
In a gripping session of cricket on Day 3 of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, Pat Cummins delivered a dramatic final over before the umpires called an end to the first session of the day. The tense moments unfolded as Cummins bowled to Indian batsman Shardul Thakur, testing his resilience and determination.
At 59.6, Cummins sent down a good length delivery on the off stump, and Thakur defended it back to the bowler. Frustrated with the missed opportunity, Cummins kicked the ball away as the session came to a close. It was a testament to the hard-fought battle India had put up through this resilient pair, drawing applause from the crowd.
DRS Lost by Aussies – However, the drama was far from over. In the previous delivery at 59.5, Australia decided to review a caught-behind appeal. Cummins delivered a good length ball just outside off, which nipped away as Thakur attempted to defend. There was a visible gap between bat and ball, and Steve Smith, positioned at second slip, was convinced that there was a chance. He urged Cummins to go for the review, hoping to find an edge. The decision to review proved unsuccessful, with the clear evidence of no contact between bat and ball.
Pat Cummins’ no-ball helps Shardul to survive – Moving on to 59.4, Cummins once again posed a threat to Thakur. He bowled a good length delivery on the off stump, and Thakur defended it forward. But the moment of drama came with the next ball as Cummins overstepped, resulting in a no-ball. Umpire Illingworth’s finger went up quickly, indicating an LBW decision in favor of Cummins. Thakur immediately opted for a review, and to everyone’s astonishment, the replay showed that Cummins had overstepped the crease. It was a stroke of luck for Thakur and India, as the ball would have remained umpire’s call had Cummins not overstepped. Thakur survived the scare as the ball nipped sharply and he missed his attempted flick.
The intensity continued at 59.3 when Cummins delivered a good length ball on off stump. Thakur chose to hang back and defend it with determination. The following delivery at 59.2 saw Cummins bowl a good length delivery just outside off, which nipped away, narrowly evading Thakur’s edge.
The final ball of the eventful over, 59.1, saw Cummins deliver a back-of-length delivery outside off, left alone by Thakur. It marked the end of a gripping session, leaving both teams on the edge of their seats.