WTC final: Rahane has not given up hope despite Australia's formidable lead

Australia remained in command of the World Test Championship final against India despite an error-strewn display at The Oval on Friday.

Ravindra Jadeja removed first-innings century-makers Steve Smith and Travis Head but a third day of dropped catches, wickets off no-balls and rash shots still ended with Australia 296 runs ahead at 123-4 in their second innings.

Marnus Labuschagne, the world's top-ranked Test batsman, survived several painful blows on a pitch of variable bounce to be 41 not out at stumps.

"We have quite a formidable score already but you just never know," Labuschagne told BBC Radio.

The 28-year-old added: "My hands are just about hanging on. I've got good bone density. It is lively out there, and that does make it challenging when they bounce like that off a length, but that happens as a batter and you've just got to find a way through it."

This match is taking place just a week before Australia face England in an Ashes opener at Edgbaston.

"We're certainly not taking this game as Ashes preparation," said Labuschagne. "But it is certainly handy to have a Test of this calibre before a very big series."

When Scott Boland knocked over Srikar Bharat's stumps with just the second ball of the day, India were 317 runs behind with only four first-innings wickets standing.

But Ajinkya Rahane (89) and Shardul Thakur (51) then made the most of Australia's mistakes during a seventh-wicket stand of 109 before India were eventually dismissed for 296.

Australia captain Pat Cummins took 3-83 in his 20 overs but his figures would have been better but for six no-balls.

"We made a bit of a meal of it in the morning," said Labuschagne, adding: "Pat just addressed it, said we weren't good enough and we've all played enough cricket to know that was fair.

Rahane insisted all was not lost for India.

"Australia are slightly ahead of the game," he told Sky Sports. "In the morning the first hour will be very crucial. We know funny things can happen."

Australia were 2-1 when the under-pressure David Warner, who had managed just one century in his previous 33 Test innings, was caught behind off Mohammed Siraj.

Usman Khawaja, Warner's opening partner, fell cheaply for the second time this match when, on 13, he followed a first-innings duck by being caught behind carelessly edging a wide ball from paceman Umesh Yadav.

Left-arm spinner Jadeja then removed Smith and Head, although both batsmen played a part in their own downfall.