India vs Australia 4th Test, Day 3: Who will stand tall on day three? India vs Australia (IND vs AUS) 4th Test, Day 3 Live Cricket Score Updates: Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara resumed batting for India in their first innings on Day 3 in the Brisbane Test, before Pujara fell to an edge for 25. Rahane (37) fell in the slips with minutes to go before the end of the morning session. At Lunch, Mayank Agarwal (38) and Rishabh Pant (23) were at the crease, with India trailing by 208 runs. Both departed in the afternoon session, before Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur, both of whom scored their maiden Test 50s, ensured the lower order did not let the visitors down by putting on the highest partnership of the innings. This is India’s highest ever 7th wicket stand at the Gabba. At Tea, India were trailing by 116 runs.
Nathan Lyon was in the thick of the action in his 100th Test, dismissing dangerous India opener Rohit Sharma in his third over on Saturday after playing a late cameo with the bat for Australia. India was 62/2 at tea on day two of the series-deciding match at the Gabba in reply to Australia’s 369. Heavy rain during the break soaked the outfield and, after two pitch inspections, umpires called off play without a ball being bowled in the evening session.
4th Test, The Gabba, Brisbane, 14 Jan, 2021
Shardul gets four with a top edge that runs over the keeper's head. Fortune is indeed favouring the brave at the Gabba! India cross 300, with this partnership worth 118 now. Lyon gets one to keep low and almost slip under through Shardul's bat, but the appeal is muted. It's been 200 balls since the last wicket, this is a nightmare for the hosts! And oooh, there's a moment of frustration on display as Lyon throws the ball back towards Sundar. The crowd boos. Sundar raises his hands enquiringly. Lyon walks back shamefacedly.
IND 305/6 after 100 overs, trail by 64
Just seven players to make a fifty-plus score and take a three-wicket haul in their debut Test this century:
Anthony McGrath
Robin Peterson
Tim Southee
Stuart Thompson
Hanuma Vihari
Wanindu Hasaranga
Washington Sundar
Washington Sundar is now only the 10th player on Test debut with 50+ runs in maiden innings with the bat and 3+ wickets in maiden innings with the ball.
Sundar is also the 2nd Indian with this double after Dattu Phadkar (vs AUS, Sydney 1947)
IND 297/6, trail by 72
50 for Sundar! 100 for the partnership! What a day! A golden day in Indian cricket as two unfancied lower order batsmen come up with a fight to remember, with India having their backs to the wall at the Gabba.
IND 291/6, trail by 78
50 for Shardul! And what a way to get there! Dances down the tracks against Lyon and slams a six over long on to get to his first Test 50.
IND 284/6, trail by 85
Mitchell Starc is steaming in! 'Enough is enough', seems to have been the message to him from the captain. This partnership is now worth 87. Shardul is one hit away from his first Test 50. Starc is bowling nothing but bouncers. Shardul gets four byes off his body. Ouch! Every Starc ball is an event now.
IND 278/6, trail by 91
Deficit comes down below 100! Shardul drives with power - four! Sundar flicks it more cheekily to third man for four more - the runs keep coming in this partnership. India have a lower order pair frustrating Australia in Gabba! This is happening! The fightback is on! Starc looks out of ideas, Sundar shares a smile and a pat of the back with Shardul. The crowd tries to get behind Starc, Sundar calmly sways out of the way of the bouncer that follows.
IND 272/6, trail by 97
The counter-attack continues. Starc is sent for a walloping by Shardul. A straight drive on the front foot for four to start, a back foot punch with elan on the off side to follow. Shardul moves to 41, overtakes Washington Sundar, who is on 38.
IND 262/6 after 90, trail by 107
The third and final session of Day 3 begins, with Lyon bowling to Sundar. Considering the rain forecasts in the next couple of days, this next session could be a make-or-break one in the context of the Test.
India still 253/6, trailing by 116
More runs for Shardul. Flicks away a wristy four on the leg side and then gets a thick edge to go past gully for another four. India cross 250. This is now the highest 7th wicket partnership for India at the Gabba. These two, of course, have never batted together for India before. The Tea break is taken. India go in at 253/6, trailing by 116.
Shardul Thakur needs some medical attention now, after a Cummins bouncer crashes into his gloves. Is good to resume after a Band-aid strapped on his fingers. India can just not afford another injury. Shardul's left index finger is now strapped. India, who are one step away from sending in Ravi Shastri in whites, will be in raptures that it's not Shardul's right hand which is affected. Tea approaches.
IND 245/6, trail by 124
Hazlewood cuts Shardul in half with an inswinger which kisses his inside edge on its way through, but a diving Paine cannot get his gloves to the ball either. Four behind the keeper. Sundar, growing in confidence at the other end, pierces the gap towards third man for another four. The partnership crosses 50.
IND 240/6, trail by 129
Australia do go for the new ball as soon as it is available. But not before there is an over from Labuschagne, which has a lot of smoke but no fire. The partnership inches into 40s. Cummins and Hazlewood the two bowlers who the hosts delegate to take the second new ball. The end of the afternoon session is nigh too. Less than half an hour to negotiate for this pair, who are showing the benefits of putting in the hard yards saving matches in domestic cricket.
IND 227/6, trail by 142
This Indian tail wag will have taken the hosts quite by surprise. Sundar keeps going after Starc. India's deficit comes down below 150 now. A brisk 37 runs have come up in this partnership already. The second new ball is due soon. This counter-attack from Sundar and Shardul makes it likely that the hosts will go for it immediately.
IND 223/6, trail by 146
Runs keep coming for Sundar. Gets two fours in successive overs from Starc. And there's a third! Straight drive for four. Confident stroke. The left hander is going after Starc while Shardul is going after Cummins. These are vital runs for India, and rather surprising runs from Australia's point of view.
IND 215/6, trail by 154
It's Shardul on the charge now. Pulls Cummins for six! The drives him down the ground for four. Shardul is making sure this Indian tail wag starts off with a royal wiggle. Sundar, playing far safter shots than his fast bowling compatriot, takes India across 200 with a punt through the slips.
IND 201/6, trail by 168
Pant is gone! A special catch from Cameron Green forces his end. A one-handed reflex catch at gully by the youngster. Pant's counter-attack comes to an end. He is gone for 23 off 29 balls. Too many balls had been flying off his bat in the last few overs. And now it's down to how long India's bowlers can stave off the Aussies.
IND 186/6, trail by 183
Pant is having a go at Cummins! Two boundaries in one over forces Cummins to go short at Pant. Pant throws his bat at the short ball too, the ball loops up but drops short of Labuschagne. Sundar happy to sway out of the way as another ball is dug in short. These two left handers have batted a lot together in their U-17 days. This is the big test though! Fighting for survival in Brisbane against a furious Aussie attack.
IND 184/5, trail by 185
Washington Sundar takes a blow on his chest to start off. But is soon in better flow. Crunches a drive for four against Hazlewood. India's deficit comes down below 200. That is one monkey off their back. Pant too leans into a few drives.
IND 174/5, trail by 195
Agarwal is gone! Out off the second ball of the afternoon session. What a restart to the day's play! Hazlewood the man on the money again. Agarwal falls for 38.
IND 161/5, trail, by 208
Counter attack! Agarwal goes big! Huge shot against Lyon comes like a bolt from the blue. Steps out and smashes a big overhead six down the ground. Long off was in place, but that didnt make a difference to Agarwal, the catch is taken somewhere in the crowd. Agarwal drives Starc for four more down the ground. Pant presents the straight bat for few defensive strokes but also gets going with a hard slash off a short ball from the spinner. And that is Lunch! The Mumbai and Saurashtra walls have been breached in the morning session, but Mayank has shown plenty of signs of positive intent.
IND 161/4 after 60, trail by 208