Cricket-Rahane helps India hang tough against Australia onslaught

Fans were still filing into the ground in their thousands when fast bowler Scott Boland produced a vicious delivery to dislodge Srikar Bharat's stumps with the second ball of the day. As Bharat departed for five, India trailed the Australians by 317 runs and were left facing a monumental challenge of avoiding the follow-on target with just four wickets in hand.

Pat Cummins produced a vicious bowling onslaught to leave India battered and bruised as they were dismissed for 296 before Australia reached tea on 23 for one on day three of the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval on Friday.

Australia will be eager to tighten their grip on the match as they lead India by 196 runs, with Usman Khawaja batting on 13 along with Marnus Labuschagne on eight. Earlier, Ajinkya Rahane blocked out the drama engulfing his team mates at the other end of the pitch as he top scored for India with 89 while Shardul Thakur, who survived a dropped catch and took painful hits on the arm, contributed 51.

After a dismal showing on day two when India were left hanging on at 151-5 in response to Australia's first innings total of 469, the morning session got off to a painful start for the world's top-ranked team. Fans were still filing into the ground in their thousands when fast bowler Scott Boland produced a vicious delivery to dislodge Srikar Bharat's stumps with the second ball of the day.

As Bharat departed for five, India trailed the Australians by 317 runs and were left facing a monumental challenge of avoiding the follow-on target with just four wickets in hand. Three overs later, Thakur felt the full force of the power being generated by the fast bowlers as he was whacked on his right arm by successive deliveries from Australia captain Cummins, prompting him to drop his bat as he winced in pain.

Thakur also received lifelines while on eight, when he was dropped at gully by Cameron Green, and survived an lbw shout on 36 when DRS showed Cummins had bowled a no ball. While Thakur lived dangerously, Rahane went about rescuing India's hopes with his mix of delectable shot selection in the 109-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

He followed up an exquisite four with a belter of a six to bring up his 26th test 50 as he shouldered the burden of a nation desperate to win their first global ICC trophy in 10 years and avoid suffering back-to-back defeats in WTC finals. While he fell 11 runs short of scoring a century in the second over after lunch, the 35-year-old crossed 5000 test runs during his 129-ball knock which included 11 fours and a six.

Following Rahane's departure, Thakur steered India past the follow-on target before bringing up his 50 with a sumptuous four. However, soon after he edged a Green delivery straight into the gloves of wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Rohit Sharma's side went into freefall following Rahane's dismissal as Umesh Yadav (5), Thakur (51) and Mohammed Shami (13) were out in quick succession as India lost their last four wickets for 35 runs.

Such has been Australia's showing on a baking day in London, their number three batsman Labuschagne was among those who did not expect opener David Warner to survive less than four overs when he came out to bat in their second innings. Eyes closed shut, the 28-year-old was caught napping with his feet up in the pavilion when he was rudely woken up by the loud cheers of the Indian fans who were celebrating Warner being caught behind for just one by wicket-keeper Bharat.

Blinking rapidly, he hurriedly grabbed his bat to make his way to the crease and made sure Australia reached tea without losing any further wickets.