The Australian Cricket Team progressed into the 2021/23 World Test Championship finals with a dominating 9-wicket win over India on the 3rd day of the 3rd Test match played at Holkar Stadium, Indore on 3 March 2023.
After losing the first two Test matches in Nagpur and New Delhi, the Australian team staged a tremendous comeback at Indore. Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss on the first day and decided to bat first.
The Australian spinners created enough pressure on Indian batters and skittled them out for just 109 runs in the first innings. Matt Kuhemann was the pick of bowlers for Australia with 5 wickets along with Nathan Lyon 3, Todd Murphy 1 and one run out. In reply, Usman Khawaja looked solid despite the early loss of Head’s wicket.
Khawaja and Labuschagne put up an excellent display of batting on a tough batting pitch. Khawaja was the top scorer for Australia with 60 runs. The second day began with Handscomb and Green starting cautiously before the Indian bowlers especially Ashwin and Umesh Yadav rattled the Australian batting to bowl them out for 197. Australia took a substantial lead of 88 runs in the first innings.
Nathan Lyon showed his class in the 2nd innings grabbing 8 wickets helping to bowl India out for 163 in the second innings. Kuhemann, Murphy, and Mitchell Starc showed discipline.
Chasing down 76 runs to win, Usman Khawaja was dismissed in the very first over. Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne struggled initially against Ashwin and Jadeja. After the change of ball, Head and Labuschagne took the attack putting pressure on Indian bowlers. Both Australian batters added unbeaten 78 runs for the 2nd wicket helping them to win the match by 9 wickets.
Australia qualifies for the WTC Final
The Australian Cricket team progressed into the finals of 2021/23 ICC World Test Championship finals. With this win, Australia moved to 68.52 percentage points. They have played so far 18 matches in this cycle with 11 wins, 3 losses, and 4 draws.
They would be looking to perform well in the 4th and final Test match at Ahmedabad to level the series.
If you score under 110 after winning the toss on the first day of a test match, you deserve to lose 😢😔#INDvsAUSTest#INDvAUS#IndianCricketTeam
— Nammavar (@nammavar11) March 3, 2023
Abject surrender to the Aussies disgraceful @ImRo45 @BCCI @JayShah #INDvsAUSTest #IndvsAus
— Diganta Guha (@diganta_guha) March 3, 2023
First team to reach WTC final always lose! 🙂
Good strategy by team India. #INDvsAUSTest #INDvAUS #AUSvIND #BGT2023
— Grilledbunny (@GrilledBunnyy) March 3, 2023
For #TeamIndia this loss is a taste of its own medicine. #INDvsAUSTest #BGT2023 https://t.co/bcauuNx8qs
— Chatraraj® (@ItsCssOfficial) March 3, 2023
Significant win for @CricketAus dominate performance in challenging conditions.
It’s hard not to look back on the madness in Delhi… #INDvAUS— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) March 3, 2023
Comprehensive win. Outbatted the home team in these conditions.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 3, 2023
Only the 2nd time India have lost a home Test when Ashwin & Jadeja played together. Only other instance – Pune Test (2017) #IndvsAus
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) March 3, 2023
Great win Aussies 👍👍
Nath Lyon 11wickets 👑
Trav Head 49no stroke play today ✅ #IndVAus pic.twitter.com/4WafV4kLrn— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) March 3, 2023
Well played @CricketAus 👏🏽 #INDvAUS #BGT2023 pic.twitter.com/sjpOcbydoW
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 3, 2023
The significance of this Australian victory can't be overstated.
India has only lost two Tests at home in the last decade, winning 36 matches during that period.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is gone, but Australia has bounced back emphatically. Bring on Ahmedabad.#INDvAUS
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) March 3, 2023
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