WTC 2023 Final [WATCH]: Mohammad Siraj ends Travis Head’s resistance as India fightback

Australia resumed Day 2 of the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final from the overnight score of 327/3. Steve Smith and Travis Head continued to extend their partnership by scoring boundaries on the bad balls. This quick addition of runs soon took the team total to 361-3 as duo added 34 in just six overs.

In the process, Smith completed his 31st century in Test cricket. On the other hand, the centurion of Day 1, Head, reached the landmark of 150 runs. However, Indians bowlers soon got the reward for their hard work.

After playing five full overs at the start of the day with ease, Siraj’s brilliant short ball on the leg stump helped India in getting the early breakthrough, which was the big wicket of Head.

The Australian batter shuffled to his left for a pull but got a slight edge of  the bat. KS Bharat, who dismissed David Warner with a brilliant catch earlier, did not miss the coming opportunity once again, as he collected the ball behind the wickets and sent the southpaw back to the pavilion for 163.

Even on the opening day of the match, Siraj got Head into trouble twice with short deliveries at an uncomfortable height. While the batter was lucky on both those occasions, he could only send the ball to the keeper third time.

Here’s the video:

Cameron Green was next to fall, nicking to slip off Mohammed Shami.

Meanwhile, Smith who became the second batter after Head to smash a century in the WTC Final,  chopped the away going delivery from Shardul Thakur on to his stumps. He departed after a gritty 121 off 268 balls.

Mitchell Starc soon got run out, thanks to some sharp work in the field from Axar Patel, who came in as substitute fielder. Wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey and captain Pat Cummins holded the fort for Australia before the umpires took off the bails to mark lunch with the score reading 422-7.

Indian bowlers returned to bowl out the World No. 1 Test side for 469 in their first innings.