IND vs AUS WTC Final Day 4 Highlights: India 164/3 at Stumps; Need 280 More to Win

STUMPS! A boundary in the final over of the day, bowled by Nathan Lyon. Virat Kohli tickling it away to fine leg for four. India finish with 164/3 in 40 overs. There hasn’t been one single day that hasn’t been a gripping one in this WTC final. India made a positive start before Australia hit back with a couple of quick blows. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane then got together and ensure no more damage as they added 71 runs for the fourth wicket before the day’s play ended. India now need to score 280 on the final day with seven wickets in the bank. Should be a cracker of a day tomorrow.

Shouts of catch as the ball misses the bat and Alex Carey cannot pouch it. Replay shows the ball grazed the thigh pad of Ajinkya Rahane as he went for a drive. Six dot balls in the over of Nathan Lyon.

Pat Cummins back for a final burst today. And he drops it short, the ball keeps rising and evades everyone to run away for five wides. And then later, Cummins oversteps. Ajinkya Rahane plays the sixth delivery towards point to take a single and keeps the strike. 7 runs in it.

So the requirement is less than 300 now. Around 15 minutes of play left. Should India see through this passage safely, it will set up a thrilling final day. Virat Kohli batting on 39 off 52, Ajinkya Rahane 19 off 41.

Virat Kohli continues to bat well. He was gotten rid of early by Mitchell Starc but he’s positive in the second dig despite the enormous pressure of the big chase. Starc goes full and Kohli flicks it away for a four. And then when he goes full outside off, Kohli drives it through mid-off for four more. 8 runs in the over.

Nathan Lyon overpitches and pays the price. Ajinkya Rahane, battling the pain, times it perfectly to send the ball rushing through extra covers for a four – his third of the innings. Six runs in it. Rahane moves to 13 off 33.

Pat Cummins brings back Mitchell Starc who got rid of Virat Kohli in the first innings. He’s cranking up the pace, bowling in the 140kphs. He bowls one onto the body of Kohli who plays it away to backward square leg region for a four. Kohli moves to 30 off 42 with the help of four fours. Ajinkya Rahane unbeaten on 17 off 35 with three fours.

Nathan Lyon continues. Just two runs in the over. The pitch has become surprisingly better for the batters. Can’t see the bounce that was troubling the batters before. India must be looking to capitalise on this conditions but also will be wary that the final 30 minutes are approaching and wouldn’t want to lose any more wickets either. Caution would be the keyword.

Oh Superb Shot From Ajinkya Rahane! Pitched on good length but wide of off stump from Scott Boland. Rahane opens the face of the bat and guides it between the gap through backward point for four. 6 runs in it.

Virat Kohli flicks one away to deep midwicket for a single which is the only scoring shot of the over from Nathan Lyon.

You cannot breath easy when Scott Boland is bowling. He continues to bowl a probing length keeping Virat Kohli alert all the time. Two slips have been kept in case there’s an edge. Three runs in the over – all to Kohli.

Ajinkya Rahane hits his first boundary of the innings – Nathan Lyon bowls one full and it is swept away to fine leg.

A probing over from Scott Boland ends with a boundary to Virat Kohli. The over started with Kohli beaten in the outside edge with Pat Cummins enquiring if there was a sound. Boland beat the edge once again later in what was turning into an excellent over. He then erred in length by bowling full as Kohli flicked it with ease for a four.

India’s scoring rate is still over four. Australia though are on top here considering the two big wickets they have taken in quick time. India cannot afford to lose another wicket now. These two will have to stitch a big partnership if India want to chase this down.

A bowling change – Scott Boland replaces Australia captain Pat Cummins. Five dot balls and then a single to Ajinkya Rahane – flicked through square leg region. Rahane batting on 2 off 10.

Virat Kohli has come out to bat with a positive mindset. He punched the first delivery of the over from Nathan Lyon for a couple of runs before Ajinkya Rahane got off the mark with a single. Lyon lured Kohli with a flighted delivery and the Indian batter responded by getting forward and driving it through mid-on for a four. 8 runs in it.

Rohit Sharma would be disappointed at his shot

Pat Cummins with a full delivery to Virat Kohli who directs it to midwicket for a superb four – excellent timing. That shot brings up India’s 100 too.

Nathan Lyon continues. Virat Kohli plays the first delivery to midwicket to take a couple of runs and then off the final takes a single to keep the strike.

So Australia have two new batters in the middle now and they will be so happy to see the backs of Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujar who were batting so well but played weird shots to lose their wickets. Ajinkya Rahane has walked in to join Virat Kohli and India need these two to drop anchor and stitch a big partnership.