The morning air in St John's Wood carried a distinct, damp chill that stubbornly resisted the rising July sun. The streets radiating outward from the London Underground station were a surging, continuous river of humanity. There were no coordinated marches or loud, aggressive drum lines. The tension was too thick for celebration. People walked with their heads lowered in intense conversation, hands shoved deep into jacket pockets, clutching paper tickets as if their lives depended on them.
The vendors selling match-day programs outside the perimeter gates did not need to shout to attract customers. Lines formed silently. The smell of roasted almonds and bitter coffee hung over the pavement. The deep, vibrant blue jerseys of the Indian fans mixed seamlessly with the canary yellow of the Australian supporters, forming a mosaic against the stark, Victorian brickwork of the surrounding neighborhood.
Inside the historic pavilion of Lord's Cricket Ground, the atmosphere was a study in suffocating pressure.
Krithika navigated the carpeted corridors of the hospitality tier, her boots sinking slightly into the fabric. She wore a simple, dark loose blue t-shirt with a crisp white jacket over her black jeans, her expression carefully composed to hide the frantic, erratic beating of her heart.
Riya and Kavya walked shoulder-to-shoulder behind her, their eyes wide as they took in the oil paintings and mahogany display cabinets lining the walls. Anjali followed closely, wearing a heavy blue hoodie, carrying her phone in her hand.
"I thought I would be used to this by now," Krithika murmured, stopping near the entrance to their designated corporate seating area. She rubbed her arms, though the corridor was climate-controlled. "But this feels different from the IPL or the bilaterals."
"It's a World Cup Final at Lord's, Krithi," Riya replied softly, adjusting her scarf. "It doesn't get heavier than this. The weight of the entire sport is basically sitting on this building right now."
Anjali nodded, looking out through the glass doors. "Have you spoken to him this morning?"
"Briefly," Krithika said, pushing the heavy door open. "He was awake at four. I heard him pacing the hotel room. He didn't say much. He just drank his coffee and stared out the window. When he gets like that, I know his mind is already visualizing the pitch."
They stepped out into the open-air corporate box. The view was staggering. The pristine, emerald expanse of the outfield sloped gently away from them. The stands were already filling rapidly, a patchwork of color under the pale London sky.
In the front row of the box, the noise level was significantly higher.
Sameer, wearing a sharp navy blazer over a casual shirt, was aggressively organizing a stack of colorful lanyards on a high-top table. Arjun stood next to him in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, adjusting his glasses and reviewing a digital tablet, while Feroz, also in a blazer, leaned against the railing, taking panoramic photos with his phone.
"We barely survived the ride here," Sameer complained loudly, looking up as Krithika and the girls walked in. "The driver took a wrong turn near Marylebone. I thought we were going to miss the toss. I was thinking of running two miles in dress shoes."
"You would not have made it two blocks, Sameer," Anjali laughed, taking a seat in the front row. "You get tired walking from the fridge to the sofa."
"That is a severe misrepresentation of my fitness, Anju," Sameer argued, crossing his arms.
Feroz chuckled, leaning back from the railing. "Arjun, what does the weather data say? Is it going to rain?"
"The local radar shows clear skies for the next eight hours," Arjun replied clinically, swiping a finger across his screen to display a meteorological matrix. "The humidity is hovering around sixty percent. There will be initial swing for the fast bowlers, but the pitch looks dry underneath. Whoever bats first will have a significant advantage once the sun bakes the surface, though the first hour will be perilous."
Down on the ground level, the television cameras were tracking the arrival of the sport's aristocracy.
Sachin Tendulkar, wearing a sharp grey suit, stood near the edge of the boundary rope, deep in conversation with Rahul Dravid. A few yards away, Virender Sehwag and Kapil Dev shared a loud, booming laugh over a shared memory.
The stadium announcer's voice cut through the ambient hum of the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the captains to the center for the toss."
Aaron Finch and Siddanth Deva walked down the pavilion steps side-by-side. They did not exchange words. The walk across the grass was long, the magnitude of the occasion settling over their shoulders with every step.
Ian Ward stood waiting near the pitch, holding a microphone. The match referee held the commemorative coin.
"A historic morning here at the Home of Cricket," Ward announced to the stadium and the global television audience. "Two magnificent teams. Australia, looking to add to their rich World Cup legacy, taking on an Indian side that has remained unbeaten throughout this campaign. I have the coin. Aaron, you are the visiting captain today. Call it."
Siddanth spun the heavy coin high into the air.
"Tails," Finch called out, his voice sharp and loud.
The coin landed on the dry, hard surface of the pitch. Ward leaned over.
"It is tails," Ward confirmed. "Aaron, you have won the toss in a World Cup Final. What is the decision?"
"We are going to bat first, Ian," Finch declared without hesitation.
Ward nodded. "A traditional decision for a final. The pitch looks quite firm. What is the reasoning?"
"It looks like a belter of a wicket," Finch explained, looking down at the 22 yards of prepared earth. "There is a bit of cloud cover right now, but the surface itself is hard and dry. We want to put runs on the board. In a high-pressure match like this, scoreboard pressure is the best weapon you can have. If we navigate the new ball, we back ourselves to post a total that will challenge India later this afternoon."
"Are there any changes to your playing eleven?" Ward asked.
"We are unchanged," Finch confirmed. "Myself, Warner, Smith, Labuschagne, Maxwell, Carey, Cummins, Starc, Lyon, Zampa, and Hazlewood."
Ward turned the microphone toward the Indian captain. "Siddanth, you have been asked to bowl first. You have chased brilliantly throughout this tournament, but doing it in a final is a different proposition."
Siddanth offered a slight, confident nod. "We are actually quite happy to bowl first, Ian. The overhead conditions are overcast right now, and this Lord's slope always offers something early on. Bhuvneshwar and Jasprit will get the ball to move laterally for the first hour. If we hit our lengths and ask enough questions, we can put them under immense pressure before the sun comes out."
"You are leading an unchanged side as well?"
"Yes," Siddanth replied smoothly. "Rahul, Rohit, Virat, myself, Hardik, Mahi bhai, Jadeja, Ashwin, Chahal, Bhuvi, and Jasprit. The balance has worked perfectly for us all tournament. We are ready."
The captains shook hands firmly. Finch's grip was tight, almost challenging, but Siddanth met it with a thin, knowing smile before turning and walking back to their respective dressing rooms.
The atmosphere inside the Indian dressing room was thick with focused energy. Players strapped on their fielding guards and adjusted their spikes.
"We hit the top of off-stump," Siddanth said, his voice cutting clearly through the room. "We do not search for magic deliveries. We let the slope do the work. Back up the bowler, cut off the singles inside the ring. Let's go."
The Indian team walked out of the Long Room, descending the steps to a roaring, continuous ovation from the stands.
They were followed moments later by Aaron Finch and the entire Australian squad.
The two teams, flanked by the match officials and led by the umpires, lined up on the pristine green outfield for the national anthems. The stadium announcer's voice echoed through the PA system, asking the crowd to rise. A sudden, expectant hush fell over the thirty thousand spectators packed into the historic venue.
First came Advance Australia Fair, sung with stoic, focused pride by the men in yellow, their arms linked together.
Then, the iconic instrumental intro of Jana Gana Mana began. The resulting sound was not just a song; it was a physical force. Thousands of Indian fans in the stands sang in perfect, thunderous unison, their voices filling the London sky. Down on the field, Siddanth stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Virat and Mahi bhai, their arms wrapped tightly around each other's shoulders. The sheer magnitude of the moment washed over him. Siddanth stared straight ahead at the Pavilion, his chest swelling with every word, a cold shiver racing down his spine as he felt the weight of a billion hopes resting on them.
As the final notes faded into the crisp air, a massive, deafening cheer erupted, shaking the stadium to its Victorian foundations. The ceremonial formalities were complete.
The Australian squad dispersed back to the dressing room, leaving only Aaron Finch and David Warner out in the middle, their faces set in grim determination. The Australian openers knew the first ten overs would define their entire innings.
Siddanth gathered his team for one final, intense huddle, then took the brand-new white Kookaburra ball from the umpire. He tossed it to Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
"Use the slope, Bhuvi," Siddanth instructed quietly, pointing toward the Pavilion End. "Angle it across Warner, make him play away from his body."
Bhuvneshwar nodded, walking towards his mark.
The stadium fell into a tense silence.
0.1 Bhuvneshwar ran in smoothly. His wrist position was immaculate. He delivered a good-length ball on the middle and leg stump line to Aaron Finch. The ball shaped away very slightly in the air. Finch, fully focused, presented a dead straight bat, pushing the ball gently back down the pitch. No run.
0.2 Bhuvneshwar corrected his line, targeting the off-stump. The ball pitched and nipped back in sharply off the seam. Finch hurriedly jammed his bat down, squeezing an inside edge onto his front pad. The ball rolled toward square leg. No run.
0.3 A beautiful outswinger. It started on the middle stump and hooped away late. Finch left it alone, watching it carry cleanly to MS Dhoni.
0.4 Bhuvneshwar pitched it slightly fuller, searching for the edge. Finch leaned forward and drove the ball firmly, but straight to Ravindra Jadeja at cover point. No run.
0.5 The pressure built. Bhuvneshwar bowled a tight line on the off-stump. Finch dropped his wrists and let it pass.
0.6 On the final ball of the first over, Bhuvneshwar strayed slightly onto the pads. Finch flicked his wrists effortlessly, guiding the ball behind square leg. The ball raced across the lush outfield for the first boundary of the final.
Score: 4/0 (1.0 overs)
Jasprit Bumrah took the ball from the Nursery End. His unique, stuttering run-up and hyperextended release point made him a nightmare for opening batsmen. David Warner took his guard.
1.1 Bumrah hit the deck hard. A fast, skiddy delivery angled into Warner's ribs. Warner hopped on his toes and defended it down onto the pitch. No run.
1.2 Bumrah bowled a rapid yorker aimed at the toes. Warner brought his heavy bat down in a flash, digging it out toward mid-on.
1.3 A back-of-a-length delivery outside the off-stump. Warner freed his arms and punched the ball forcefully past the diving point fielder. It was a brilliantly timed shot. The ball crossed the boundary rope for four.
1.4 Bumrah adjusted his length immediately, going fuller and straighter. Warner drove it back to the bowler.
1.5 A sharp, rising bouncer. Warner swayed out of the way effortlessly.
1.6 Bumrah bowled a tight line on the off-stump. Warner pushed it to cover and set off for a quick single. The throw came in fast, but Warner made his ground safely.
Score: 9/0 (2.0 overs)
The opening partnership settled into a cautious, disciplined rhythm over the next three overs. Finch and Warner respected the moving ball, recognizing that Bhuvneshwar was finding significant swing under the heavy cloud cover.
By the end of the 5th over, Australia had carefully negotiated the initial burst, reaching 17/0. Siddanth decided he needed to strike while the ball was still hard. He pulled Bumrah out of the attack to preserve his energy and brought himself on to bowl the 6th over.
In the VIP box, Sameer leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Siddanth's bringing himself on early. He wants a wicket in the Powerplay."
"He knows Warner is getting comfortable with Bhuvi's pace," Arjun noted. "Siddanth is ten kilometers faster. It changes the reaction time."
5.1 Siddanth ran in. He hit the deck exceptionally hard, generating nasty, steep bounce. Warner fended it awkwardly to the leg side.
5.2 A searing 152 km/h delivery just outside off. Warner left it alone.
5.3 Siddanth went full. Warner drove, but could only find mid-off.
5.4 A quick bouncer. Warner ducked under it.
5.5 Warner pushed a length ball to cover and scrambled for a quick single.
5.6 Finch defended a vicious incoming delivery to close out the over.
Score: 18/0 (6.0 overs)
Siddanth bowled a brilliant 3-over spell in the Powerplay alongside Bhuvneshwar, locking the Australian openers down. He bowled fast, back-of-a-length deliveries that gave the batters no room to free their arms.
By the time the mandatory Powerplay concluded at the end of the 10th over, Australia was at a stifled 42/0. The Australian dressing room looked relieved to have survived without losing a wicket, but the run rate was crawling.
Siddanth decided to change the pace, recognizing the pitch was beginning to dry out under the emerging sun. He signaled to Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Spin was introduced from both ends.
The strike rotation became the primary focus for Australia. Finch used his feet well against Ashwin, hitting a massive six over long-on in the 14th over to bring up his own half-century. Warner reached his half-century shortly after, cutting Jadeja past point for a boundary.
The score crossed 100 in the 19th over. The partnership was looking ominous. India desperately needed a breakthrough.
Siddanth walked over to Jadeja before the start of the 21st over.
"He is waiting for the ball to come onto the bat," Siddanth told the left-arm spinner, pointing toward David Warner. "He wants to use your pace to cut behind square. Bowl it slower through the air. Give it some loop. Make him generate his own power."
Jadeja nodded, spinning the ball in his fingers.
20.1 Jadeja bowled a flat delivery on the off-stump. Warner pushed it to cover. No run.
20.2 Jadeja bowled slightly wider. Warner cut it hard, but straight to the point fielder. No run.
20.3 Jadeja pushed it through quicker. Warner defended it off the back foot.
20.4 Jadeja remembered his captain's advice. He slowed his arm speed down significantly. He tossed the ball up, giving it generous flight, and pitched it full outside the off-stump.
Warner saw the flight and stepped out of his crease, looking to launch the ball over the extra cover boundary for a massive six.
But the ball was traveling much slower than he anticipated. It dipped sharply just before reaching his bat. Warner was too early into his swing. He threw his hands at the ball, losing his shape.
The ball took the toe end of the bat, slicing high into the air toward the long-off boundary.
Hardik Pandya, stationed on the rope, did not have to move. He settled under the swirling ball, reverse-cupped his hands, and took a safe, clean catch against his chest.
"In the air, and taken!" Ian Smith's voice boomed over the broadcast. "Ravindra Jadeja provides the vital breakthrough! The change of pace works. David Warner goes for the big shot and holes out in the deep. India finally has their first wicket!"
Score: 112/1 (20.4 overs)
David Warner — 61 (62 balls)
The Indian team celebrated the breakthrough. Siddanth patted Jadeja on the back, offering a quiet nod of approval.
Steven Smith walked out to bat at number three, immediately changing the dynamic of the innings with his busy, fidgety crease work. He and Finch nudged the ball into empty pockets, running hard between the wickets.
The score reached 139/1 in the 25th over. Siddanth realized Finch was becoming too comfortable against the standard off-breaks. He walked over to Ravichandran Ashwin before the 26th over began.
"He is sweeping everything that pitches on middle and leg," Siddanth analyzed quietly. "Bowl the carrom ball. Pitch it on the leg stump line and spin it away toward the off-side. He will play for the inward turn."
"Got it."
25.1 Ashwin ran in. He delivered the ball with a flick of his middle finger, releasing a disguised carrom ball. It pitched on a good length, directly on the leg stump line.
Aaron Finch, anticipating a standard off-break, dropped to one knee instantly. He committed to an aggressive sweep shot.
But the ball gripped the dry surface and spun sharply in the opposite direction, moving away toward the off-stump. Finch swung his bat violently through empty air. The ball bypassed the willow, caught the outside edge of his front pad, and crashed directly into the middle stump.
"Bowled him!" Harsha Bhogle shouted on the broadcast. "What a beauty from Ravichandran Ashwin! The carrom ball deceives the Australian captain! He went for the sweep and pays the ultimate price."
Score: 139/2 (25.1 overs)
Aaron Finch — 68 (79 balls)
Marnus Labuschagne jogged out to the middle, crossing paths with his dismissed captain. Labuschagne took his guard.
25.2 Ashwin bowled a turning delivery to Labuschagne, who defended it solidly off the front foot.
25.3 Labuschagne pushed a full ball to long-off for a single to get off the mark.
25.4 Smith defended a flat delivery.
25.5 Smith took a quick single to mid-wicket.
25.6 Labuschagne defended the final ball of the over.
Score: 141/2 (26.0 overs)
Knowing that Smith and Labuschagne shared a stubborn, rotating style of play, Siddanth didn't let the spinners settle into a predictable rhythm. He brought himself back into the attack for his middle-overs spell, bowling the 27th, 29th, and 31st overs.
He peppered both batters with short-pitched bowling, forcing them backward, while Yuzvendra Chahal operated from the other end.
By the 33rd over, the partnership had survived Siddanth's pace barrage and reached 175/2. Chahal ran in for the 33rd over, deciding to heavily flight the ball.
32.1 Chahal bowled a tossed-up delivery to Smith. Smith pushed it to long-on for a single.
32.2 Chahal tossed the ball high into the air, bowling a slower leg-break outside the off-stump to Labuschagne.
Labuschagne, looking to rotate the strike, stepped out of his crease and tried to drive the ball through the covers. The ball spun away sharply, taking the outside edge.
Virat Kohli, stationed at short extra cover, dove to his right and took a stunning, low catch inches above the grass.
Score: 176/3 (32.2 overs)
Marnus Labuschagne — 28 (40 balls)
Glenn Maxwell, 'The Big Show', walked out to bat at number five. The entire dynamic of the Australian innings shifted from consolidation to destruction.
By the 36th over, Smith had anchored his way to 47 runs, and the score had climbed to 204/3.
In the VIP box, Krithika leaned forward instantly, her hands clasping the edge of the glass partition.
"He's coming back on," Krithika said, her voice dropping into a tense whisper as Siddanth took his cap off and handed it to the umpire for the 37th over.
Riya looked at her friend, offering a reassuring smile. "He's already bowled six great overs, Krithi. He knows what he's doing."
"I know," Krithika murmured, her eyes locked onto the tall, broad-shouldered figure standing at the top of his mark. "But Smith looks far too comfortable."
Siddanth did not rely on raw pace for this spell. He engaged his Predator's Focus, his vision tunneling onto the batsman's footwork.
36.1 Siddanth ran in smoothly. He bowled a heavy, back-of-a-length delivery angled into Maxwell's ribs. Maxwell hopped onto his toes and defended it solidly down onto the pitch.
36.2 Siddanth sprinted in and delivered a fast, searing yorker. Maxwell jammed his willow into the turf, digging it out just in time.
36.3 Siddanth bowled a full delivery on the off-stump. Maxwell pushed it to cover for a single.
36.4 Siddanth bowled a sharp bouncer. Smith swayed out of the way effortlessly.
36.5 Siddanth ran in, perfectly disguising his grip, and bowled a dipping knuckleball.
Steven Smith stepped heavily across his stumps, attempting an audacious scoop shot over the fine-leg boundary. He radically misjudged the lack of pace.
The knuckleball dipped viciously, bypassing the swinging willow, and crashed heavily into his front pad, dead in front of the middle stump.
The umpire raised his finger immediately.
Smith reviewed the decision instantly, gesturing for the DRS. The giant screen at Lord's lit up. Ball tracking showed the delivery pitching in line, impact in line, and the ball crashing squarely into the middle of middle stump.
Three reds.
"Given out and the review is lost!" Nasser Hussain bellowed. "Siddanth Deva outsmarts Steven Smith! The knuckleball dips perfectly, and the Australian anchor is gone!"
Score: 205/4 (36.5 overs)
Steven Smith — 47 (58 balls)
Alex Carey walked out. He defended the final ball of Siddanth's 7th over.
With Smith gone, Maxwell unleashed pure chaos. Over the next five overs, he took on the spinners with terrifying aggression, hitting Chahal and Ashwin for massive reverse sweeps and towering sixes.
The score skyrocketed. At the end of the 43rd over, Australia was sitting comfortably at 250/4.
The death overs had arrived. Siddanth took the ball for the 44th over, knowing he needed to end Maxwell's assault to keep the target manageable.
43.1 Siddanth bowled a fast yorker to Carey. Carey dug it out for a single.
43.2 Siddanth bowled a wide yorker to Maxwell. Maxwell squeezed it backward of point for two runs.
43.3 A sharp bouncer. Maxwell tried to pull but was beaten by the sheer pace. Dot ball.
43.4 Siddanth ran in and fired a fast, full delivery, aiming for the base of the off-stump.
Maxwell, looking to continue his aggressive assault, stepped away to create room. He tried to slice the ball over the point boundary. However, the 152 km/h pace defeated him. The ball caught the thick outside edge.
Ravindra Jadeja, stationed at backward point, leapt to his right and took a stunning, one-handed catch.
"In the air... and taken!" Ian Smith's voice cut through the stadium noise. "Siddanth Deva strikes again! Glenn Maxwell's dangerous cameo comes to an end!"
43.5 Pat Cummins, the new batter, defended a yorker.
43.6 Cummins pushed a single to mid-off.
Score: 254/5 (44.0 overs)
Jasprit Bumrah took the 45th over, executing a masterclass in death bowling.
44.1 Bumrah bowled a yorker to Cummins. Cummins dug it out for a single.
44.2 Carey drove a length ball for a single to long-off.
44.3 Cummins pushed a single to cover.
44.4 Carey flicked a full delivery for a boundary through square leg.
44.5 Bumrah bowled a sharp, climbing bouncer.
Carey attempted an aggressive hook shot, but the skiddy pace hurried him. The ball caught the heavy top edge and ballooned straight up into the air. KL Rahul, standing at slip, ran backward and caught it cleanly.
44.6 Mitchell Starc walked in and defended the final ball of the over.
Score: 261/6 (45.0 overs)
Siddanth returned for his 9th over. He gave away only four runs, tying Starc and Cummins down with perfectly executed wide yorkers. At the end of his over, the score was 265/6.
Bumrah bowled the 47th.
46.1 Bumrah delivered a searing yorker. Starc dug it out for a single.
46.2 Cummins took a quick single to cover.
46.3 Starc pushed a single to mid-on.
46.4 Bumrah delivered a dipping yorker aimed at the base of the off-stump. Pat Cummins tried to bring his bat down, but the ball crashed into the timber, sending the off-stump flying.
Score: 268/7 (46.4 overs)
Nathan Lyon walked in. He dug out the remaining two balls of Bumrah's over for no runs.
Siddanth stepped up to bowl the 48th over.
47.1 Siddanth ran in. Starc pushed a length ball for a single.
47.2 Lyon managed to squeeze a yorker for a single to third man.
47.3 Siddanth bowled a sharp bouncer. Starc ducked.
47.4 Starc drove powerfully, but it went straight to deep cover for a single.
47.5 Lyon took a quick, panicked single to mid-on.
47.6 Siddanth sprinted in for his final delivery. He bowled a 150 km/h thunderbolt that reverse-swung violently inward.
Mitchell Starc's bat came down seconds too late. The ball obliterated the middle stump, snapping the timber in half.
"Cleaned him up! Pure, terrifying pace!" Harsha Bhogle roared. "Siddanth Deva finishes his ten overs with figures to dream of! He has his third wicket, and Australia are eight down!"
Score: 272/8 (48.0 overs)
Mitchell Starc — 4 (11 balls)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar took the 49th over. Adam Zampa joined Lyon.
48.1 Bhuvi bowled a slower ball. Lyon pushed it for a single.
48.2 Zampa swung wildly and missed a cutter. Dot ball.
48.3 Bhuvi bowled a perfect knuckleball. Zampa swung across the line and his middle stump was knocked back.
48.4 Josh Hazlewood, the final batter, managed to inside-edge his first ball for a single.
48.5 Lyon hit a boundary over mid-off, catching a lucky edge.
48.6 Lyon took a quick single to deep point.
Score: 279/9 (49.0 overs)
Bumrah ran in for the final over of the innings, tasked with closing it out.
49.1 Bumrah bowled a yorker. Hazlewood dug it out to mid-off for a single.
49.2 Lyon pushed a full toss to deep square leg for two runs.
49.3 Bumrah missed his yorker slightly. Lyon stepped away and slashed it over point for a crucial boundary.
49.4 Bumrah bowled a low full toss. Lyon flicked it hard through mid-wicket for two more runs.
49.5 Bumrah bowled a sharp bouncer. Lyon ducked, but it sailed too high. Wide called.
49.5 (Re-bowl) Bumrah corrected beautifully with a searing yorker. Dot ball.
49.6 Bumrah ran in and fired a wide yorker outside the off-stump to Lyon.
Lyon threw his bat at it. The ball took a thick outside edge and flew past the short third-man fielder, rolling deep into the outfield.
Lyon and Hazlewood sprinted hard, completing the first run. They turned instantly and sprinted back for the second, desperately trying to squeeze every last run out of the final ball.
Ravindra Jadeja collected the ball in the deep. He picked it up and fired a laser-accurate, flat throw over the stumps at the striker's end.
MS Dhoni gathered the throw perfectly and whipped the bails off in a flash as Hazlewood, running to the danger end, dove full-length.
The square leg umpire did not hesitate. He raised his finger instantly. Run out.
"Run out on the final delivery!" Ian Smith announced as the players caught their breath. "And that brings the Australian innings to a close. A fantastic fighting total of 290 all out. They have set a very competitive target in this World Cup Final."
The Australian batsmen walked off the field to a standing ovation from their supporters. Aaron Finch and David Warner had laid a brilliant foundation, and the lower order had scrapped hard.
The Indian players jogged off the pristine green grass of Lord's and disappeared into the pavilion tunnel. Siddanth Deva walked off with the match ball in his hand, having bowled his full quota of ten masterclass overs.
They needed 291 runs to win the World Cup and banish the ghosts of 2015 forever. The stage was set for the ultimate run chase.