Sawt Falasteen - Yadav strikes as India see off Labuschagne in WTC final

Australia resumed Saturday well-placed at 123-4 in their second innings, a lead of 296, despite a sloppy third day that included dropped catches, wickets off no-balls and rash shots that led to the dismissals of first-innings century-makers Steve Smith and Travis Head.

But Labuschagne, the world's top-ranked Test batsman, then failed to add to his overnight 41 when he was undone by a Yadav delivery that curled away and took the outside edge as he tentatively pushed forward, with Cheteshwar Pujara holding a sharp catch at first slip.

As another good crowd basked in temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius in south London, Cameron Green drove Mohammed Shami down the ground for a stylish four as he looked to spend some time in the middle ahead of next week's first Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston.

India captain Rohit Sharma turned to left-arm spinner Jadeja, who had accounted for Smith and Head on Friday, in the hope of a fresh breakthrough.

And Jadeja succeeded in unusual fashion when Green failed with an attempt to pad away a delivery that pitched outside leg stump, with a sharply turning ball deflecting onto the stumps off his glove.

Green was out for 25 and Australia were 167-6 -- a still-imposing lead of 340 runs.

The WTC is the only major men's cricket trophy Australia have yet to win.

India are appearing in their second WTC final after losing to New Zealand in the inaugural 2021 showpiece match in Southampton.

S.Barghouti--SF-PST