Australia, on, Friday, confirmed their place in the final of the second edition of the ICC World Test Championship (ICC WTC) with a memorable win over India in the recently-concluded third Test at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Both India and Australia had the opportunity to seal their position in the ICC WTC final in the game and it was the visitors who grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Australia beat the hosts by 9 wickets to keep alive their hopes of avoiding a series defeat and sealed the ICC WTC Final spot. After two crushing losses in the first two Tests, the Steve Smith-led side came up with fine performances especially with the ball to win the third Test inside three days.
Asked to bowl first in the game, Australia bowled out India for just 109 runs in the first innings. In reply, they scored 197 runs with Usman Khawaja’s classy fifty leading the charge. After taking a handy 88-run lead on the tough pitch, Australia bowled out India for just 163 in the second innings.
ICC WTC Final – Qualification scenarios:
With Australia registering a win in the third Test, India still need to win the final Test of the series to ensure a passage in the ICC WTC final. In case, the result does not go India’s way in the last Test of the series, they will have to depend on the series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
Sri Lanka are currently in New Zealand for a two-match Test series. The Islanders have a slim chance of qualifying for the final but they will have to win both the Tests against the Black Caps to ensure that. At the same time, they also need India to lose the final Test against Australia.
So as India and Sri Lanka look to book their place in the ICC WTC final, here are all the qualification scenarios:
If the series ends at 3-1 in India’s favour:
If India win the last Test to clinch the series by 3-1, they will finish the ongoing ICC WTC cycle with a PCT of 62.5. It will be enough for them to book their place in the ICC WTC final, irrespective of other results.
If the series ends at 2-2:
In case, Australia go on to win the final match of the series too, India will finish with a PCT of 56.94. In that case, the Rohit Sharma-led side will have to depend on the result of the series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
A 2-0 win for the Sri Lankans will see them finish the WTC cycle with a PCT of 61.1 and book their place in the final. Sri Lanka, however, cannot afford to drop any point in the series as in that case, India will automatically set up a clash with Australia in the final.
If the series ends at 2-1:
In case, the last Test of the India-Australia series ends in a draw, India will finish with a PCT of 58.79. It will give Sri Lanka a chance to book their place in the ICC WTC final.
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