IND vs AUS 3rd Test Day 1 Highlights: Matt Kuhnemann And Usman Khawaja Star as All-round Australia Take 47-run Lead in Indore

For the first time this series, Australia dominated an entire day’s play against India. They won all three sessions producing an all-round show. They did lose the toss but having to bowl first proved a blessing as their spinners ran through the India batters like a hot knife through butter. Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann landed the first couple of blows in his first two overs and eventually finished with a five-for. Nathan Lyon took three wickets while one wicket went to Todd Murphy as India folded for 109 after opting to bat first at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. Virat Kohli’s 22 was the highest individual score from the innings. Australia did lost Travis Head early in their reply but then Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne stitched a 96-run stand for the second wicket to put Australia in control. Khawaja made 60 while Labuschagne was out on 31. Steve Smith got the start but Ravindra Jadeja had him caught behind on 26 late into the day. Australia finished the day with 156/4 and a lead of 47 runs.

STUMPS! Solid batting from Australia to finish the day’s play as they take a 47-run lead. This has been a vastly improved show from the tourists with a fine half-century from Usman Khawaja taking them to 156/4 in 54 overs. Ravindra Jadeja took all four Australian wickets that fell today. Peter Handscomb (7* off 36) and Cameron Green (6* off 10) are the two unbeaten batters. They would want to convert this into three figures tomorrow.

150 up for Australia in 49.5 Overs. They might have lost four wickets but this has been a vastly improved show with the bat from Australia. They have been ahead of India all through the day.

WICKET! A big big wicket for India late into the day. Steve Smith has edged one to be caught behind on 26. This right after Ravindra Jadeja gifted him a low full toss which the Aussie captain put away for an easy four. The next one turned after pitching as Smith probably went to come it straight – the ball kissed the outside edge with Srikar Bharat doing the rest. AUS 146/4 in 48.5 Overs, lead by 37 runs.

Axar Patel continues. And his first one of this over is quite short – Steve Smith pulls it away to midwicket for a four. And then Axar overcompensates by bowling it too full which Smith wanted to drive but gets a thick edge away for four more. 9 runs from the over. AUS 140/3 in 48 Overs, lead by 31 runs.

India have burned through all their reviews – all off Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling. The latest one was also for a not out LBW call, this time against Steve Smith. Impact was outside leg. No reviews left for India this innings now. AUS 126/3, lead by 17 runs.

WICKET! Ravindra Jadeja takes his third wicket. Usman Khawaja wouldn’t be pleased with his shot. A rare mistake this innings from the Aussie opener. He goes for a sweep and ends up holing out to Shubman Gill at deep midwicket – a decent catch from Gill took it quite low. Khawaja scored 60. AUS 125/3 in 42.3 Overs, lead by 16 runs.

Axar Patel bowls it full and outside off. Steve Smith isn’t going to let it go as he drives it to sweeper cover region for his first four of the innings. AUS 125/2 in 42 Overs, lead by 16 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja has bowled 17 overs, Ravichandran Ashwin has delivered 13 Overs. The third spinner, Axar Patel, has bowled just four overs. He’s been brought back into the attack. Can he be he wrecker-in-chief this innings? As of now, Australia aren’t being troubled much. They have scored 120/2  in 40 overs and lead by 11 runs. Usman Khawaja has moved to 60 off 139 while Steve Smith is batting on 3 off 8.

Mohammed Siraj is bowling a decent spell here. Edges have been drawn but the ball has dropped well short of the fielder. Usman Khawaja has been joined by his captain Steve Smith. Score 115/2 in 38 Overs, lead by 6 runs.

After being beaten by the one that turned away, Steve Smith gets off the mark with a single which also puts Australia in the lead. AUS 110/2, lead by 1 run.

Mohammed Siraj overstepped and had to bowl his final delivery again. The extra run resulted in Australia drawing level with the Indian total. Score 109/2 in 36 Overs, Scores Level

WICKET! Arm ball does the trick for Ravindra Jadeja. This one kept low as well and sneaked below the bat of Marnus Labuschagne who misjudged the length and paid the price. He scored 31. AUS 108/2 in 34.3 Overs, trail by 1 run.

So finally Mohammed Siraj has been pressed into action. He started with one fired down the leg-side and later drew an edge from Usman Khawaja but the ball dropped well short of the slip fielder. 2 runs from it. AUS 107/1 in 34 Overs, trail by 2 runs.

So Ravichandran Ashwin is off the field right now. Suryakumar Yadav has been called in as substitute fielder. Australia 104/1 in 32 Overs, trail by 5 runs.

With a single, Marnus Labuschagne brings up Australia’s 100 in 29.5 overs. They now trail by just 9 runs. The current partnership is now 88 runs.

FIFTY! Australia opener Usman Khawaja brings up his half-century off 102 deliveries. This has been an excellent response from Australia after keeping India to a low total. Has struck four fours so far.

Ravichandran Ashwin is not pleased. India spinners have been made to toil hard on a wicket where their Australian counterparts had fun in the morning session. Just outside off and Marnus Labuschagne goes for a drive, gets a thick outside edge but the ball deflects of the wicketkeeper’s pad to run away for four. Labuschagne continues to be lucky. AUS 95/1 in 28 Overs, trail by 14 runs.

It has quietened down a bit. India under the pump, perhaps for the first time this series. Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne have been quite smart in their approach. They aren’t trailing by much so no need for boundaries. Singles, doubles are enough. It also helps that the left-right combination isn’t allowing Indian spinners to settle into a rhythm. AUS 90/1 in 26 Overs, trail by 19 runs.