Scott Boland provided a magnificent start to Day 3 of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final as he claimed a crucial wicket and nearly had another breakthrough. His exceptional bowling display put India on the back foot right from the beginning of play.
The first highlight of the day came on the 38.2nd over when Boland sent Srikar Bharat back to the pavilion. The delivery was on a good length, angling back into the right-hander. Bharat, caught in half-forward defense, left a tiny gap between his bat and pad. The ball sneaked through the gap and crashed into the top of middle stump, dismissing Bharat after just facing one ball on Day 3. It was a disastrous start for India, leaving them in a precarious position.
Shardul Thakur, who came in after Bharat’s wicket at the crease, survived a scare when he edged a delivery from Boland. The ball flew high and just eluded the outstretched hand of the third slip fielder, Usman Khawaja. It was a tough chance, and Khawaja’s leap wasn’t enough to grasp it firmly. Thakur got a lifeline, providing India with a momentary sigh of relief.
Boland continued to pose challenges for Thakur, with deliveries angling across him and occasionally finding extra bounce. Thakur defended well and displayed resilience as he looked to stabilize India’s innings. However, Australia’s bowling attack remained relentless, maintaining pressure on the Indian batsmen.
