Malayalam Cricket News

London ∙ Shardul Thakur learned to overcome challenges through the lessons of his own life. Shardul’s first challenge was the lack of a ground to practice cricket in the country. Shardul responded by traveling 80 km daily to reach Mumbai and practice. It was these life lessons that helped Shardul overcome the challenge posed by the Australian bowlers yesterday with body line short balls and unexpected bouncers.

The Aussie pacers’ balls hurt Shardul’s body more than five times. Shardul (51) for the 7th wicket with Ajinkya Rahane (89) overcame all of them and saved India from the embarrassment of following on in the World Test Championship final. India were bowled out for 296 runs and conceded a first innings lead of 173 runs.

The Aussies were 123 for 4 in the second innings when play was stopped on the third day. A total lead of 296 runs. Labuchane (41) and Cameron Green (7) are at the crease. Batting in the second innings, Australia lost openers David Warner (1) and Usman Khawaja (13) early on. Warner was dismissed by Mohammad Siraj and Khawaja by Umesh Yadav. It was the Steve Smith-Labuchane partnership for the third wicket that helped Australia to finish the third day without any further injuries, 24 for 2.

Score: Australia 1st innings 469, 2nd innings 123 for 4. India 1st innings 296.

Rahane is the savior

Ajinkya Rahane’s innings proved that neither the 16-month ‘break’ in international cricket nor the IPL hangover affected him. It was Rahane’s resistance that supported the Indian batting, which fell into chaos. India started the third day at 151 for 5 and lost KS Bharat (5) early on. Rahane continued the rescue operation with Shardul Thakur coming after him. Rahane also became the first Indian player to score a half-century in a Test Championship final and the highest score by an Indian player in a Test Championship final yesterday.

no ballWicket!

Twice in the first innings, the Indian batsmen were extended the life of ‘no ball’. Ajinkya Rahane was out in front of the wicket when he was on 17. Shardul Thakur was left lbw in a similar fashion while standing on 36. When the review was taken twice, the ball was no ball! Australian captain Pat Cummins was the bowler on both occasions.

A hat trick Thakur

Shardul Thakur scores a half-century for the third time in a row at the Oval. Shardul scored half-centuries in both innings (57, 60) in the Test match against England in 2021. With a hat-trick half-century, Shardul became the third player to achieve this feat at the Oval.

English Summary : India vs Australia ICC World test champonship match updates