Cricket News

Axar Patel sends Mitchell Starc back to pavilion with razor sharp one-handed throw in 2023 WTC final

Starc was dismissed for five runs.

Jun 8, 2023 7:09 pm

India found an opening on Day 2 of the World Test Championship final and stemmed the run flow by taking the wickets of Steve Smith and Travis Head. Then, India clawed back with the wickets of Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc. Travis Head and Steven Smith scored 163 off 174 balls with 25 fours and one six and 121 off 268 balls with 19 fours, respectively. They found a game-setting partnership and made the Indians shiver.

Starc was dismissed for 5 off 20 balls with a razor-sharp run-out throw from Axar Patel. Starc tried to hit the ball down the ground towards mid-on. Axar, as a substitute came in and attacked the ball, picked the ball up one-handed to his life side, and disrupts the stumps at the bowler’s end. The replays then confirmed that Starc was short by a few yards. Starc paid the price as he forgot that Axar’s strong side is his left-hand side.

Here is the video:

Axar Patel with a brilliant RUN OUT!#CricketTwitter #INDvsAUS #WTC23Final #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/zqbFRHLKQQ

— chasingthetarget (@chasingtarget) June 8, 2023

Steve Smith and Travis Head floored India with a 285-run partnership

On a bouncy pitch at the Oval, India had their noses in front for the early part of the first session as they reduced Australia to 76-3. Usman Khawaja was dismissed for a 10-ball duck to Mohammed Siraj. Shardul Thakur strangled down David Warner for 43 on the leg side. Marnus Labuschagne, who had troubled India in the past, was dismissed for just 26 runs with a peach of a ball from Mohammed Shami.

Australia took back all the momentum with a 285-run partnership that took the wind out of India’s sails. Both of the nations are looking for their first WTC title. The two nations had locked horns against each earlier in March this year. In that four-match Test series, India beat Australia 2-1, but Australia triumphed in English conditions against an Indian bowling attack that did not turn up.

Australia plays England in the Ashes after the WTC final. The Kangaroos have absolutely treated the Indian attack with disdain and it will not make them forget this hapless bowling display in a hurry.