India and Australia are currently competing in the important World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023 at the Kennington Oval in London. India dominated the first session of the game after winning the toss and opting to field first as their bowlers struck a few early dismissals for them.
Mohammed Siraj gave India their first breakthrough by getting Usman Khawaja out for a duck in the fourth over of the innings. Later, Shardul Thakur and KS Bharat‘s combined efforts resulted in another wicket for India just before Lunch.
After the break, it was Mohammed Shami who got the job done for India by bowling an impressive delivery to dismiss the in-form batsman Marnus Labuschagne. Notably, Labuschagne’s wicket was a crucial one for India as he had faced 62 deliveries and was batting at 26.
Shami struck with his very first ball after Lunch, and he did so with a delivery that was pitched right up. Although Shami had been bowling slightly shorter before the break, this time, it was an excellent outside-off full ball which tempted Labuschagne to drive. The world no. 1 ranked batter couldn’t resist and tried to hit it straight, but the ball moved sharply and went through the gap between his bat and pad, hitting the off stump.
Shami was seen jumping in joy after the dismissal, whereas Labuschagne seemed surprised with the jaffa from the Indian pacer.
Here’s the video:
It is worth mentioning that a statement given by Labuschagne on Shami ahead of the commencement of the WTC Final 2023 has now been doing rounds on the internet, where he praised the 32-year-old cricketer for his bowling and lauded him over his wrist position.
“His seam is always pointing dead straight, great wrist position,” Labuschagne had said to ICC a day before the WTC Final 2023.
