India vs Australia (IND vs AUS) 3rd Test Day 5 Live Cricket Score Updates: India are toiling hard to survive through the last session of the final day with Hanuma Vihari and R Ashwin in the middle. Vihari is struggling to run between the wicket due to his hamstring injury.
Earlier, Australia was firmly on course for a victory in the third Test after getting rid of a dangerous Rishabh Pant and the rock-steady Cheteshwar Pujara, reducing India to 280 for 5 at Tea in pursuit of 407.
India now needs 107 runs to win but, in all probability, will be looking to survive in the final session of the match to salvage a draw. Pant (97) and Pujara (77) added 148 runs for the fourth wicket in an amazing counter-attacking partnership before their dismissals put India in a spot with an injured Hanuma Vihari (4 batting) in the company of Ravichandran Ashwin (7 batting) engaged in an arduous battle.
Earlier on Day 4, openers Shubman Gill (31) and Rohit Sharma (52) were winkled out by the Australian pace attack in the final session, leaving Cheteshwar Pujara, who had scored nine not out, and skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who was unbeaten on four, to continue the fight. With no rain forecast for Monday, the tourists face a long day batting on a deteriorating wicket if they are to avoid going 2-1 down in the series before they head to Brisbane for the final Test.
3rd Test, SCG, Sydney, 06 Jan, 2021
How many times have you seen a batsman batting on 124 balls, doubling his score in one over? Hanuma Vihari, take a bow. What an innings this has been, batting on one leg. Score after 121 overs, IND- 319/5 | 88 needed off 11 overs
Australia still searching for five wickets and a bit of frustration creeping in. Watch-
Hanuma Vihari and R Ashwin have negotiated over 200 balls between them. Very matured innings Vihari..takes lots of guts to play this innings against those Aussie quickies. A display of real grit from both the batsman. Score after 118 overs, IND- 305/5 | India need 102 more runs to win
Vihari 7* (108) gets a run after what seems like an eternity while giving him company is Ashwin 24* (85). Holding the fort for India. Vihari batting with a hamstring injury, Ashwin batting after getting a blow near the ribcage. Australia looking for wickets to wrap it up but India won't give in yet. Score after 116 overs, IND- 301/5 | India need 106 more runs to win
An interesting passage of play as both batsmen continue to show great character in the middle. Vihari is digging deep here with 6 off 100 balls. Did you know this is the second-lowest strike-rate facing 100 balls or more in Test innings? Score after 112 overs, IND- 299/5 | India need 108 more runs to win
Marnus Labuschagne with his leg-spin is back into the attack. Remember, he picked up the ninth wicket during the 2019 Ashes series at Manchester. Will he do the job for the Aussies today? Not really, as Ashwin plays a quiet over. Score after 112 overs, IND- 299/5 | India need 108 more runs to win
Ashwin drives one pitched up delivery towards mid-off and the next one is hit past the backward point. Welcome runs for India. Score after 108 overs, IND- 299/5 | India need 108 more runs to win
"Pitch tampering, sledging, and now nasty bodyline bowling. Like 2 Harold Larwoods bowling from both ends. Also, if DRS wasn't available, we were done by now. If India saves this Test, I would rate it equivalent to 3 wins," says Shweta on Twitter.
These are the kind of situations every sportsman wishes to be in. Fighting hard for your country to save a test match in the last session. However much in pain, Ashwin and Vihari will continue to fight! Score after 104 overs, IND- 289/5 | India need 118 runs
Ashwin rides his luck! He went for the pull on the short ball and does not keep it down the ground, the fielder near square leg dives to his right and gets both hands, but the ball does not stick. Substitute Sean Abbott is the guilty party. Watch-
The last time India batted out 100+ overs in the 4th innings of any Test was at Lord's in 2002 (109.4 overs)
India needed 127 runs to ensure it retains the Border-Gavaskar or to bat through 36 overs for a draw, and Australia needed five wickets to take a 2-1 lead going into the fourth and final Test at the Gabba. The first two tests didn’t go to a fifth day, adding to the intrigue in Sydney.
India have 36 overs in their hands either to win or to survive in this match. With Hanuma Vihari and R Ashwin at the middle, India still need 127 runs. No update on Ravindra Jadeja's fitness and his availability to bat down the order today.
Undoubtedly, this is a great show by Indian. As a record, India have played the most overs in the fourth innings in Australia in a decade. With 94th over in progress, India have bettered their last best of 90 overs in 2015. Hope this will take India to a victory today.
Josh Hazlewood claimed the most prized wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara, leaving Indian innings in tatters. Pujara bowled out by Hazlewood for 77. India's tail exposed with still 136 runs to win.
India are chasing a mammoth target of 407 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground and displaying a gritty show from the middle. Interestingly, it's Rahul Dravid's birthday today. The man who played an instrumental role in India's most memorable wins Down Under. Hope India would gift Dravid a win today at the SCG.
Rishabh Pant played his part with his 97-run knock. India lost their fourth after a fabulous 148-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Pant and Pujara. Hanuma Vihari is the new man in.
Both Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara are taking Aussie bowlers head on, taking India to 250. India need 157 to win from here. Pant has reached his 90s.