickets in hand and would be looking to consolidate their lead in the first session of day 4.

India were put under the pump on the second delivery of day 3 when KS Bharat was knocked over by Boland with a cracker of a delivery. Rahane and Shardul Thakur though stitched together a brilliant partnership to take India to a decent total of 296 after they were reeling at 152-6 at one point in time.

Australian bowlers were brilliant with their immaculate lines and lengths and did not give away anything easily to India with Cummins and Boland being the pick of the bowlers. India though have taken four wickets in the Australia's second innings and if they bowl well in the first session of Day 4, they can still make a match out of this one.


Talking Points From Final Session of Day 3

A rare brain-fade moment for Steve Smith

Steve Smith is of the greatest batters ever to play Test cricket and came out to bat on day 3 of  the WTC Final on the back of a scintillating century in the first innings. He looked in fine touch right from the onset and was in complete control till we encountered a rare sight where Smith decided to go for a one wild slog out of the ground. 

It was the first delivery of the 31st over and Smith danced down the track, actually, he made his intentions clear quite early which allowed Jadeja to pull his length back a bit and bowl it outside off. Smith though went through with his shot but only managed a top edge that was safely taken by Shardul Thakur. It created an opening for India just when Smith-Labuschagne partnership was threatening to take the game away from them.


Umesh Yadav delivers a unique blunder-magic combo

Umesh Yadav's international career has been quite an interesting one. He can amaze one and all with some unplayable deliveries but most of the time, he ends up delivering ordinary performances.

We saw that in the final session of day 3 as well as Umesh Yadav produced a wicket out of nowhere of the dangerous Usman Khawaja at the start of the final session to keep India's hopes alive. However, the same Umesh Yadav later in the session put down Travis Head off the bowling of Jadeja near the ropes to bring anguish and frustration among  millions of Indian cricket fans around the world.

Jadeja though took the wicket of Head in that same over and made sure it didn't cost India much.


Brief Scores

Australia (Second innings): 123-4 (44)

Marnus Labuschagne - 41 (118), Steven Smith - 34 (47)

Ravindra Jadeja - 2/25 (9), Mohammed Siraj - 1/41 (12)

India (First Innings) - 296-10 (69.4)

Australia (First Innings) - 469-10 (121.3)

Australia lead by 296 runs.