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WTC Final | Shardul Thakur Equals Don Bradman With Fighting Knock Against Australia

image-lionu67yShardul Thakur in action on Day 3 (Twitter)

Shardul Thakur listed a fighting half-century against Australia on Day 3 of the WTC final. The cricketer arrived at the crease within the opening over of the day, and was welcomed with a barrage of bouncers from a charged-up Australian pace attack.

Thakur shared a rebellious 109-run stand with comeback man Ajinkya Rahane, and took India to the brink of avoiding follow on. Thereafter, the all-rounder batted with the tail to stretch the team’s score to 296, thus conceding a massive 173-run first innings advantage to the Australians.

Through the course of his courageous knock, the 31-year-old has now equalled an all-time Test record at The Oval with legendary Australian batter, Sir Donald Bradman.

Shardul Thakur charts third successive fifty at The Oval

Shardul Thakur arrived to the crease at 152-6, with his team still 317 runs away from Australia’s first innings total. The cricketer batted cautiously, copped a few body blows, and still found time to smear an attacking 51.

A bulk of those runs came during his partnership with Ajinkya Rahane, which took India past the 250-run mark by lunch.

Notably, Thakur’s knock marked the fourth half-century of his Test career, and his third in succession at The Oval. He became only the second overseas cricketer at the venue’s 143-year history to register three successive fifty-plus scores, with late Don Bradman being the only other to have achieved the feat.

Back in 2021, during Thakur’s first visit to England, he clubbed a 36-ball 57 in the first innings and an attacking 60 in the second to headline India’s emphatic victory over the hosts.

In the meantime, Team India finds themselves in troubled waters this time around, considering the huge first innings advantage they handed over to Australia.

At the moment, Australia are 66 for 2, with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne at the crease. The Aussies lead by 239.