In Ahmedabad, the clash between India and Australia concluded as the 4th test match ended in a draw. The Border-Gavaskar was won by India (2-1) again, it is the fourth time in a row that India has won the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
World Test Championship (WTC) started its second edition in August 2021 and after almost two years it has its two finalists.
What the series meant for WTC qualifications
Australia needed to win one game to qualify directly for the final in the Oval, they won the third test in Indore where they qualified for the finals. For India to be eligible for the finals on their efforts they needed to win the 4th test. A draw or loss in Ahmedabad would have jeopardised their spot as Sri Lanka playing in New Zealand could eliminate them by winning the 2-match series with 2-0 scorelines.
Heroics from New Zealand help India
The first test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka was looking to go in Sri Lanka’s kitty for the better part of the match. Losing the toss and put on to bat at the Hagley Oval Sri Lanka scored a mammoth total of 355 runs. Sri Lanka had the game pretty much in hand with New Zealand 6 down for only 188 runs and still trailing by 167 runs. If it was not for the heroics of Darryl Mithcell and Matt Henry scoring his personal best of 72 New Zealand would never have taken a lead in the first innings.
It was Angelo Matthews from Sri Lanka who turned up with the bat in the second innings scoring a century and giving New Zealand a target of 285. On the fifth day, the match was looking to go towards a boring draw with rain spoiling the game. But it was Kane Williamson along with 1st innings hero Mitchell to get New Zealand back into the game. With 5 runs required off the last three balls, Williamson found a beautiful cover drive to make the scores level. On the last ball requiring just one run to win the game with Williamson on strike, it looked pretty easy to win for New Zealand but the last ball was anything but easy. Running off a bye non striker Neil Wagner survived a close run-out call at the striker’s end and then the bowler Asitha Fernando hit the stumps at the non-striker end where Williamson was just inches in his crease.
What it means for India
The match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka meant that India qualifies for the WTC final despite a draw in Ahmedabad. India will have a shot at destiny as they are gearing up to play their second final. It will be the mighty Aussies against India at Oval, London in June.
With the conditions being very different from the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar trophy. Who do you think will come on top when the two great sides meet again in the Final on 7th June?
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