Australia made 78 runs for 2 wickets in an absorbing first session as they reached 201/6 and extended their overall lead over India to 374 runs in their second innings on Day 4 of the WTC final at The Oval here on Saturday.
At lunch, Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc were batting on 41 and 11, respectively with Ravindra Jadeja being the pick of bowlers who claimed three wickets in this innings.
Resuming their innings 123/4, Marnus Labuschagne was first to go, caught Cheteshwar Pujara in the slips off Umesh Yadav for his overnight 41 runs.
Cameron Green at the other end, buckled down even as Carey began emphatically, but Jadeja used the deteriorated wicket at one end to his advantage and put an end to Green's sluggish little innings of 25 off 95 balls.Indian bowlers were on the money and restrained Australia batsmen, hardly giving the width to score.
Before the Aussie batsmen came out to bat in the post-lunch session, their think-tank could have been engaged in a serious discussion as to how much more runs is enough for them to ask India to chase.
Australia would love to go for a victory, but they are also aware of The Ashes ahead of this match, and will like their bowlers to go full steam, burning them out on a pitch that has slowed down a tad.As many as 154 overs remain in this match, and the spectators would be in for a chimerical finish.
After lunch, Australia came out with the intent to score quick runs, and they managed to do so thanks to Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey. The duo added 93 for the 7th wicket in 120 balls to give Australia the added cushion and set a target of 444 runs to the defending runner ups.(UNI)
