Green's catch under cloud as India end Day 4 at 164/3, chasing 444 for WTC Final win
The great Virat Kohli will keep most of India in prayer mode and in front of the TV on Sunday afternoon as his counterattacking 44* (60b, 7x4) and Ajinkya Rahane's assured 20* (59b, 3x4) have kept the team in the hunt for an improbable chase of 444 to win the World Test championship final against Australia.
Kohli and Rahane added an unbeaten stand of 71 for the fourth wicket to take India to 164 for 3 at stumps on Day Four at The Oval on Saturday.
Things looked grim after twin brain fades from skipper Rohit Sharma, lbw while sweeping off-spinner Nathan Lyon for a stylish 43 (60balls, 7x4) despite the presence of a short-fine leg and Cheteshwar Pujara, caught behind attempting an IPL-style ramp shot off Aussie skipper Pat Cummins for 27 (47 balls, 5x4), had reduced India from 92 for 1 to 93 for 3 within the space of five balls.
That was after the ludicrous decision of scrapping the soft signal to adjudicate on contentious catches came back to haunt the teams, the ICC, the custodians of cricket, and triggered a controversy that marred a beautiful Test. It seemed like poetic justice.
Except for India and opener Shubman Gill, the affected parties.
All-rounder Cameron Green seemed like he had taken his second surreal grab of the contest after pouching Ajinkya Rahane at gully in the first innings when Gill guided a rising Scott Boland delivery outside off-stump between second slip and a floating fourth slip.
India were making a good first of the target and had galloped to 41-0 in seven overs.
But when Gill's push was pouched by the 6-foot seven inch, but wonderfully athletic Green, low to his left, the batsman chose to stand his ground convinced that the ball had bounced.
1/10:WTC Final: Kohli, Rahane hold firm against Australia
AP
2/10:Virat Kohli
<p>Virat Kohli defied Australia on Day 4 to give India hope of an extraordinary win in what could be a grandstand finish to the World Test Championship final at The Oval. </p>AFP
3/10:Record-breaking chase
<p>India were 164/3 at stumps, still needing a further 280 runs to reach what would be a record-breaking total of 444 on the fifth and final day. </p>AFP
4/10:Hopes rest on...
<p>Kohli was 44 not out, while Ajinkya Rahane was unbeaten on 20 after he had already marked his first Test in over a year by top-scoring with 89 in India's first-innings 296. </p>Getty Images
5/10:Grandest triumph
<p>India have won their last four series against Australia but a victory in south London might just surpass even those wins. </p>AFP
6/10:History awaits India
<p>The scale of India's task was emphasised by the fact that only four teams in 146 years of Test cricket have made more than 400 to win in the fourth innings. </p>AP
7/10:Australia
<p>Australia need 7 more wickets to win the only major global men's trophy to have so far eluded them and ensure they head into next week's Ashes against England in buoyant mood. </p>Getty Images
8/10:Rohit Sharma
<p>India captain Rohit Sharma set the initial tone for a daunting chase with several boundaries, including a pulled six off Mitchell Starc. </p>AFP
9/10:Controversial catch
<p>But on the stroke of tea, Shubman Gill fell to a controversial catch when Cameron Green dived low to his left following an edge off Scott Boland. </p>Getty Images
10/10:Captain falls
<p>Spin proved Rohit's undoing on a wearing pitch when he missed an attempted sweep against Nathan Lyon, bowling from around the wicket, falling LBW for 43. </p>AFPThe on-field umpires, Richard Illingworth and Chris Gaffney though referred the decision to TV umpire Richard Kettleborough. After watching several replays for a few minutes to check if the ball had brushed the turf after Green had grabbed the catch and turned his hand, Kettleborough curiously decided that Green was under control of the catch.
Boos went around the Oval from the huge Indian support base who saw the replay. Their disappointment was not unjustified. Ex-Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting on air asked, "The ball went into his hand maybe 6-8 inches above the ground but the question I have got was, did any part of the ball touch the ground just after he completed the catch? I am sure that's what Rohit Sharma is arguing with the umpires. I am sure that's why Shubman Gill is so disappointed."
Some fans even screamed "Cheats!"
The catch and the controversy brought back ugly memories of the 'Monkeygate' Test in Sydney in 2008 when Sourav Ganguly's catch by Michael Clarke in the slips off Brett Lee was ruled out when replays showed the ball had bounced.
Earlier, India had bowled with control and intensity to keep Australia in check for large parts of the first session and a half.
Wicket-keeper batsman Alex Carey, who had scored a breezy 48 in the first innings, had a second productive outing, staying unbeaten on 66 and added a crucial stand of 93 for the seventh wicket with Mitchell Starc (41). Australia who began the day at 123-4, declared at 270 for 8 with Ravindra Jadeja taking 3-58, getting generous turn from the rough over the wicket.
