WTC 2021-23 Final: Shardul Thakur’s half century equals unique record of Sir Don Bradman and Allan Border
Shardul Thakur, India (Source: Twitter)
When it comes to cricketing relationships, Shardul Thakur and the Oval are hardly much better than the others. In the India versus Australia WTC Final 2023 at the Oval, the Indian Test all-rounder scored his third fifty-plus score. In fact, it was his third half-century hat trick at the place. And that helped him achieve a remarkable record that will make other Indian batsmen, including the prolific Virat Kohli, envy. With a hat-trick of fifty-plus scores at the Oval, he modelled himself after two of the greatest Test batters, Don Bradman and Allan Border. His knock enabled India to close the deficit to a great extent.
India needed another batter to rise up and provide support after falling to 152/6 despite Ajinkya Rahane’s outstanding rescue effort. Shardul carried it out. He put together a 109-run stand with Ajinkya Rahane to postpone the inevitable. Rahane took the initiative, scoring at a rate of more than one run per ball, while Shardul withstood the strain and only sometimes connected on loose deliveries. He patiently waited, needing 109 balls to reach 51 runs with six fours. But more crucially, he was on the pitch for 156 minutes, second only to Ajinkya Rahane’s 254 minutes.
India conceded a 173-run first-innings lead vs Australia
Shardul Thakur also performed the ball trick. At the Oval, he has seven wickets, including two in the WTC Final. It’s interesting to note that two of the best Test batsmen, Steve Smith and Joe Root, were among his victims. Shardul then struck out both of them cleanly. However, neither his nor Rahane’s efforts were sufficient for India. It did postpone the inevitable, but ultimately India was dismissed for 296 runs, giving Australia a commanding 173-run lead after the first inning.
As things stand, Australia look favourites to win the WTC 2021-23 final. Until the 23rd over, they have extended their lead to 235 runs with the second innings score at 62/2. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith are out there in the middle trying to extend their lead whereas Indian bowlers continue to struggle to find regular wickets.
