Travis Head and Steve Smith have put Australia in a strong position. After tea, the Aussies were 231 for three in 63.2 overs when the last news was written. Head and Smith have already added 155 runs for the fourth wicket. Both are playing beautifully.
Australia were 170/3 at tea on day 1 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India at The Oval.
In the first over of the second session, Mohammed Shami gave India the perfect start by dismissing Marnus Labuschagne (26). Australia have picked up where it left off at 73/2. Mohammed Siraj had packed Usman Khawaja for zero, as India had started the day off well. Before Warner was out for 43 (60), David Warner and Labuschagne held out and contributed 69 runs for the second wicket.
At lunch, Australia were 73/2 (23) with Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith holding the fort for the Baggy Greens at their individual scores of 26 (61)* and 2 (7)*, respectively. India managed to strike early after sending down a couple of maiden overs. Australia opened their account with a double from David Warner on the 16th ball of their innings.
With the pressure building on the Australian openers to keep the scoreboard ticking over, Usman Khawaja fell for a 10-ball duck, nicking one off Mohammed Siraj to wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat.
Siraj got one to move slightly away from the southpaw, and Bharat managed to latch onto a regulation offering.
Earlier, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to field first in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at the Oval in London on Wednesday.