'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAQACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABgAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQkQAAAFBQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMHBAUGEUGV0gEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgMRAAEDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAARMDUlORkv/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A0Bs8WxkzToW3hthQrbpbKha4sxTOL417h2P+cx8gAEYWjpVnrZD6df/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The two teams participating in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) have been decided after the culmination of the first Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Australia will be joined by India in the summit clash, as Sri Lanka have been knocked out of the race.
The thrilling contest ended on Monday, March 13 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, with New Zealand eking out a two-wicket win off the final delivery of the match. Ace Kiwi batter Kane Williamson struck a magnificent hundred under pressure and sealed a historic win after rain interrupted play early on.
Sri Lanka cannot secure a 2-0 series win to better Team India's win percentage anymore. The Dimuth Karunaratne-led side had to achieve a whitewash to progress to the WTC final if India did not win their fourth Test against Australia.
Sri Lanka were seemingly in the hunt, as the Men in Blue will likely finish the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy with only two wins. But their win percentage has now taken a drastic hit and currently reads 48.48.
The Lankans are now placed fourth in the points table, below South Africa, who recently emerged victorious over the West Indies at home.
The Proteas were in contention for the finals as well not too long ago, but a humbling series defeat to Australia Down Under quashed their hopes altogether.
Team India will face Australia in the WTC Finals at the Oval
The Aussies secured their passage to the finals by mounting an inspired win in the third Test at Indore.
The nine-wicket defeat complicated the equation for India, but Rohit Sharma and Co. are now on the way to playing in their second successive WTC final. Their win percentage of 60.29 could not be bettered by the other teams in contention barring Australia.
India's percentage will see a change following the result of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test. But even in the unlikely worst-case scenario, where Australia eke out a win, the Men in Blue will not drop from second position in the points table.
Australia have already confirmed the top spot with a dominant win percentage of 68.52.
The upcoming WTC final will begin on June 7 at The Oval in London.
Who will win the second edition of the World Test Championship (WTC)? Let us know what you think.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
