WTC Final Highlights, India vs Australia Day 4: Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane guide India to 164/3 at stumps

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STAT ALERT: Virat Kohli has now gone past 5,000 runs across formats against Australia. 2000 of those runs have come in Tests. Boy does VK love playing against the Aussies!

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After 40 overs,India 164/3 ( Virat Kohli 44 , Ajinkya Rahane 20)

STUMPS ON DAY 4: Nathan Lyon bowls out the final over of the day with Virat Kohli collecting his seventh boundary, tucking a short-of-length ball from the veteran offie past the man at short fine leg to move to 44. The Aussies appeal for a catch after Smith dashes to his left and dives near leg slip, with the umpire shaking his head. Replays show the ball deflecting off his pad. Kohli sees off the remainiing two deliveries without much fuss.

With that, India end the day on 164/3 after 40 overs, needing another 280 to win with seven wickets in hand and one more day to go (two, in case weather plays spoilsport tomorrow).

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FOUR! The fifty partnership comes up between Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane for the fourth wicket in 83 deliveries with the former bringing up the milestone a lovely flick through the midwicket region for a boundary in the 35th over. Excellent work by the two, with Virat assuming charge since the dismissals of Rohit and Pujara, and his presence will be crucial in the remainder of the match if India are to somehow avoid a defeat. IND 146/3

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OUT! And now Cheteshwar Pujara falls shortly after Rohit Sharma's dismissal as Australia seize control with two wickets in a space of seven deliverires. Uncharacteristic from ChePu, who attempts to ramp a short delivery from the Aussie skipper, and ends up getting a faint tickle off the toe end of his bat, departing after getting off to a promising start. IND 93/3

Pujara c Carey b Cummins 27(47)

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OUT! Nathan Lyon makes an instant impact after being introduced into the attack in the 20th over as he traps Rohit leg-before for 43. The India skipper attempts a sweep, and misses, and the umpire raises his finger right away after a shout from the veteran off-spinner. Rohit goes for the review, and gets three reds. IND 92/2

Rohit LBW Lyon 43 (60)

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After 19 overs,India 91/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 43 , Cheteshwar Pujara 26)

The fifty partnership comes up between Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara for the second wicket in 70 deliveries! Pujara grabs a brace in the second delivery of Cummins' fifth over after working the ball behind square before driving through the covers for a single two balls later to bring up the milestone.

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OUT! Cameron Green pulls off another superb catch at gully, this time with his left hand as Scott Boland ends up dismissing Shubman Gill for a second time in the World Test Championship final! Gill gets a thick outside edge that normally would've run away through the gap between the slip cordon and gully. Green's wide wingspan, however, means it falls within his reach, and he does a brilliant job and lunging to his left and pulling off a low grab. Gill's not convinced though and stands his ground, with the umpires taking this upstairs. The TV umpire though, assumes Green got his finger under the ball when it came close to the ground, and rules it to be a fair catch, much to the Indians' disappointment. IND 41/1

With that, tea has been taken on Day 4 of the penultimate day, with India needing another 403 runs to win with nine wickets in hand.

Gill c Green b Boland 18(19)

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FOUR! Rohit Sharma opens India's account in their run chase in style with a confident pull behind square off Pat Cummins. Two fielders converge near the backward square-leg boundary, only to watch the ball slip between them and cross the rope. IND 4/0

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After 84.3 overs,Australia 270/8 ( Alex Carey (W) 66 , )

OUT! Australia declare on 270/8 soon as Pat Cummins (5) is dismissed by Mohammed Shami. Cummins, who had collected a boundary in the previous over, gets a thick leading edge, resulting in a simple catch for substitute fielder Axar Patel near cover.

That leaves India needing 444 to win the World Test Championship Final and end their decade-long wait for an ICC trophy!

Cummins c sub (Axar) b Shami 5(5)

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OUT! Edged... and taken! Starc's little cameo comes to an end as he ends up getting a thick edge towards the slip cordon, where Kohli latches on to the ball. Pat Cummins is seen padded up in the dressing room and decides to put on his helmet right after the wicket, meaning Australia will bat on for a little longer. AUS 260/7; lead by 433

Starc c Kohli b Shami 41

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After 79 overs,Australia 229/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 56 , Mitchell Starc 24)

FOUR! Australia's lead goes past 400 now! Carey gets a thick outside edge off a quicker delivery from Jadeja, with the ball going past slip and running away to the third man fence. Carey collects a single off the last delivery to keep the strike.

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Fifty up for Alex Carey in 82 deliveries, his fourth in Tests! The wicketkeeper-batter brings up the milestone with a single off Ravindra Jadeja's bowling. Had narrowly missed out on the milestone in the first innings. AUS 223/6; lead by 396

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After 76 overs,Australia 222/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 49 , Mitchell Starc 24)

FOUR! FOUR! Consecutive boundaries for Starc, who is more than handy a batter down the order for Australia! Clips the ball past the man at mid on in the penultimate ball of the 76th before producing an even more exquisite shot, driving the ball down the ground with a touch of authority. Brings up the fifty partnership with Carey in the process! Eight off Umesh's 15th over. Australia's lead now worth 395.

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After 70 overs,Australia 201/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 41 , Mitchell Starc 11)

LUNCH ON DAY 4: Alex Carey's still going strong, remaining unbeaten on 41 in 61 deliveries at the close of the morning session, helping Australia go past 200 with the lead now worth a solid 374. Umesh Yadav, who had bowled the first over of the day and had dismissed overnight batter Marnus Labuschagne, replaces Shardul Thakur and bowls out the final over before lunch, conceding a single to Mitchell Starc.

The Indians fought hard in this session and the likes of Mohammed Siraj did not drop their intensity with the ball. Australia, however, manage to come out on top at the end of the session, thanks mainly to Carey's attacking approach.

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BOWLED! The move to operate Ravindra Jadeja from over the wicket to Cameron Green gets India the breakthrough, as the all-rounder ends up getting a deflection onto the stumps off his glove followed by his thigh while looking to block the ball with a pad. His stride wasn't forward enough and the ball went past his pad with a bit of extra turn and bounce. AUS 167/6

Green b Jadeja 25(95)

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OUT! Umesh Yadav draws first blood on the penultimate day as Marnus Labuschagne departs without adding to his overnight score, although he does cop another couple of blows on his body in the eight deliveries that he faced today. Just the start India were looking for in their quest to bowl Australia out quickly. AUS 124/5

Labuschagne c Pujara b Umesh 41(126)
 

India vs Australia Day 4 Live

A big, big day for Indian cricket team. They need a massive turnaround and quick before things run away from them. Australia are in control with 151 runs on the board in this innings and a 296 run lead. If India are able to make a strong and quick headway, things might become more even. Far too early to tell either way.