Team Australia's Win in Indore Secures Their Exclusion from World Tennis Championship Final
Another Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test match has concluded after three days. Yet the outcome took a significant turn. Australia, defeated and almost written off, responded forcefully in the third Test match at Indore's Holkar Stadium to clinch a nine-wicket victory. Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head finished the chase on Friday morning after Australia needed 76 runs in the last innings to win the game. Australia secured a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) championship game with the victory. Where does India stand in the WTC points standings, though?
Australia had had a 2-0 series victory against South Africa at home, therefore all they needed to do to go to the championship game was draw one of the four games they played against India. Yet, after suffering two humiliating losses in Nagpur by an innings and 123 runs and New Delhi by six wickets, analysts and seasoned athletes entirely dismissed Australia and projected an Indian rout.
Australia, who were playing without their normal captain Pat Cummins, lost the toss and were ordered to bowl first, in contrast to the previous two games. However on the challenging Indore pitch, it was India that paid the price as the Australian spin trio of Nathan Lyon, Kuhnemann, and Shaun Murphy took up nine wickets between them to dismiss the hosts for only 109, with the veteran spinner picking up a five-wicket haul.
Lyon once again played a significant part as he picked up a record eight-wicket haul in the second innings, which helped Australia with just 76 runs to chase for a victory after Australia snuck out to an 87-run lead. The goal was chased by Australia in only 18.5 overs thanks to Head's 49* and Labuschagne's 28*.
Australia qualified for the WTC final with the victory and a PCT of 68.52. With one more match left in this cycle, they have won 11 of their first 18 Test matches. India, who seemed to be in good shape to book their spot in the championship game, will now have to wait to find out what happens in the fourth Test. They remain in second place with a PCT of 60.29.
India's opportunity to go to the WTC final is currently in jeopardy. India will not place in the top two if Australia is able to tie the series at 2-2 in the fourth Test and Sri Lanka defeats New Zealand 2-0 in the next series. India must defeat Australia in the last game, which will start on March 9 in Ahmedabad, in order to go to the championship game.
