Oval track wasn’t fully prepared for a game like WTC final: Mohammed Shami | Cricket News – Times of India

<p>Virat Kohli defied Australia on Day 4 to give India hope of an extraordinary win in what could be a grandstand finish to the World Test Championship final at The Oval. </p>

<p>India were 164/3 at stumps, still needing a further 280 runs to reach what would be a record-breaking total of 444 on the fifth and final day. </p>

<p>Kohli was 44 not out, while Ajinkya Rahane was unbeaten on 20 after he had already marked his first Test in over a year by top-scoring with 89 in India’s first-innings 296. </p>

<p>India have won their last four series against Australia but a victory in south London might just surpass even those wins. </p>

<p>The scale of India’s task was emphasised by the fact that only four teams in 146 years of Test cricket have made more than 400 to win in the fourth innings. </p>

<p>Australia need 7 more wickets to win the only major global men’s trophy to have so far eluded them and ensure they head into next week’s Ashes against England in buoyant mood. </p>

<p>India captain Rohit Sharma set the initial tone for a daunting chase with several boundaries, including a pulled six off Mitchell Starc. </p>

<p>But on the stroke of tea, Shubman Gill fell to a controversial catch when Cameron Green dived low to his left following an edge off Scott Boland. </p>

<p>Spin proved Rohit’s undoing on a wearing pitch when he missed an attempted sweep against Nathan Lyon, bowling from around the wicket, falling LBW for 43. </p>

<p>India lost another wicket without adding another run when Cheteshwar Pujara attempted an extravagant upper-cut off Pat Cummins on 27 only to guide a simple catch to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. </p>