India vs Australia Score, WTC Final 2023 Day 4: Ind 164/3 at Stumps, Target 444
India vs Australia, WTC Final 2023 Updates, Day 4: India need 280 runs to chase down on the last day.
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India and Australia are competing in the 2021-23 ICC World Test Championship final, which is being played in England's Oval.
Chasing a target of 444 runs, India ended Day 4 at 164/3.
Virat Kohli is unbeaten on 44, whilst Ajinkya Rahane is batting on 20.
Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon have picked up one wicket apiece for Australia in this innings.
India vs Australia Live Score: Stumps, Day 4
CURTAINS!
What an excellent, and perhaps, a tad controversial day of Test cricket this has been? Day 4 started off an impressive half-century from Alex Carey, who received support from Mitchell Starc.
Then with the ball, the Aussies sent back 'baby GOAT' Shubman Gill early yet again, but skipper Rohit Sharma turned up to the occasion with a 43-run knock. For the umpteenth time, India lost two wickets in quick succession, with Cheteshwar Pujara following his captain back to the dressing room, but since, it has been all about a vintage Virat Kohli, and a classic Ajinkya Rahane. The former will end Day 4 on 44 not out, with the latter batting on 20.
India's score currently reads 164/3. They need 280 runs, and Australia need 7 wickets. Given the way India have paced their innings today, scoring at over four runs per over, the probability of a draw is not great. Their way or the highway? Or the way that will lead the mace to Down Under? 90 more overs, and the last day of the 'Ultimate Test' beckon. Like always, we will be bringing you all the live updates. Till then, good night!
India vs Australia Live Score: Tides Turning?
Momentum changing? Scales tipping to the other side? Tides turning?
It might be a bit too early to ask such questions, but credit must be given to Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane for inspiring hope in a gloomy Indian camp. The pair have batted brilliantly, with the former unbeaten on 40 and the latter batting on 20.
India are 160/3. Equation: India need 284 runs. Australia need 7 wickets.
India vs Australia Live Score: Kohli, Rahane Stop Wickets Procession
And, breathe.
After two wickets in the blink of an eye, it seems that Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have been successful in their bid to stop the procession. 17 overs are left in day's play, and India's target will be to not lose any more wickets today.
India are 124/3. Equation: India need 320 runs. Australia need 7 wickets.
India vs Australia Live Score: Pujara Gone
HUGE TROUBLE FOR INDIA!
We did say that today's version of Cheteshwar Pujara is not known to the Indian fans, and now, the batter has corroborated the statement by getting dismissed whilst playing a shot he almost never plays – the Virender Sehwag-esque upper cut. Pat Cummins bangs the delivery short, which Pujara edges and gives the simplest of catches to Alex Carey, who is in no mood to hand out freebies to India.
India are 93/3. Equation: India need 351 runs. Australia need 7 wickets.
India vs Australia Live Score: Rohit Gone After Commendable Knock
Good ol' Gary strikes gold!
India were looking menacing, and in particular, it was their skipper, Rohit Sharma who was doing most of the talking. But he has to depart now, as Nathan Lyon has trapped him leg before wicket in what was only his first over of this innings.
India are 92/2. Equation: India need 352 runs. Australia need 8 wickets.
India vs Australia Live Score: Intent Clear From Pujara
Which Cheteshwar Pujara has turned up today?
This version is not the one Indian fans will be familiar with, as the 'wall' has gone ballistics, at least by his usual batting style. He has scored 13 runs from the first 13 deliveries he was subjected to, which includes as many as three boundaries.
India are 65/1. This game just keeps on giving.
India vs Australia Live Score: Gill Departs Early (Again!)
HUGE WICKET!
India had the perfect start, having scored 41 runs in the first seven overs with both openers looking in sublime touch, but it ultimately ends on an underwhelming note.
Scott Boland causes Shubman Gill's downfall for the second consecutive time – this time with an outside edge that was caught brilliantly by Cameron Green. There is bound to be a raging debate on the legality of the catch, with some believing the ball struck the ground during Green's attempt. The third umpire, however, has ruled in favour of the Aussies.
Meanwhile, the umpires have also called for Tea. India are 41/1, still 403 runs away from their target. Australia are nine wickets away from the mace. An important third session coming up.
India vs Australia Live Score: Good Start From India
(Very) Early Signs? Promising.
It has been a great start for the Indian team, with both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill playing shots without inhibition. The first three overs have yielded 19 runs.
India vs Australia Live Score: Australia Declare, India Need 444 Runs To Win
DECLARED!
That's it. Right on cue, Australia have decided that it is time to call curtains to their second innings. Pat Cummins' stay is a short one, as he was dismissed by Mohammed Shami after scoring five runs.
Australia declare at 271/8. India need 444 runs to win. A minimum on 139 overs left to be bowled in this match. India's second innings to commence soon.
India vs Australia Live Score: Starc Departs, But Australia Continue Batting
A tad confusing from the baggy greens?
Mitchell Starc did an exemplary job by scoring 41 runs from only 57 deliveries, before losing his wicket to Mohammed Shami. But strangely enough, Australia have opted against declaring, as Pat Cummins is now out at the crease.
The lead is now nearing the 450-run mark. When will they declare?
India vs Australia Live Score: Carey Completes Half-Century
FIFTY!
Alex Carey came agonisingly close to a half-century in the first innings, but fell prey to an ill-fated reverse sweep. This time around, however, he will not falter at the last hurdle, as the Aussie wicketkeeper-batter brings up his fourth fifty in Test cricket.
The team's score, meanwhile, is 223/6, with a lead of 396 runs.
India vs Australia Live Score: 200 Up For Australia
And just like that, Australia breach the 200-run mark. Batting in the second innings has been much tougher than the first, but after losing six wickets, the baggy greens have got to a score which would have been the bare minimum for them. Now, it will be interesting to see if Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc play more aggressive shots.
Meanwhile, the umpires have called for lunch. Australia are 201/6, with their lead now being of 374 runs.
India vs Australia Live Score: Jadeja Strikes
WICKET! Green gone.
Ravindra Jadeja strikes for India. Cameron Green might be criticised for being a bit too pessimistic in his batting approach, and that ultimately causes his downfall. He offers no shot to a Jadeja delivery, but the ball takes a sharp turn and strikes his glove, before hitting the stumps.
Australia are 167/6.
India vs Australia Live Score: Green, Carey Steady Innings
Same old, same old!
Picking up the odd early wicket has not really been a difficult task for India in this game, with Usman Khawaja departing early in the first innings, David Warner in the second, and Marnus Labuschagne getting out very early today.
Yet, Rohit Sharma's bowlers have not been able to pick wickets in clusters, like the Aussies have done. Result? Cameron Green and Alex Carey are looking fairly settled. Australia are 147/5.
India vs Australia Live Score: Labuschagne Departs Early
EARLY WICKET!
Exactly what Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma and every Indian fan would have hoped for. Marnus Labuschagne did not trouble the scorers one bit today, failing to add to the 41 runs he scored overnight. Umesh Yadav managed to take the ball away from the industrious batter, getting an outside edge which was taken by Cheteshwar Pujara, albeit in not the most orthodox of slip-catching styles.
Australia are 124/5.
India vs Australia Live Score: Time To Play
Right, then! The Indian bowlers are ready, or so it seems. Up against them will be a steep climb, with Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green holding fort for Australia. One good session can help the men in blue get back in the game, but on the flip side, a solid first session could significantly increase Australia's chances of a win.
Huge couple of hours ahead.
India vs Australia Live Score: What Will Be a Good Score for Australia To Defend?
The lead Australia currently have – 296 runs – is much higher than the highest fourth innings chase at the Oval, of 263 runs. Yet, it is quite clear that they will target at least the 400-run mark, if not more, with Justin Langer telling the broadcasters how the wounds of Rishabh Pant's miracle in the miraculous Gabba chase are yet to be healed completely.
India vs Australia Live Score: Most Important Day, Perhaps, Awaits
Another day, another arduous task.
This has pretty much been the story for the Indian cricket team on all of the first three days of the 2021-23 ICC World Test Championship final, but Satuday, Day 4, could well be the most important day in the game. The dreaded, feared penultimate day is here, folks.
First things first, let us furnish a rundown of where we currently stand. After bowling out India for 296, Australia ended Day 3 on 123/4, with their lead currently being of 296 runs.
With Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green at the crease, with Alex Carey yet to arrive, Australia might opt for an aggressive batting approach, in a bid to score as many runs as they can in the first session.
From the baggy greens' perspective, it will be interesting to see at what stage do they call curtains to their innings, and ask India to bat again. The men in blue, on the contrary, will harbour contrasting ambitions, hoping to pick up wickets in clusters and bowl the Australians out very soon.
Shortly, we will know which of the two agendas will materialise. Watch this space, as we bring you all the live updates from Day 4 of the 'Ultimate Test.'
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