Scott Boland only needed two deliveries to create the first breakthrough on day three of the World Test Championship final in London, knocking over Indian wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat with an absolute peach on Friday morning.
The Victorian’s wobble-seam delivery nipped past Bharat’s defences off a good length, flicking the back pad before crashing into the pegs.
Later in the over, Usman Khawaja put down a tough one-handed chance at third slip, gifting Shardul Thakur an extra life and denying Boland his third wicket.
India is in deep trouble at 6-200, with Ajinkya Rahane (53*) and Shardul Thakur (16*) in the middle.
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The pitch’s variable bounce was more pronounced on Friday morning, with Thakur copping back-to-back blows on the forearm while facing Australian captain Pat Cummins.
Thakur was in immediate discomfort, requiring medical attention after both deliveries, and Cummins’ relentless assault continued the following ball when he struck the Indian all-rounder’s gloves.
Cummins finally found Thakur’s outside edge the following over, but Cameron Green dropped a regulation chance at gully, one he would have swallowed 95 per cent of the time.
The Australian skipper’s frustration grew when Rahane, who was gifted a reprieve the previous day on 17, brought up his half-century with a glorious pull shot that flew over the fine leg boundary for six.
Rahane continued to ride his luck, saved by Umpire’s Call in a review for LBW against Green before edging the following delivery over the slips cordon for a streaky boundary.
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Australia comprehensively dominated the first two days’ play, with Travis Head and Steve Smith starring with the bat before the fast bowlers went to work on day two.
The most impressive was Scott Boland, who was selected with Josh Hazlewood facing ongoing injury concerns, and now has a clear route into Australia’s XI for the Ashes.
Boland bowled India opener Shubman Gill with a peach in the seventh over that angled back and crashed into his off stump as the batter shouldered arms.
While runs have come quickly for both sides at the Oval, Boland only leaked 2.63 runs an over from his 11, which included four maidens.
On Friday, he will not just look to keep the pressure on India, but also push his ever-strengthening case forward to play at the Ashes.
Speaking after play, Smith sung Boland’s praises, saying he’s been a handful to face in the nets in England.
“I think the angles he provides, and his ability to hit the stumps from slightly shorter (length) than some of our other bowlers is a big plus,” he said, according to cricket.com.au.
“The skills he (Boland) possesses are magnificent.
“He’s certainly a quality prospect as we’ve seen over the last couple of years now, every time he’s had his opportunity.”
TEAMS
Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
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