Oval | Travis Head’s unbeaten 146 and Steven Smith’s brilliant innings of 95 not out on the first day of the WTC final given severe blow to India’s dreams of winning the World Test Championship.
After winning the toss, India fielded four fast bowlers and the decision taken to keep Ravichandran Ashwin out of the team seems to be costing the Indian team dearly. Australia made a mammoth total of 327 runs at the loss of 3 wickets till the end of the first day’s play, now only time will tell on which score Australia’s innings will end. Although the Indian medium pacers gave Australia initial shocks and sent 3 wickets to pavilion on the score of 76, but Travis Head and Steven Smith put on an unbeaten 251 runs partnership for the fourth wicket and given advantage to Australia on the first day.
Mohammad Siraj, Mohammad Shami and Shardul Thakur took 1-1 wickets for the Indian team. In the second day’s play, India will have to wrap up Australia’s innings quickly if they are to claw their way back into the match and keep their hopes of winning the WTC final alive.
Brief Scores :
Australia 1st innings: 3/327 over 85, Travis Head 146 not out, Steven Smith 95 not out, David Warner 43, Mohammed Siraj 1/67, Shardul Thakur 1/75, Mohammed Shami 1/77