WTC Final: Mohammed Shami Strikes As India Rock New Zealand In World Test Final

Cricket Image for WTC Final: Mohammed Shami Strikes As India Rock New Zealand In World Test Final (Image Source: Google)

Mohammed Shami led the way as India's pacemen reduced New Zealand to 135-5 as they revived the rain-marred World Test Championship final at Southampton as a contest on Tuesday.

Shami removed Ross Taylor (11) and BJ Watling (one), either side of Ishant Sharma dismissing Henry Nicholls (seven), to leave New Zealand still 82 runs behind India's first innings 217 at lunch on the fifth day.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, one of the world's best batsmen, had taken 112 balls for his 19 not out – proof of just how tough it was to face a high-quality attack in overcast conditions. Shami, meanwhile, had fine figures of 2-31 in 18 overs.

Yet given a standard men's test lasts a maximum of five days this match, which has seen both Friday's opening day and all of Monday's play washed out without a ball bowled, would normally be heading towards a draw.

But match referee Chris Broad and the umpires can take the game into Wednesday's specially allocated reserve day in the hope a two-year process to crown test cricket's first official world champion might end with a winner in a match where the total prize money on offer is $2.4 million.

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