Dominant Australia thrash India to seal World Test Championship

Australia swiftly ended any hopes of a record-breaking India win to seal victory by 209 runs in the World Test Championship final at The Oval on Sunday.

Set an unlikely target of 444, India had a glimmer of hope when they started the fifth morning at 164-3 with linchpin Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in the middle – on 44 and 20, respectively – as they chased 280 more runs.

But in the seventh over of the day, Kohli edged fast-bowler Scott Boland and Steve Smith took a great catch at second slip and was gone for 49. Boland then claimed Ravindra Jadeja's wicket two balls later for a duck.

The demise of Kohli confirmed it was a matter of when, not if, Australia would become a first-time world Test champion. “It was a big moment, we know how good Kohli is particularly chasing a big total,” said Australia's Steve Smith. “It opened the game up for us.”

Kohli's exit meant silence fell over the overwhelmingly pro-India crowd in London along with an air of inevitability.

Rahane reached 46 when he edged Mitchell Starc behind and began a collapse of the last five India wickets in the 30 minutes before lunch as they were bowled out for 234.

Australia are officially crowned champions #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/kGAIJaT5ZQ

Starc added the wicket of Umesh Yadav (one), but the rest of the tail was mopped up in efficient style by Nathan Lyon.

The spinner finished with 4-41, nailing Shardul Thakur lbw for a duck, collecting a skier of a return catch from KS Bharat (23) and finishing things up when Mohammed Siraj steered a reverse sweep straight to point for one.

Australia’s celebrations began in earnest as the formed a circle in the middle of the pitch, while India were once again runners-up, having lost the inaugural final to New Zealand