Kohli, Rahane keep India alive in hunt of 444

India 296 (Rahane 89, Shardul 51, Cummins 3-83) and 164 for 3 (Kohli 44*, Rohit 43) need another 280 runs to beat Australia 469 (Head 163, Smith 121, Siraj 4-108) and 270 for 8 dec (Carey 66, Labuschagne 41, Starc 41, Jadeja 3-58, Shami 2-39, Umesh 2-54)

London: Australia are on course to be crowned world Test champions but must find a way past India's Virat Kohli if they are to win the final at The Oval.

Set a world record 444 to win, India reached 164-3 at the close on day four, with Kohli in imperious touch for his 44 not out and Ajinkya Rahane unbeaten on 20.

India earlier slipped to 91-3 after Cameron Green was controversially adjudged to have caught Shubman Gill and a stand of 51 between Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara ended with both falling for the addition of one run.

On a glorious evening, with India's passionate fans delighting at every addition to the scoreboard, Australia ended needing seven more wickets, India another 280 runs.

Australia earlier declared their second innings on 270-8 an hour after lunch, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey 66 not out.

There is a reserve day scheduled for Monday if time is lost to bad weather, but the forecast for Sunday suggests there will be ample time to determine the second world Test champions, after New Zealand two years ago.

If there is no time lost and the game is drawn on the fifth day, Australia and India will share the title.

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

Australia crowned World Test Championship winners [+]

Always ahead of India in the final, they sealed the title with seven wickets in the first session of day five.

Kohli, Rahane keep India alive in hunt of 444 [+]

Earlier, unbeaten Carey 66 allowed Australia to declare on 270 for 8.

India have hope after third-day final fightback [+]

India give themselves a glimmer of hope with a stirring fightback against Australia on day three of the World Test Championship final.

Smith and bowlers put Australia in command [+]

Rahane and Jadeja briefly looked like they might dig their side out, but Lyon late strike slashed that hope.

Head ton gives Australia control over India [+]

Smith (95*) and Head (146*) have put on an unbeaten 251-run stand against an Indian attack that looks out of its depth.

Kohli, Ashwin among seven players to leave early for ICC World Test [+]

The World Test Championship between Australia and India will be played at The Oval in London between June 7-11.

Rahane in India squad for Test championship final [+]

The final will be held at the Oval between 7 and 11 June 2023

Harris, Marsh picked in squad for WTC Final, Ashes [+]

Marcus Harris, Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis have been recalled to Australian squad for the World Test Championship Final and the Ashes series.

World Test Championship final dates announced [+]

The ICC has announced the date for the final of the second edition of the ICC World Test Championship on Wednesday.