8.36 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

India v Australia 3rd Test: Australia 75-3 at close

Shikhar Dhawan celebrating his century on debut which is the fastest in Test history. (PICTURE COURTESY TWITTER)

Published

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's treble strike in the final session of day four has raised the prospect of an exciting finish to the third Test between India and Australia.

Australia reached 75-3 at close in their second innings after India were all out for 499 enjoying a lead of 91 in their first innings on day four of the third Test against Australia at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Sunday.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW 'LIVE' REPORT OF DAY FIVE

The tourists trail by 16 runs with seven wickets in hand.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar took all three wickets to fall having excellent figures of 8-1-25-3.

Phillip Hughes (below) remained unbeaten on a belligerent 53 off 68 which contained nine boundaries and a six.



Nathan Lyon is with him on four.

The tourists trail by 16 runs having conceded a 91-run lead in the first innings.

Kumar removed openers David Warner (2), Ed Cowan (8) and Steven Smith (5), who was promoted ahead of injured captain Michael Clarke, before Phillip Hughes counter attacked to remained unbeaten on 53.

India are poised to take a winning 3-0 lead in the four-match series.

Earlier, India were bowled out for 499 with Peter Siddle claiming five for 71 after resuming on 283 for no loss.

India were propelled by Murali Vijay (153) second consecutive century and debutant Shikhar Dhawan's record-breaking knock of 187.

The second new ball did the trick as Siddle and Starc combined to put the brakes on India's scoring as India lost their last seven wickets for only 87 runs.

Vijay's marathon knock came off 317 balls and the Tamil Nadu batsman spent 414 minutes while hitting 19 fours and three sixes.

This was the 28-year-old's third Test ton all made against Australia.

India stumbled from 384 for three at lunch to 431 for seven.

At the stroke of lunch, Sachin Tendulkar got out for 37 - caught by Ed Cowan at forward short-leg off leggie Smith.

Dhawan was sent back after he could add just two runs to his overnight score of 185 before off-spinner Lyon had him caught by Cowan at silly point in second over of the day.

After sharing a 287-run partnership with Dhawan, which is India's third highest opening stand, Vijay added another 92 runs with Tendulkar, who fell for 37 in the last over before lunch with Cowan at forward short leg taking a bat pad catch off leg spinner Steven Smith.

EVENING SESSION

Hughes completes his sixth Test half century with a streaky boundary off Ashwin.

His best innings of the tour contained nine boundaries and a six.

Hughes is continued to bat aggressively picking boundaries at will off Ashwin and Kumar.

It is punctuated by a nudge to the fence by nighwatchman Lyon.

Steven Smith is bowled by a beauty from Bhuvneshwar Kumar who knocks the off stump.

Smith faced 19 balls for five with Kumar having excellent figures of three for 21 from his seven over.

Hughes survives a confident appeal for a leg before off Kumar as the 50 of the Australian second innings comes in 12th over.

Hughes believes attack is the best form of defence to end his run of dismal score hitting a six off Jadeja over mid on and getting another boundary with a delicate late cut.

Steven Smith plays down a maiden over from Jadeja coming ahead of skipper Michael Clarke who appears to be indisposed.

Kumar strikes for the second time with Ed Cowan being dismissed leg before after facing 20 balls for eight having hit a boundary.

Hughes has rocked back and cut a delivery from Ashwin's first over for his fifth boundary.

Hughes is on fire opening the face of the bat to drive Sharma for his fourth boundary.

Kumar has gone for 12 in his second with Phillip Hughes cracking three boundaries, edging the first one through the slip and gully and driving the second square of the wicket on the off before getting a boundary off a wild overthrow from Kohli at slip.

Ed Cowan opens his account by edging Sharma to the third man boundary.

Australia are off to a horror start in their second innings as David Warner is out caught behind.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar strikes with his third delivery as Warner slashes at widish delivery to be snapped by Dhoni.

India are all out for 499 in 132.1 overs in their first innings on day four in reply to Australia's 408 in the third Test against Australia at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Sunday.

India enjoy a lead of 91 runs.

Peter Siddle castles last man Pragyan Ojha to finish with five for 71.

Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 67 off 129 balls having hit seven boundaries and one six.

Starc claimed two for 74 while Henriques, Lyon and Smith picked up a wicket apiece.

Siddle has claimed his fourth wicket as Sharma is caught behind edging to Haddin for a duck after facing three balls.

India lose their eighth wicket as Bhuvneshwar Kumar is caught behind off Henriques for 18.

Kumar gloves a rising delivery having faced 57 balls and hit two boundaries.

He added 61 runs in 23.1 overs for the eighth wicket with Kohli.

Kohli cuts the first ball after tea from Moises Henriques past point for a boundary to bring up the 50 partnership for the eighth wicket with Kumar.

Kohli completed his sixth Test fifty on the stroke of tea off 108 with five boundaries and a six.

Kumar is with him on 17 off 40 balls as India enjoy a lead of 71 with three wickets in hands.

Starc and Siddle were the wicket takers in the afternoon session in which Australia rocked the hosts.

Siddle has the best return of three for 67 so far while Starc has claimed two for 74 with Lyon and Smith having picked up a wicket apiece.

Jadeja and Ashwin fell edging behind off Siddle and Smith.

Kohli stemmed the rot in partnership with Bhuvneshwar having added 48 runs so far for the unfinished eighth wicket.


AFTERNOON SESSION

Kumar has pulled one from Smith to midwicket for another boundary.

India are suddenly batting with a sense of urgency as Kohli smashes a full toss from Smith to long on boundary in what could be the last over before tea.

Kohli has whipped Lyon to midwicket for another boundary.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has hit his first boundary pulling Smith to midwicket.

The question on everybody's lips is whether India are content to play for a draw leading the four-match series 2-0 going by the passive batting display after losing a cluster of wickets after lunch.

Kohli gets another boundary edging Doherty past slip but they seem to be in no hurry to make a match of it.

Kohli has clipped Siddle off his toes to midwicket for another boundary.

Australia have rocked India claiming four wickets for 47 runs in 15.45 overs in the hour after lunch when drinks have been taken.

Seam bowlers Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle have hit back after lunch with the second new ball as India's hopes of notching a significant lead fade.

Ravichandran Ashwin hit a sweetly timed boundary through the covers but is dismissed next delivery caught behind off an outside edge by Haddin as Siddle picks up his third wicket.

Three wickets have fallen in 23 balls for 15 runs with the second new ball after lunch.

Siddle strikes for the first time in his second over with the second new ball as Jadeja edges behind to Haddin for eight.

Jadeja has hit his first boundary with a sizzling off drive along the ground past Siddle.

Starc is on fire as new batsman Ravindra Jadeja survives a confident leg before appeal with the inside edge saving him.

Starc has struck twice within the space of four deliveries trapping Vijay and Dhoni leg before with inswinging deliveries with the second new ball.

Dhoni departs after hitting a boundary missing a swinging full toss as he jumps out of the crease to attack.

MS Dhoni is off the mark with a straight driven boundary off Starc.

Australia have taken the second new ball and Mitchell Starc has struck with his first ball trapping Murali Vijay leg before for 153 as he square shoulders and is rapped on the front foot.

His marathon innings which consumed over six hours facing 317 balls contained 19 fours and three sixes.

India have overhauled Australia's first innings total of 408 with that boundary from Vijay.

Murali Vijay (below) reaches 150 for the second time in successive innings against Australia with a delicate late cut to the third man boundary off Smith.



His patient knock which came off 316 balls contained 19 fours and three sixes.

Kohli has lofted a juicy full toss from Smith over long on for his firs six.

Vijay paddle swept Doherty to fine leg for his first boundary after lunch to bring the 400 of the India innings in the 100th over.

Virat Kohli opens his account in the fourth ball after lunch by cutting Smith to the point boundary.

India trail by just 24 runs with Murali Vijay unbeaten on 142 off 298 balls having hit 17 fours and three sixes so far.

The honours were shared in the morning session with India adding 101 runs in 36.1 overs for the loss of three wickets.

Nathan Lyon struck in the second over of the morning when he dismissed Shikhar Dawan (187) caught at silly point by Ed Cowan to end the record opening stand of 289 with Vijay.

Pujara did not last long being unlucky to be adjudged leg before despite getting a thin inside edge off Siddle.

Tendulkar fell in the last over before lunch after a circumspect knock of 37 not really getting on top of the Australian attack.

Michael Clarke delayed taking the second new ball encouraged by the reverse swing and buoyed by the early strikes.

MORNING SESSION

Steven Smith strikes in his first over of the day which is the last over before lunch when he dismisses Tendulkar caught at forward short leg by Cowan.

Tendulkar made 37 off 81 balls with five boundaries adding 92 runs for the third wicket with Vijay.

Tendulkar who has scored just two runs in nearly five overs also breaks free with a superb off drive through cover and mid off for his fifth boundary.

Vijay breaks the shackled by dancing down the track and lofting Doherty to long-on for his third six.

Vijay survived a confident leg before appeal off Doherty missing a sweep shot.

Australia are keeping it tight with some disciplined bowling.

Tendulkar has pounced on a loose delivery from Starc with a square drive to the point boundary.

Australia have delayed taking the second new ball which is due now with India 349 for two.

Left arm Xavier Doherty into the attack now replacing Lyon and bowls a maiden to Tendulkar.

Tendulkar survives a confident leg before shout by Lyon which goes for four leg byes but drives the last delivery of the first over after the drinks break through the covers for a boundary with a positive stroke.

The 50-partnership between Vijay and Tendulkar for the third wicket comes in 88 balls.

Australia have taken the honours at the first drinks interval on the fourth morning dismissing Shikhar Dhawan (187) and Pujara as India made 56 in 19 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Nathan Lyon removed Dhawan caught by Cowan at silly point while Pujara was unfortunate to be adjudged leg before despite having got an inside edge off Siddle.

Murali Vijay is still there having completed back-to-back centuries against Australia and with Sachin Tendulkar is batting with him on 20.

India are trailing by just 69 runs with eight wickets in hand.

Tendulkar has greeted Starc with a trademark straight drive to the long off boundary with superb timing.

Starc into the attack replacing Siddle who got reverse swing in the morning having figures of one for 51.

Vijay has hit another boundary off Siddle with a crunching drive.

Tendulkar hits his first boundary off Lyon with a slog sweep over midwicket.

Vijay gets another boundary off Lyon via a top edge with a sweep to fine leg as India's deficit is now 100.

Murali Vijay comes down the track to loft Lyon for his second boundary of the morning to bring up his third century all against Australia.

His second consecutive century in the series which came off 203 balls contained 12 fours and two sixes.

Sachin Tendulkar opens his account with a single to bring up the 300 of the India innings in the 66th over.

Murali Vijay hits the first boundary of the fourth morning steering Siddle to third man.

India lose their second wicket as Cheteshwar Pujara is adjudged leg before off Siddle who strikes in his fifth over of the morning.

Pujara departs for one though he is unhappy with tv replays showing he appeared to have got an inside edge to a superb delivery which nipped late.

Australia have finally got a breakthrough with skipper Michael Clarke's decision to put pressure on Dhawan by moving a cover to silly point paying dividends.

It was a soft dismissal and a bit of an anti-climax after a great innings as Dhawan plays a defensive prod straight to the close-in fielder.

Off spinner Lyon strikes in his first over of the fourth morning dismissing Shikhar Dhawan for 187.

Dhawan is snapped up by Ed Cowan at silly point after having added just four runs to his overnight score.

It brings an end a record opening partnership of 289 and monumental innings from Dhawan.

Australia open their attack with Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon on day four.

India will resume on 283 for no loss on day four in their first innings in reply to Australia's 408 in the third Test against Australia at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Sunday.

India trail by 125 runs as the record-breaking opening pair wiped out the deficit by dominating the Australian attack in two sessions.

DHAWAN SCORES FASTEST TEST TON ON DEBUT

The day belonged to Shikhar Dhawan who plundered 185 runs off 168 balls during his phenomenal knock which was studded with 33 fours and two sixes.

Murali Vijay is unbeaten on a sedate 83 off 181 balls having hit 10 fours and two sixes.