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:India conceded a 33-run first innings lead to Australia after being bowled out for 336 on day three of the deciding fourth and final Test in Brisbane on Sunday. Resuming on 62 for two, the tourists had slumped to 186-6 but debutant Washington Sundar, who made 62, and number eight batsman Shardul Thakur raised 123 runs for the sixth wicket to rescue them. Thakur, playing his second test, topscored for India with a belligerent 67, bringing up his maiden fifty with his second six. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the Australian bowlers, claiming 5-57. The four-Test series is level at 1-1.
Australia v India Test Series 2020/2021
4th Test, The Gabba, Brisbane, 14 Jan, 2021
IND 336 / 10 (111.4)
vs
AUS 369 / 10 (115.2)
AUS 21 / 0 (6.0)
2nd Inn
IND
BatsmenRB
Marcus Harris1 14
David Warner20 22
BowlersORWKT
Mohammed Siraj2.0 12 0
T Natarajan3.0 6 0
Warner and Harris have safely negotiated the brief phase of play after India's innings. Warner raced out of the blocks this evening with Australia's lead now 54 runs. The bowlers will come out fresh and determined tomorrow. Australia are 21/0 after 6 overs.
Marcus Harris and Warner come out to open for Australia in their second innings. Siraj opens the attack.
India ALL OUT for 336. Australia have a 33-run lead and about 20 minutes to bat before stumps. That's Hazlewood's second five-wicket haul for the series as Siraj departs for 13.
After ten first-class innings without a run, Natarajan finally scores one on Test debut. Mitch Starc has bowled a series of short balls aimed at the body of Natarajan and followed that up with two searing full length deliveries. And, Natarajan stands unfazed.
IND 332/5 after 111 overs
Siraj is swinging at everything and both batsmen are runing for everything. Some frantic cricket being played in the middle now with around 20 minutes left for end of play. Sundar, with yorkers being fired into his blockhole, is playing a Pujara-esque innings, shutting out all the noise. Till he is caught at gully! Sundar is finally gone. Out for 62. A little tired in that shot, but what an innings from the young man on debut.
IND 328/9, trail by 41
And another wicket falls, with another edge, this one being grabbed by Smith. Navdeep Saini pokes at one from Hazlewood, who has been the one with the most impact today, for all the pace of Starc and Cummins. Mohammad Siraj is the new batsman in at 10 and hje smashes his first ball for four.
IND 324/8, trail by 45
Australia bowl bouncers at Saini. Saini escapes with an awkward fend that balloons over the slip cordon and runs to the ropes. More bouncers at Saini, who is happy to defend. Sundar, into his 60s and with confidence flowing through his veins now, takes India to within less than 50 runs of Australia's score.
IND 319/7, trail by 49
One hour of play remains till end of Day 3. Navdeep Saini, who is battling a groin strain, comes out to bat at Number 9. Sundar attacks Lyon now, with this off spin battle within the war being won by the Indian. Six! Sundar does not even look at the shot after hitting it.
IND 315/7, trail by 54
Finally, the wicket! Pat Cummins gets one to cut in and go through the bat-pad gap of Shardul and clip the top of off stump. Shardul's stand ends at 67. The partnership was worth 123 off 217 balls, India's third highest ever 7th wicket stand in Australia, and the highest ever at this ground. It was a partnership that brought them back into the game. India now trail by just 60, which would have seemed a far cry when Shardul had joined Sundar a couple of hours ago.
IND 309/7, trail by 60
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 looking at the ground.
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