WTC Final: Mohammed Shami's excellent indipper traps Colin de Grandhommme in front of the stumps

The inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) between India and New Zealand has been marred by rain. But either side of it, the two teams in action have displayed some absolute quality cricket in the middle in testing conditions. The bowling from both sides has been top class and even the batsmen have showed great resolve to withstand everything that has been thrown at them.

When play started on Day five, India needed a special effort from their pacers to stay alive in the game and certainly, Mohammed Shami has stepped up to the task. Ever since he came into the attack on the fifth morning, the play livened up and India managed to pick up three wickets in the first session. He bowled a peach of a delivery to BJ Watling to castle his stumps and then backed it up with a brute to dismiss Colin de Grandhomme.

The New Zealand all-rounder was looking to score quick runs in the post-lunch session but soon after India took the new ball, Shami got the better of him. The pacer came running with all the vigour to start the 83rd over of the innings and jagged back a length ball perfectly to hit Grandhomme on the stumps.

The batsman was stuck in the crease and didn’t expect the ball to come in to him. Eventually, the red cherry hit him flush in front of the stumps only for the umpire to raise his finger without any hesitation.

Here’s the video:

As many as 10 wickets fell in the day, with Mohammad Shami taking four of them 🔥

Your @bookingcom Best Wickets from Day 5 of the ICC World Test Championship Final 👇#WTC21 Final | #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/rJ4F5Vdq4d

— ICC (@ICC) June 22, 2021

India bowlers stage a stunning fightback

Meanwhile, India have staged a stunning fightback in the WTC Final after not bowling well on the third day. They came back well on the fifth morning drying out all the runs and in the process, picked wickets of New Zealand as well. They only conceded 34 runs in 23 overs of play in the first session and while Shami was picking wickets, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma were tight in their lengths.

They were rewarded with the wickets as well and the game is hanging right in the balance at the moment and it remains to be seen if the teams can eke out a result of this Test to become champions.