The day 3 of second test was a rollercoaster ride for India as they came out to bat. Rahane and Jadeja were well set as they came to the crease after a dominant final session yesterday where India went wicketless.
Jadeja was nearing his 14th half century as he was playing very well. Jadeja was on 49, when he tried to get a quick single to reach the mark. Rahane responded the call and went for it straight away. But in the process, he was found just outside his crease as the bails were dislodged and ended Rahane’s long stay at the crease. Jadeja soon reached his fifty. He tried to get runs with the tail but fell to Starc’s short ball set up. The tail didn’t contribute much as the team wrapped up their innings on 326.
The Australian innings suffered a blow straight up as out of form opener Joe Burns was back in pavilion in the 4th over. Umesh Yadav bowled a fuller delivery which went out and got the faintest of edges from Burns willow which went to the keeper.
Labuschagne came in and was looking threatening as he was constantly rotating the strike with Wade which was troubling the bowlers line. Just before the Tea break, Ashwin bowled a beautiful ball which didn’t turn much and Labuschagne was struck in his crease and nicked it to slip where Rahane grabbed it easily.
Smith and Wade were at the crease after the Tea and Smith wasn’t looking comfortable against Ashwin. Bumrah used this opportunity and got Smith. He knocked over Smith’s bails down the leg which doesn’t happen usually with Smith who is a great player of leg side.
Wade and Head had small partnership after Smith’s dismissal but was broken by Jadeja’s quicker delivery to Wade who was found trapped infront of the stumps. Wade went back after a resisting knock of 40 off 137 deliveries.
Soon Head too joined Wade and was dismissed by Siraj. He was caught in the slips. Paine was dismissed by Jadeja. The caught behind appeal was turned down by the umpire but Rahane straight away went up for a review. A spike was seen in the echo meter which confirmed the edge and the decision was turned to out.
Green along with Cummins showed great resistance after losing 3 quick wickets as they kept on rotating the strike and crossed the lead. Few chances were created during this period but weren’t converted in to wickets. Pant dropped Green’s catch off Ashwin’s bowling. Few chances didn’t carry to the fielders. Finally the Aussies got past the lead at the end of the day.
At stumps, Australia is at lead of 2 runs with 4 wickets remaining. It was a great day for the Indian team as they have 6 wickets already and we’re looking good even though they were a bowler short.
The first session of the day went to Australia for wrapping up Indian lower order quickly while the second session was a shared one as the Aussies scored 65 runs in it but lost two wickets in the process. The third session went to India as they got 4 wickets and gave 67 runs.
It is a great setup for Day 4 as the Indians are confident to win this match but the Aussies lower order won’t go down without a fight.
