Cricket World Test Championship 2021-23

'Abb toh barish ne bhi dhokha de diya' - Fans react as India close out Day 4 of WTC Final at 164/3

India close out Day 5 of the World Test Championship final at 164/3, need 280 more runs in the final day of play. Here's how fans reacted.

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Daniel S
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Day 4, WTC Final

Day 4, WTC Final (Source: Twitter)

Day 4 of the 2021-23 World Test Championship (WTC) saw Australia set up the final day nicely. Continuing from the overnight score of 123/4, the Aussies finished at 270/8 when they declared their innings giving India a target of 444 runs to win. Umesh Yadav gave India a good start on the penultimate day striking early to show Marnus Labuschagne the way to the pavilion.

However, the Australian were as always a hard nut to crack for the India pacers. The bowlers found wickets in irregular intervals as Australia finally decided to declare at the score of 270/8 after batting for 84.3 overs. Labuschagne scored a vital knock of 41 as did Steve Smith with his 34 off 47. Towards the end, wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey’s half-century and Mitchell Starc’s handy 41 off 57 pushed Australia’s lead to 443 runs.

India need 280 runs to win on Day 5 with 7 wickets in hand

For the Indian bowling contingent, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja remained the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/58 from 23 overs. Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav both picked up two wickets each and Mohammed Siraj, the best bowler for India in the first innings had just one scalp. At the same time, Shardul Thakur remained wicketless.

India’s response started well as the two openers took India to 41 runs before Shubman Gill was dismissed by Scott Boland. Cameron Green took a sharp low catch at the gully to send the in-form batter back to the pavilion. As such, Green’s catch remained the subject of controversy while later, photographic evidence proved that the third umpire decision should indeed have been Not Out.

Following Gill’s dismissal, Rohit Sharma missed out on his half-century getting out for 43 off 60 balls caught plump in front by Nathan Lyon. In the very next over, Cheteshwar Pujara had to walk back as Alex Carey completed a fair catch off skipper Pat Cummin’s delivery. In the end, India closed out Day 4 at 164/3 with Virat Kohli unbeaten on 44 off 60 and Ajinkya Rahane giving company at 20 off 59.

Here's how fans reacted: 

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