Match Report
WTC Final: Mohammed Shami And Tim Southee Shines On Bowlers’ Day Out, Twitter Reacts
By Aditya Pratap - Jun 23, 2021 12:07 am
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Before the fifth day’s play started in Southampton, New Zealand had the upper hand in the ongoing World Test Championship Final. A draw was also a likely outcome. And an outside chance for Team India to boss the game. For that to happen, India were required to clean New Zealand’s innings quick and gain a confidence-boosting lead before setting a challenging target.

shami watling
Mohammed Shami clean bowled BJ Watling on Day 5

Though this fantasy for India didn’t unfold this way and despite being disciplined with the ball, they ended up conceding the lead to New Zealand. Indian bowlers started the day on a good note and restricted Kiwi batsmen from running away with the game. Maiden overs came one after another but it was until Mohammed Shami came to bowl when India got their first breakthrough.

Also Read: Mohammed Shami castles BJ Watling with a jaffa

Shami was fired up throughout the day and bowled a spell to remember. He removed BJ Watling just before the lunch break and allowed India to dream for a lead. However, Kane Williamson was holding one end tight and looked like an unremovable force. He scored vital 49 runs but took 177 balls for them. And he was the only man that kept India from gaining a lead.

Tim Southee played a handy knock of 30 runs which eventually gave his team a crucial 32-run lead. Shami was the pick of the bowler with a four-fer. Ishant Sharma got three wickets while Ashwin managed a brace.

Also Read: Mohammed Shami wraps towel around his waist, watch here

In response, India began slowly and lost Shubhman Gill’s wicket before wiping out the deficit. Tim Southee removed him with a proper inswinger. Rohit Sharma looked comfortable in the middle but Southee set him up well and trapped him in front. Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli were batting in the middle at the stumps of day 5. India were 64/2 at the close, 32/2 effectively.

Have a look at how Twitter reacted on the fifth day’s play;

https://twitter.com/fwildecricket/status/1407404628250144773