Story The Great Australian Rebuild | 3rd Test | 9 Overs of Chaos

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Pujara and Vihari valiant, but Australia lead after first innings.


Pujara and Rahane walked out to bat on day 3 with a deficit of 261 runs in front of them, and while Pujara would continue on, it would be without Rahane as he was dismissed early on day 3 with Nathan Lyon's 3rd wicket of the innings. Hanuma Vihari would provide a fantastic partnership as Pujara would pass 100, and India pass 200. Eventually it would be that man again, Lyon who would break the 81 run partnership, as Pujara was dismissed for 129. Rishabh Pant would fall to the Australia skipper Cameron White, as he brought himself on just before the 2nd new ball. This exposed the Indian tail to the new ball and Jadeja woud fall early for 8, leaving India 7/274.


Cheteshwar Pujara's 129 was the standout performance of India's innings.


Mohammad Shami again would be a thorn in Australia's side, this time with the bat in his hand as he and Vihari would put on 47, before Maxwell would get Shami caught in slip. He would then dismiss Ishant Sharma in his next over, before Richardson claimed Bumrah for one. Vihari remained unbeaten on 86. India finish at 331, 56 runs behind. Australia were now asked to survive 10 overs to see it through to stumps, and Shaun Marsh and Marcus Harris were comfortably able to see it through, finishing 0/14. Australia lead by 70 heading into day 4.



Hanuma Vihari battled with the tail, to get India within touching distance of Australia's total.

Spoiler: India First Innings

Spoiler: Australia Second Innings

Spoiler: Match Summary

 

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White Ton and late wickets see Australia in dominant position.

While Shaun Marsh and Marcus Harris had done a good job to survive the late onslaught from the Indians the night before, they would not be able to capitalise on it on day 4. Marsh would fall first for 9, before Harris would be dismissed for 8, both at the hands of Mohammad Shami. Peter Handscomb and Cameron White were again together to rebuild the innings, and again they wouldn't let Australians down. Handscomb would eventually fall for 33, but not before the partnership had grown to 87. Head would find his way to 12, before being dismissed by Vihari's part time off spin for the 2nd time in the series, and in a shocking turn of events, Maxwell would fall in the same over, caught behind off Vihari. Australia now sat at 5/140, with a lead of only 196, and in serious trouble of collapsing their way out of the test.


4 for Vihari! An unlikely source to keep India in the game with the ball.


Matthew Wade attempted to counterattack with a run a ball 17, before running himself out from a beautiful direct hit by the debutant Agarwal. Australia were now 6/166, with captain Cameron White running out of partners. However the cool head of Pat Cummins joined White, as they put together a partnership of 51, seeing Australia to 7/217 and taking the lead up over 250. Vihari would claim his 3rd wicket of the innings with the dismissal of Cummins. However it was Cameron White's day, as the Australia skipper would bring up his maiden test hundred off 168 balls with 9 boundaries and 1 six. Again it would be Hanuma Vihari who would provide the breakthrough, with White finally being dismissed for 116. The pain didn't stop for India there however, as Jhye Richardson and Nathan Lyon would also put on another 35 runs together, with Richardson finishing unbeaten on 30, while Lyon would hit a quickfire 22. Lyon's dismissal would see the end of Australia's innings, the White declared the innings, with 9 overs to play in the day and setting India a target of 330.



A maiden test century for Australia's captain helps his side set India 330 to win.


With 9 overs to survive, India were hoping they could do just what Shaun Marsh and Marcus Harris had done the night before. Instead it was the complete opposite. KL Rahul would be trapped LBW for a duck by Cummins, finally giving him his first wicket on return. Cheteshwar Pujara would than fall the next over, as Jhye Richardson went straight through his defences to see Pujara go for a duck. The introduction of Nathan Lyon into the attack with 3 overs to go would than see Mayank Agarwal be caught at slip by Handscomb, with India now being 3/7 after 6.2 overs. Ishant Sharma was sent up the order to see out the day, alongside Kohli, which they managed to do. India finishing the day at 3/9, and in serious trouble heading into day 5.



With his dismissal of KL Rahul, Pat Cummins marks his return to test cricket.

Spoiler: Australia Second Innings

Spoiler: India Second Innings

Spoiler: Match Summary

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