Team India are back at the top of the World Test Championship points table after knocking England out of contention for the final race. They now need to either win or draw the last Test to confirm a spot in the final alongside New Zealand. The final will be played at Lord’s from 18-22 June. England, who are now 2-1 down in the four-match series, needed to win the four-match series 3-1 to play the final. New Zealand are assured of a place in the final with 70 percentage points.
In a tweet, The ICC has updated the position of India along with sharing the qualification scenarios for the Virat Kohli-led team.
“India top the table They now need to win or draw the last Test to book a place in the #WTC21 final” read ICC’s tweet.
India Top World Test Championship Points Table
India top the table 👏
They now need to win or draw the last Test to book a place in the #WTC21 final 👀#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/FQcBTw6dj6
— ICC (@ICC) February 25, 2021
“England have dropped to 64.1 percentage points on the points table, which is now led by India with 71 percentage points,” the ICC further stated. “
Meanwhile, If India lose the final Test then Australia, who are in third place with 69.2 percentage points, will sneak in to make the World Test Championship final.
Also Read: 3 Shortest Test Matches Ever In The History Of The Game
As many as 17 wickets fell on day 2 of the Pink-Ball Test with Joe Root picking up his career-best of 5 for 8 in the Indian first innings. India lost their last seven wickets pretty quickly inside the first session starting at 99 for 3 and being bowled out for 145. Root got enough help from the wicket to keep the Indian lower-order guessing. The pitch showed increasing signs of turn and bounce as England used none of their seamers in the first session on day 2. India took a 33-run lead with England looking forward to batting better in the second innings.
Meanwhile, no one expected things to pan out the way they did in the second innings for England. England batters found batting even more difficult in the second innings. They had absolutely no idea as to how the pitch behaved throughout the phase of play. Stokes top-scored with 25 in the second innings while Root and Ollie Pope scored 19 and 12 respectively.
With India needing 48 needing to win in the second innings, Rohit Sharma (25) and Shubman Gill (15) got the runs inside eight overs for an early finish.
Also Read: Pink-Ball Test Day 2 Report
