India vs Australia, 2nd Test Day 3, Highlights.India vs Australia (IND vs AUS) 2nd Test Day 3 Highlights: Australia survived a scare in their second innings and ended the third day of the second Test on 133/6 with a slender lead of 2 runs at the MCG.
After resuming on 277/5, India were all out for 326 in their first innings on Monday, registering a lead of 131 runs. Ajinkya Rahane top-scored for the visitors with a gritty 112 and Ravindra Jadeja pitched in with a healthy 57-run knock. Australia, in their second innings, were put on their backfoot early on with the dismissal of Joe Burns. After Steve Smith’s dismissal, the hosts crumbled under pressure and were reduced to 99/6 at one point. But rookie Cameron Green (17* off 65) and pacer Pat Cummins (15* off 53) stitched a partnership together to overturn India’s lead before stumps.
After staying on the pitch together for over an hour, Green (17* off 65) and Cummins (15* off 53) have provided some ray of hope for Australia by successfully overturning the lead. Owing to a well-struck boundary in the final over of the day, Australia ended on 133/6 with a slender lead of 2 runs. Jadeja scalped two wickets for the visitors, with Bumrah and Ashwin both scalping one each.
After hitting two boundaries against the run of play, Green (9*) and Cummins (12*) have scored just three runs in the last four overs. Meanwhile, Ashwin and Bumrah are still searching for wickets to add to the hosts' torment. AUS: 122/6, trail by 9 runs
Rahane sends Bumrah back into the attack for a final burst before stumps. India have 12 overs left to scalp four wickets to register a victory. Green (4*) and Cummins (6*) survive the initial onslaught as the pacer bowls a maiden. AUS: 110/6, trail by 21 runs
OH MY! Australia are completely a mess now. The captain -- Tim Paine -- is sent back into the hut on just 1 by Jadeja after a review for a caught behind call went India's way. Jadeja ecstatic, Pant jubilant... India in the driving seat. AUS: 101/6, trail by 30 runs
THAT'S FIVE! India are completely in control of the match now as Siraj scalps the wicket of the struggling Head. The Australian just threw his hands at the delivery, got a thick outside edge and was caught by Agarwal at second slip. AUS: 98/5, trail by 33 runs
TRAPPED! Jadeja fires a quick one at the stumps and completely dumbfounds Wade! The batsman tried to glance the delivery but got beaten for pace in the end. Australia are in big trouble now as Wade leaves having scored a gritty 40. AUS: 98/4, trail by 33 runs
Ever since Smith's dismissal, Australia have been pegged back seriously with zero boundaries in sight. Rahane has brought in his spinners -- Ashwin and Jadeja -- to add to the pressure. While Wade's on 40*, Head is batting on 13*. AUS: 94/3, trail by 37 runs
Travis Head comes in at 5 but Australia are looking a little like headless chickens now, with their top order back in the hit and two under-pressure batsmen trying to save their Test careers and this match for Australia. Meanwhile, this is what Smith;s series looks like so far: 1, 1*, 0, 8
AUS 81/3, trail by 50
Wade drives Ashwin for four down the ground. Gets into his 30s. He has faced more than 100 balls. At the other end, there is drama! Steve Smith is out! Bumrah has bowled him round the legs! Smith shuffles across and the ball clips his leg stump. What a big wicket and what a strange way for it to come! Steve Smith is out for 8. AUS 71/3, trail by 60
Bumrah starts proceedings for India after Tea. Smith gets off strike with a single pushed down to mid on.
Tea is taken. Ashwin has ensured we have had an exciting session. Pant, chattering on from behind the stumps, added to the intensity. Wade and Smith see it through to the end of the session, Wade on 27, Smith on 6. Australia still trail by 66 runs
Bumrah is brought back for one short spell before Tea. Ashwin continues making things happen against Smith, who gets an edge to just evade leg gully. Wade, having been out there for a session now, is beginning to find some shots. Hits Bumrah for a four driven down the ground. AUS 64/2, trail by 67
Smith gets off the mark with a single off Ashwin. A couple of overs later, he makes his first statement of intent with a flick off his pads against Siraj. Smith and Wade run through four runs! MCG's size allowing something rarely seen. Smith now tries to use his feet against Ashwin. This Ashwin vs Smith battle looks delicious - something is bound to give! AUS 56/2, trail by 75
India lose a review trying to get Wade out lbw. Siraj's conviction convinces Rahane to go for the Review, but he might regret that later. The first Review India lose. Wade, extremely defensive so far, goes for one sweep against the spinner. And almost has to regret it. Lbw appeals. Not given. AUS 45/2, trail by 86
Ashwin strikes! Labuschagne's luck finally runs out. He edges through and Rahane takes the catch at first slip. Labuschagne is out for 28. India have a second wicket. A partnership that was just beginning to frustrate India is brought to an end by another magic moment from Ashwin. Smith joins Wade. AUS 42/2, trail by 89
Siraj is making things happen! There's a narrow escape for Labuschagne, with the wickets clipping the stumps on an LBW Review replay. India retain their Review again, but again, Labuschagne survives. A top edge that lands in no man's land to follow. AUS 38/1, trail by 93
Siraj brought on for a spell of his own now, with Ashwin continuing from the other end. Not huge turn seen in this innings yet, but we've been seeing some foot marks which will be exploited as the day wears on. The lead comes down below 100 with Labuschagne and Wade showing a stomach for the fight. AUS 33/1, trail by 98
Ashwin is brought on from Umesh's end, with Siraj bowling just the half over for now. Ashwin's battle against Wade looks set to be promising. Bumrah continues from his end. AUS 27/1 after 12
Labuschagne leans into the shot and drives Bumrah down the ground for four. The first chance the MCG has had to break out in raptures on this third day after a boundary. Bumrah and Siraj the operators for India now. Having five bowlers means Umesh's unavailibility is not exactly disaster for India now, but it spells trouble for the next two Tests. AUS 18/1 after 9
Some bad developments for India. Umesh Yadav is walking off with an injury. Stops his over midway and is seen struggling with pain. That's some terrible news for India, with Ishant, Shami already on th sidelines. Siraj is brought in to complete Umesh's over. AUS 13/1 after 8