Mohammed Shami strikes soon after Lunch in WTC Final clash between India and Australia

In a crucial moment of the highly anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) Final of 2023 between India and Australia, the post-lunch session provided an intense battle between bat and ball. The Indian team, looking to seize the momentum, witnessed a moment of brilliance from fast bowler Mohammed Shami. With his very first ball after the break, Shami produced a delivery that completely dismantled Marnus Labuschagne’s stumps, leaving the Australian batsman stunned.

As play resumed after the lunch interval, Shami wasted no time in making an impact. Aware of the importance of early breakthroughs, he pitched the ball right up, offering the batsman no room to free his arms. Shami had perhaps been slightly guilty of bowling on the shorter side in the first session, but this time he rectified his length, delivering a ripper of a full ball just outside off stump.

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Labuschagne, who had shown great resilience at the crease, couldn’t resist the opportunity to drive the ball down the ground. However, he misjudged the movement off the pitch as the ball sharply jagged in. The delivery snuck through the narrow gap between bat and pad, clipping the off stump on its way. It was a textbook dismissal, highlighting Shami’s precision and ability to exploit the slightest of errors made by the batsman.

The wicket of Labuschagne proved to be a significant breakthrough for the Indian team, separating a partnership that was beginning to build. Labuschagne, who had scored 26 runs off 62 deliveries, including three boundaries, was looking solid until Shami’s moment of brilliance brought an abrupt end to his innings.