Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur displayed an aggressive approach on Day 3 of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final as they targeted Nathan Lyon’s overs, smashing 10 runs in a single over. Their attacking mindset resulted in a fruitful partnership of 100 runs, a significant milestone in the context of the match.
The action unfolded in the 58th over, as Lyon bowled to Rahane. The first delivery was too full, and Rahane seized the opportunity, elegantly driving the ball to the cover boundary for a four. Lyon tried to vary his line and length in the subsequent deliveries, but Rahane remained composed, defending the ball forward.
The partnership between Rahane and Thakur reached the 100-run mark, further adding to the excitement of the Indian camp. This was the sixth century partnership for the seventh wicket or below for India in England. Interestingly, Shardul Thakur has now been involved in two of these century stands, highlighting his value as a lower-order batsman.
Continuing the smash, Lyon delivered a flat and short ball outside off, which Rahane skillfully punched through cover-point, beating the fielder and finding the boundary. The crowd erupted in cheers as the partnership reached the 100-run mark, a testament to the resilience and determination of both Rahane and Thakur.
Thakur, too, contributed to the partnership with his solid batting display. Lyon tossed the ball up just outside off, and Thakur looked to defend but managed to get an inside edge, directing the ball wide of midwicket for a single. Rahane, on the other hand, displayed his intent by shuffling down the pitch and knocking the ball wide of cover, adding another run to the scoreboard.
As the over came to an end, Rahane punched the ball back to Lyon, signaling the conclusion of a productive over for the Indian batting duo. The cheers from the crowd grew louder as India’s total crossed the 250-run mark, further boosting the team’s confidence.