London, June 11 (Agency) But for loose shots by Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, India had an outside chance to win the WTC final, but Australia was too good to register a comprehensive 209-run victory by bowling the rivals out for 234 runs in their second innings and add one more silverware into their overflowing cabinet on Day 4 of The Oval here on Sunday. Sent into bat by India Captain Rohit Sharma, Australia set up a huge total of 469 runs in the first innings and then bowled out India for 296 in their first. There were not too many demons in the pitch as both the overnight batsmen Kohli and Rahabe batted without any trouble in the first 30 minutes of the 5th morning.
Kohli chased a wide ball to offer a stunning catch to Steven Smith in second slip off Scott Boland for 49, and the master accurate bowler picked up his third wicket of the match and second in the same over, forcing Ravindra Jadeja to nick behind the stumps to Alex Carey for a duck. It was all formalities thereafter. Mitchell Starc managed to nip off Rahane for 46, and the tail could not wag long as off-spinner Nathan Lyon finished with 4 for 41. The defining moment of this final was the innings of Travis Head and Smith who scored 163 and 121, to help Australia put up a staggering first innings total, and it came along with a 285 runs partnership between them for the 4th wicket. And Head was rightly Player of the Match.