WTC final: Kohli, Rahane rebuild as India needs 280 today with seven wickets in hand

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane kept India's thin hopes alive in the World Test Championship with an impressive unbroken 71-run fourth wicket partnership on the fourth day at the Oval.

Chasing a world record 444 for victory, India finished Day Four at 164 for three.

Kohli was batting on 44 off 60 balls while Rahane was unbeaten on 20 off 59 balls.

India will be expecting big hundreds from Kohli and Rahane tomorrow as the team needs 280 runs on the final day with seven wickets in hand.

The two batsmen joined hands after India was reduced to 93 for three as Australia delivered double blows in the post-tea session.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon struck against the run of play as he had Indian skipper Rohit Sharma (43) lbw and then Cheteshwar Pujara was caught behind off Pat Cummins.

Rohit and and Pujara (27) were batting confidently after Scott Boland dismissed Shubman Gill for 18.

Gill was caught by Cameron Green in the slips as India lost the first wicket at 41.

Rohit and Pujara then built a promising partnership, but Lyon dismissed the Indian skipper.

In the next over, Cummins sent back Pujara to leave India in big trouble.

Rahane then joined Kohli in the middle and took India to the close of play without any further damage.

Lyon, Boland and Cummins took one wicket each for Australia.

Record chase

To win the WTC final, India must break the world record for run chases in Test cricket.

The Aussies set India a target of 444 runs.

No team in the history of Test cricket has successfully chased more than 418 runs in the fourth innings.

Australia declared its second innings at 270 for eight on the back of Alex Carey's superb unbeaten 66 and his 93-run seventh wicket partnership with Mitchell Starc who made 41 off 57 balls.

Earlier, fast bowler Umesh Yadav dismissed Marnus Labuschagne, who was caught at first slip by Pujara.

ALSO READ:

• WTC final: What we have learned so far and what we can expect now

• WTC final: Rahane has not given up hope despite Australia's formidable lead

• Vriitya Aravind's 70 goes in vain as West Indies beats UAE by four wickets

Labuschagne failed to add to his overnight score of 41.

Umesh (2/54) opened the bowling for India on Day Four with Mohammed Shami (2/39), with both bowlers keeping a very tight line.

Carey joined Cameron Green (25) in the middle and took Australia to 156 for five at the drinks break in the morning session.

But Jadeja, who was brought back into the attack, found his line and length brilliantly and eventually bowled Green.

With 268 wickets in Test cricket, Jadeja (3/58) has now become India's most successful left-arm spinner, overtaking the legendary Bishan Singh Bedi who took 266 wickets.

It seemed India would manage to restrict Australia to a modest score after Jadeja struck.

But Carey and Starc batted superbly to help Australia set a big fourth innings target for India.

• Sports