India had the upper hand on day two of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC 2023) final against Australia at the Oval in London on June 8, 2023. Australia resumed their innings on 327/3 with Travis Head and Steve Smith at the crease.
Head continued his good form and made 163 runs before he was caught by KS Bharat trying to fend off a short ball from Mohammed Siraj, ending their fourth wicket partnership at 285 runs. Steve Smith then continued on and completed his 31st Test ton and 9th against India.
However, his knock was ended by Shardul Thakur on 121 runs as he chopped a wide delivery on his own stumps. Cameron Green looked a bit unsettled at the crease and in an effort to drive a wide delivery from Mohammad Shami, edged the ball to Shubman Gill in second slip for 6 runs.
Alex Carey was trying his best to add valuable runs as Australia went past 400 with him and Mitchell Starc trying to survive Indian bowlers. However, Starc tried to take a cheeky single and lost his wicket.
He hit a delivery straight to mid-off and set off for a quick run, where substitute fielder Akshar Patel pounced on the ball quickly, picked it and threw it in midair, scoring a direct hit with Starc struggling to make it.
Replays showed what Akshar Patel had indicated to the umpire and Starc knew as he was on his way back to the pavilion thanks to the Indian all-rounder’s excellent fielding effort.
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