WTC Final Live Score, India vs Australia Day 4: IND 65/1, target: 444; Rohit, Pujara maintain positive approach

20:16 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 11 overs,India 65/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 32 , Cheteshwar Pujara 13)

FOUR! Starc is leaking too many runs at the moment. Fires one down leg to Pujara, who simply tickles this past the keeper towards the vacant fine leg fence to collect an easy boundary. Leg bye added to the Indian total in the following delivery, with the ball rolling away towards fine leg where Cummins has now placed a fielder. Starc has been expensive so far, leaking 26 runs in three overs, and might get replaced soon.

20:08 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 9 overs,India 53/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 30 , Cheteshwar Pujara 4)

FOUR! Short-arm pull by Rohit off Starc, and the Indian skipper once again manages to pick the gap between two converging fielders behind square on the leg side. Follows up with a square drive two balls later to collect two boundaries in three balls, moving to 30 and bringing up the fifty for Team India in the process.

20:02 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

The Australians make their way to the centre, with Scott Boland set to bowl out the remaining deliveries of his fourth over. Cheteshwar Pujara joins skipper Rohit Sharma at the centre following Shubman Gill's dismissal at the stroke of tea, and the Indian No 3 will hope to make up for his early dismissal in the first innings, in which he ended up shouldering his arms to a delivery that swung in and crashed onto the stumps.

19:45 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

OUT! Cameron Green pulls off another superb catch at gully, this time with his left hand as Scott Boland ends up dismissing Shubman Gill for a second time in the World Test Championship final! Gill gets a thick outside edge that normally would've run away through the gap between the slip cordon and gully. Green's wide wingspan, however, means it falls within his reach, and he does a brilliant job and lunging to his left and pulling off a low grab. Gill's not convinced though and stands his ground, with the umpires taking this upstairs. The TV umpire though, assumes Green got his finger under the ball when it came close to the ground, and rules it to be a fair catch, much to the Indians' disappointment. IND 41/1

With that, tea has been taken on Day 4 of the penultimate day, with India needing another 403 runs to win with nine wickets in hand.

Gill c Green b Boland 18(19)

19:31 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

SIX! Didn't take long for Rohit Sharma to bring out his trademark pull shot as he comfortably clears the long leg fence to move to 20! Expensive start for MItchell Starc, replacing Pat Cummins in the attack. IND 34/0

19:27 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 6 overs,India 28/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 14 , Shubman Gill 14)

First boundary-free over for Cummins as he gives away just one in his third over. Gill survives a close shave off Boland's bowling in the following over. Gets an outside edge in the second delivery, with the ball landing just short of Steve Smith at second slip. Collects a couple of doubles later in the over. A little over 10 minutes left for tea on Day 4.

19:19 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 4 overs,India 23/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 14 , Shubman Gill 9)

FOUR! And now a boundary off Boland, as Rohit flicks a pitched up delivery through the midwicket region to collect his third boundary of the chase. The Indian skipper follows it up with a couple of well-judged leaves.

19:11 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 3 overs,India 19/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 10 , Shubman Gill 9)

FOUR! Another boundary to Rohit off Cummins, this time with a lovely drive down the ground past mid on! Confident start for the Indian skipper! Gill then helps himself to consecutive boundaries later in the over, with a solid punch square of the wicket followed by an outside edge that sends the ball scurrying away between gully and the slip cordon. Good over for India, one that will boost their confidence big time, with 13 coming off it.

19:09 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 2 overs,India 6/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 5 , Shubman Gill 1)

Scott Boland shares the new ball with skipper Cummins, and not Mitch Starc. Two singles from the over, with Shubman Gill opening his account in the process.

19:05 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

FOUR! Rohit Sharma opens India's account in their run chase in style with a confident pull behind square off Pat Cummins. Two fielders converge near the backward square-leg boundary, only to watch the ball slip between them and cross the rope. IND 4/0

19:02 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

Australia skipper Pat Cummins gets ready to send down the first over of the Indian chase that will be commenced by his Indian counterpart Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Australia will hope to get an early wicket or two before tea and have the game in their pocket in the process.
 

18:59 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

418 is the highest target successfully chased in the history of Test cricket, achieved by West Indies against Australia two decades ago. The same at The Oval, where the World Test Championship final is currently taking place, is 263 achieved by England, also against Australia, more than a century ago in 1902.

India, will need to pull off something special across the four-and-a-half sessions if they are to end up on the winning side. Even a draw will be something of a victory for them from here, though knowing this side, they will be gunning for the ultimate glory.

18:54 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 84.3 overs,Australia 270/8 ( Alex Carey (W) 66 , )

OUT! Australia declare on 270/8 soon as Pat Cummins (5) is dismissed by Mohammed Shami. Cummins, who had collected a boundary in the previous over, gets a thick leading edge, resulting in a simple catch for substitute fielder Axar Patel near cover.

That leaves India needing 444 to win the World Test Championship Final and end their decade-long wait for an ICC trophy!

Cummins c sub (Axar) b Shami 5(5)

18:42 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 84 overs,Australia 269/7 ( Alex Carey (W) 66 , Pat Cummins (C) 5)

FOUR! Cummins decides to take the aerial route against Siraj in just his second delivery that he faces, collecting a boundary as a result after getting off the mark right away with a single. With that, Australia's lead goes past the 450-mark! Drinks brought out to the field at the end of the over. Quite a warm day in London today, and the players will be more than happy to see some beverages being brought out.

18:34 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

OUT! Edged... and taken! Starc's little cameo comes to an end as he ends up getting a thick edge towards the slip cordon, where Kohli latches on to the ball. Pat Cummins is seen padded up in the dressing room and decides to put on his helmet right after the wicket, meaning Australia will bat on for a little longer. AUS 260/7; lead by 433

Starc c Kohli b Shami 41

18:32 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

FOUR! FOUR! Starc gets on the backfoot and pulls a short-of-length delivery from Shami in front of square with authority. Follows it up with a solid cut behind point to make it back-to-back fours off the senior pacer. He moves to the 40s in the process. Swings his bat in the next delivery as well, but this time misses completely as the ball lands in the keeper's gloves. AUS 260/6; lead by 433

18:29 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 82 overs,Australia 252/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 64 , Mitchell Starc 33)

Sure enough, Siraj is brought back for another burst, this time with the second new ball, replacing Umesh in the attack. Ten off his first over of the new spell, including five wides after a steep bouncer goes over the keeper as Australia go past the 250-mark now.

18:22 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 81 overs,Australia 242/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 63 , Mitchell Starc 29)

Rohit decides to take the second new ball right away and gives it to Shami, who replaces Jadeja in the attack, hoping to break the partnership. Expect Siraj to replace Umesh from the other end. Carey, meanwhile, moves into the 60s with a boundary off an inside edge that flies past keeper Bharat off the last ball of the over.

18:19 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 80 overs,Australia 236/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 58 , Mitchell Starc 29)

FOUR! Starc continues to target Umesh, smashing a length ball down the ground. Carey has seven boundaries in nearly a hundred deliveries. Starc has five in less than half as many balls. Meanwhile, the second new ball is now available to the Indians.

18:13 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 79 overs,Australia 229/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 56 , Mitchell Starc 24)

FOUR! Australia's lead goes past 400 now! Carey gets a thick outside edge off a quicker delivery from Jadeja, with the ball going past slip and running away to the third man fence. Carey collects a single off the last delivery to keep the strike.

18:05 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

Fifty up for Alex Carey in 82 deliveries, his fourth in Tests! The wicketkeeper-batter brings up the milestone with a single off Ravindra Jadeja's bowling. Had narrowly missed out on the milestone in the first innings. AUS 223/6; lead by 396

18:04 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 76 overs,Australia 222/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 49 , Mitchell Starc 24)

FOUR! FOUR! Consecutive boundaries for Starc, who is more than handy a batter down the order for Australia! Clips the ball past the man at mid on in the penultimate ball of the 76th before producing an even more exquisite shot, driving the ball down the ground with a touch of authority. Brings up the fifty partnership with Carey in the process! Eight off Umesh's 15th over. Australia's lead now worth 395.

18:02 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 75 overs,Australia 214/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 49 , Mitchell Starc 16)

After conceding a boundary in each of their first overs of the session, Jadeja and Umesh keep things tidy with just four coming in the next three overs.

17:52 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 72 overs,Australia 210/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 46 , Mitchell Starc 15)

FOUR! Chance goes begging as a thick outside edge off Carey's bat slips through the gap between Pujara and Kohli in the slip cordon. "It was Kohli's catch," goes commentator Sunil Gavaskar on air. Umesh nearly had a second wicket to his name today.

17:46 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

FOUR! Boundary to Starc off the second delivery of the session as the southpaw drives Jadeja down the ground. AUS 205/6

17:43 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

The sun continues to beat down at The Oval as play resumes after lunch on the penultimate day of the ICC World Test Championship Final. Australia need another 26 runs to stretch their lead past 400, and it remains to be seen what their approach will be like in this session. Perhaps get some quick runs on the board and declare by tea, or get bowled out in the process. And then get an early wicket or two.

Ravindra Jadeja will bowl the first over of the second session with two slips and a forward short leg in place. Mitchell Starc on strike.

17:05 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 70 overs,Australia 201/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 41 , Mitchell Starc 11)

LUNCH ON DAY 4: Alex Carey's still going strong, remaining unbeaten on 41 in 61 deliveries at the close of the morning session, helping Australia go past 200 with the lead now worth a solid 374. Umesh Yadav, who had bowled the first over of the day and had dismissed overnight batter Marnus Labuschagne, replaces Shardul Thakur and bowls out the final over before lunch, conceding a single to Mitchell Starc.

The Indians fought hard in this session and the likes of Mohammed Siraj did not drop their intensity with the ball. Australia, however, manage to come out on top at the end of the session, thanks mainly to Carey's attacking approach.

16:57 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 69 overs,Australia 200/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 41 , Mitchell Starc 10)

FOUR! Driven through the cover region by Carey, who brings up the 200 for Australia while moving into the 40s. Australia's lead is a solid 373 at the moment, and they might just consider a declaration once it goes past the 400-mark.

16:50 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 67 overs,Australia 191/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 35 , Mitchell Starc 7)

Shardul Thakur replaces Mohammed Siraj, with the Indians hoping his golden arm results in another breakthrough. Jadeja bowls a ripper to Starc in the following over, which not only breaches his defence but also beats the keeper to run away for four byes. Big appeal for a catch at forward short-leg in the following delivery after an apparent deflection, but the umpire turns it down. Replays show no contact between bat and ball. Partnership's worth 24 at nearly run-a-ball, and these runs surely will hurt India's cause.

16:41 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

FOUR! And now a boundary to Starc, who cuts a short-of-length delivery from Jadeja through the backward point region. Valuable runs these for the Aussies, and they're coming at a rapid pace at that. AUS 181/6; lead by 354

16:40 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 64 overs,Australia 177/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 32 , Mitchell Starc 0)

Four.Two.Four. Carey decides to tee off as the Australian batting goes into the tail now. Collects two boundaries in three deliveries — punching in front of square and playing the ball last to guide it past Gill in the slip cordon, both off short-of-length deliveries. Also collects a brace between the two fours after clipping the ball behind square. And with that, Australia's lead touches the 150 mark!

16:32 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

BOWLED! The move to operate Ravindra Jadeja from over the wicket to Cameron Green gets India the breakthrough, as the all-rounder ends up getting a deflection onto the stumps off his glove followed by his thigh while looking to block the ball with a pad. His stride wasn't forward enough and the ball went past his pad with a bit of extra turn and bounce. AUS 167/6

Green b Jadeja 25(95)

16:25 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 62 overs,Australia 166/5 ( Cameron Green 25 , Alex Carey (W) 21)

FOUR! The ball flies high over the keeper and runs away to the fine leg fence. Green was attempting to fend a short ball from Siraj, and ended up getting a deflection off his glove. Partnership between Green and Carey now worth 42, with Australia's lead now closing in on the 350-mark.

16:20 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 61 overs,Australia 161/5 ( Cameron Green 21 , Alex Carey (W) 20)

Siraj resumes the bodyline stuff, this time bowling a snorter at Green that hits the lanky all-rounder near his right shoulder, with the Hyderabadi pacer walking up to the batter and offering a death stare and a few pleasantries as the Aussie physio walks out to the centre to put some spray on the point of impact. Appeal for caught-behind against Carey off Jadeja's bowling in the following over, but the umpire shakes his head and UltraEdge shows a flat line.

16:14 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 59 overs,Australia 159/5 ( Cameron Green 21 , Alex Carey (W) 18)

Jadeja continues on the other side of the drinks interval. Carey drives the ball through the cover region, and decides to push for a third after noticing Shami, not exactly the sharpest of fielders, giving the ball a chase. Meanwhile, India decide to push forward short leg back for Carey, close to the catching midwicket position in order to stop the ones and two coming off his sweeps.

16:05 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 58 overs,Australia 156/5 ( Cameron Green 21 , Alex Carey (W) 15)

Five runs added to the Aussie total in the 58th over, including four leg byes in the last delivery as the ball runs away to the fine leg fence after a deflection off Cam Green's thigh pad. Drinks brought out to the field at the end this over.

16:03 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 57 overs,Australia 151/5 ( Cameron Green 21 , Alex Carey (W) 14)

Green and Carey continue to keep the scorecard ticking through singles as the 150 comes up for Australia at the hour-mark in the morning session of the penultimate day. Steady partnership between these two so far for the sixth wicket.

16:00 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 55 overs,Australia 147/5 ( Cameron Green 20 , Alex Carey (W) 11)

Maiden to Jadeja in the 55th. The Indians appeal for a caught-behind against Green in the third delivery after the ball travels quite close to the under-edge, but keeper Bharat shakes his head, and skipper Rohit trusts his instinct. Nothing on UltraEdge whatsoever. Bharat has been great not only with his keeping skills but also with his judgement in appeals for LBW and catch that have minimised wastage of reviews for the Indians.

15:49 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 54 overs,Australia 147/5 ( Cameron Green 20 , Alex Carey (W) 11)

FOUR! Siraj starts off with a couple of dots after replacing Shami in the attack from the Pavilion End, before Carey gets down on one knee and drives an overpitched delivery outside off through the covers to collect his second boundary of the innings. The Aussie keeper-batter moves to double figures with the boundary. Four off Siraj's first over of the day.

15:43 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 53 overs,Australia 143/5 ( Cameron Green 20 , Alex Carey (W) 7)

Spin introduced for the first time today with Ravindra Jadeja replacing Umesh Yadav in the attack. Has two slips in place at the start of his spell on the penultimate day. Carey collects a single off the first delivery with a sweep behind square, which is followed by five dots.

15:41 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 52 overs,Australia 142/5 ( Cameron Green 20 , Alex Carey (W) 6)

FOUR! Driven down the ground by Green off a full delivery from Shami pitched on the off stump. Ruins what was otherwise turning out to be a good over from the senior pacer, with five dots being bowled before the boundary.

15:40 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 51 overs,Australia 138/5 ( Cameron Green 16 , Alex Carey (W) 6)

Siraj misses out on a run-out opportunity at the non-striker's end after charging in from mid on, with the ball popping out of his hand before he can direct it towards the stumps. Green tapped the ball in his direction and decided to make a dash for the non-striker's end, a move that nearly cost him his wicket.

15:32 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 50 overs,Australia 135/5 ( Cameron Green 14 , Alex Carey (W) 5)

Carey and Green collect a single each in Umesh's third over of the day. Shami then concedes his first runs of the day with a boundary to Green, with the ball flying towards the slip cordon off an outside edge, slips through the gap and runs away to the third man fence. The all-rounder then keeps the strike with a single off the last delivery.

15:24 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 48 overs,Australia 128/5 ( Cameron Green 8 , Alex Carey (W) 4)

Mohammed Shami starts off from the other end, and he begins his day with back-to-back maidens.

15:19 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

FOUR! What a start for keeper-batter Alex Carey as he collects a boundary off the very first delivery that he faces in this innings. Decides to play the back-of-length delivery from Umesh late, guiding it past gully. AUS 128/5
 

15:18 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

OUT! Umesh Yadav draws first blood on the penultimate day as Marnus Labuschagne departs without adding to his overnight score, although he does cop another couple of blows on his body in the eight deliveries that he faced today. Just the start India were looking for in their quest to bowl Australia out quickly. AUS 124/5

Labuschagne c Pujara b Umesh 41(126)
 

15:09 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 45 overs,Australia 124/4 ( Marnus Labuschagne 41 , Cameron Green 8)

Green clips the ball through the midwicket region off the second delivery for a single, collecting the first run of the day. Another day, another blow to Labuschagne as he gets hit on the thigh in the fourth ball. Tidy opening over from Umesh.

15:01 (IST)

The Indian players, mainly the bowlers, have a little beachball session before making their way to the centre along with overnight batters Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green and the two umpires.

Umesh Yadav will bowl the first over of the day with Cameron Green on strike. Early wickets the ley for India if they are to fight their way back into the game.

14:45 (IST)

What's a good total?

"India have managed to pick 4 wickets so far, but the first session is going to be really crucial. If India can come in the morning and pick up 2-3 wickets, the game will open up. Anything around 350 and India can chase it down," said Harbhajan Singh.

14:22 (IST)

What's the target in mind for Australia?

“I haven’t spoken to Pat (Cummins) yet, so I don’t know and it’s not my decision, but I think we will keep batting for now,” Starc said after Day 3. “We have still got two days to play. The weather’s been good and I think it’s warmer tomorrow. Hopefully the pitch starts playing a few more tricks but as far as I know it, we are still going to be batting tomorrow.”

Marnus Labuschagne said he wasn't sure either. “We have quite a formidable score already but you just never know,” Labuschagne told BBC Radio.