Watch: Jasprit Bumrah trapped Steve Smith in front with a brilliant slower ball to give India their third breakthrough in their defence of 240 in the 2023 World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad today (November 19).
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Australia started their run-chase of 241 in the World Cup final on a strong note, scoring 15 runs off the first over of Bumrah. However, their joy was short-lived as Mohammed Shami got David Warner to edge one to Virat Kohli at first slip in the second over to provide India the first breakthrough.
Mitchell Marsh then got a faint edge trying to cut a short ball in the fifth over, handing Bumrah his first wicket of the match. Smith came to the crease at No.4 with the score reading 41-2 from 4.3 overs.
He played out the first eight deliveries he faced rather comfortably, before a cunning off cutter from Bumrah foxed him. Bowled at a good length and angled into his stumps, Bumrah went past Smith’s defences to trap him in front.
The umpire didn’t hesitate to raise his finger and Smith walked back without taking a review assuming he was plumb in front. However, replays showed that the impact was outside off and had Smith taken the review, the umpire would have needed to overturn his decision.
The wicket left Australia struggling at 47-3 from seven overs. This wasn’t Bumrah’s first memorable wicket with a slower ball in this World Cup. At the same venue against Pakistan, he had knocked over Mohammad Rizwan’s stumps with a similar off-cutter.
Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne then stitched an impressive partnership for the fourth wicket, taking Australia to 93-3 by the end of 17 overs.
Watch Jasprit Bumrah trap Steve Smith with a cunning slower ball in the World Cup final:
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