LONDON (AP) — Australia bowled out India for 296 and extended its lead to 196 runs by tea on the third day of the World Test Championshp final at the Oval on Friday.
Australia began its second innings with a 173-run lead and lost only opening batter David Warner, who edged behind Mohammed Siraj for 1.
That stirred a dozing Marnus Labuschagne off the team balcony. He almost ran himself out twice and was also softened up twice by hits on the left hand from Siraj in a lively 11 overs.
But Labuschagne made it to the interval on 8, with Usman Khawaja on 13.
India's fightback after lunch lasted 36 more runs for its last four wickets.
Ajinkya Rahane's classy team-high score of 89 was ended in the second over after lunch by a brilliant one-handed catch by Cameron Green at gully. Rahane thick-edged Pat Cummins and Green somehow plucked the screamer out of the air behind him at full stretch.
India would have been in much deeper trouble without Rahane's and Shardul Thakur's stirring partnership of 109. Both were willing to take painful body blows to regain their side's hope in the contest. Australia also gave them several lives.
Rahane was crunched on the fingers and right ear on Thursday, and hit on the fingers again on 71. Rahane was given out on 17 but Cummins overstepped, survived on an umpire's call on 53, and dropped on 72 by Warner.
Thakur was hit in the forearm twice in a row by Cummins, took a painkiller and resorted to arm guards. He also took shots to his thumb and ribs. Thakur was dropped before he scored and on 8, and would have been out lbw for 36 but Cummins overstepped again.
Thakur's second driven four in a Cummins over got him to 51 from 109 balls and a standing ovation. A fourth half-century in nine tests earned Rishabh Pant's backup a standing ovation. He was ninth man out next ball, edging Green behind.
There was a comic ending when Siraj was given out leg before. He successfully challenged and forced four disrespectful Australians to return to the field. The innings lasted five more balls.
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