LONDON (AP) — Australia stretched its lead to 296 runs against India and tightened its grip on the World Test Championship final after three fascinating days at the Oval on Friday.
A streaky India was finally bowled out for 296 before tea and Australia padded its already huge lead of 173 runs on the first innings with 123 more by stumps.
It was another enthralling, bruising day in which the fast bowlers capitalized on a pitch with a nasty, erratic bounce to put the batters in extreme doubt. And yet the quality of the world’s two best teams produced 268 runs from 75.4 overs at a cost of nine wickets.
India did well to take four wickets but the target was becoming ever more imposing on a misbehaving pitch.
Just as the Australian seamers worked over the Indians, the Indians paid back the Australians in kind.
David Warner was shuffled off for 1, caught behind, though his 48 in the first innings will give him an Ashes start.
That stirred a dozing Marnus Labuschagne off the team balcony. He almost ran himself out twice and was softened up by two hits on the left hand by Mohammed Siraj in an electric 11 overs before tea. He kept his head to be 41 not out. Cameron Green was with him on 7.
Usman Khawaja was out for 13 to a poor shot against Umesh Yadav.
Steve Smith and Labuschagne took all tension out of the air and silenced the pro-India crowd of 25,170 by spreading the field in an easy stand of 62. That was until Smith seemed bored when he charged at Ravindra Jadeja and sliced to cover on 34.
Travis Head, a century-maker like Smith from the first innings, also seemed to say he’d batted enough when, after a couple of fluky sixes, he patted back to Jadeja for a caught and bowled on 18.
Here are the best memes from the day: