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29 March 2024

India v Australia 3rd Test: Dhawan whips Aussies

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

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By Staff

India are 283 for no loss at close in their first innings after Australia were all out for 408 continuing from their overnight 273-7 on day three of the third Test against Australia at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Saturday.

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

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW 'LIVE' REPORT OF DAY FOUR

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.

Records tumbled like nine pins under the onslaught of Dhawan who took just 85 balls to record the fastest ever century by a debutant in Test history.

Dhawan also surpassed Gundappa Vishwanath's 137 made in Kanpur in 1969 to mae the highest individual score by an Indian on Test debut.

Their opening partnership which set a new ground record at Mohali is also the highest in the series between India and Australia surpassing the previous mark of 192 held by Chetan Chauhan and Sunil Gavaskar in 1979 in Kolkata.

Dhawan unleashed a breathtaking array of strokes against the hapless Australian attack.

The 27-year old left hander from Delhi sent the Australians on a leather hunt scoring boundaries with classic strokes though taking the liberty of taking the aerial route late in his innings.

His senior partner Vijay was content to play second fiddle perfectly complementing Dhawan who was compact in defence but attacked fearlessly to set the tempo of the innings.

India plundered 153 runs in 28 during the afternoon session during which Dhawan raced to his century.

Earlier, Australia were lifted by a record eighth wicket stand of 97 between the overnight pair Steven Smith (92) and Mitchell Starc (90) to be all out for 408 shortly before lunch.

Starc was unfortunate to miss out a maiden Test hundred being caught behind by Dhoni off Sharma.

Australia added 135 runs in 38 overs in the morning session with Steven Smith (92) and Mitchell Starc (99) missing out on scoring maiden Test centuries.

The overnight pair stretched their eighth wicket partnership to 97 which is the highest by Australia against India.

Smith, who resumed on 58, was brilliantly stumped by Dhoni off Ojha for 92 having hit 10 fours and a six.

Starc, who resumed on 20, was the aggressor in the third morning, hitting 14 boundaries before falling to Sharma on 99.

Sharma finished with three for 72 from 30 overs and Jadeja three for 77 from 31 overs.

Ashwin and Ojha claimed two wickets apiece.

EVENING SESSION

Vijay has glided Henriques off his pads for another boundary.

Vijay rocks on the back foot and cuts Doherty for a boundary to cover to end the over which produces 13 runs.

Dhawan has danced down the track to hoist Doherty for his second six.

Vijay tickles one from Henriques down to fine leg for his eighth boundary.

Doherty has bowled a second consecutive maiden to Vijay to bring some sanity to the proceedings.

Dhawan brings up the 250 of the Indian innings in the 50th over with boundary number 32 which is followed by another paddle down the leg side to fine leg.

Doherty has bowled a rare maiden to Vijay who survived a good shout for a leg before decision.

Records continue to be extinguished under the onslaught from Dhawan with the 241 being the highest opening partnership at Mohali.

There is no stopping Dhawan who has despatched a couple of juicy full tosses from Smith to the midwicket fence.

Australian skipper Michael Clarke has turned to part time leg spinner Steven Smith.

Dhawan races to 150 off 131 balls with a single having smashed his 29th boundary in the previous delivery off Doherty.

Dhawan now owns the record for making the highest individual score on debut by an Indian surpassing the 137 made by Gundappa Vishwanath.

Dhawan continues his assault on Lyon cracking two more boundaries in the first over after the drinks break.

There is no respite for Australia after the drinks interval from Dhawan who dances down the track and smashes the first ball from Lyon to the midwicket boundary.

The record-breaking opening pair have added 55 runs in the first hour after the tea interval to frustrate Australia on this placid surface.

Dhawan is continuing his mind boggling innings hitting two more boundaries off Starc to bring up the 200 of the Indian innings in the 41st over followed by another to third man.

Dhawan has hit another trademark cover drive off Starc for a boundary to surpass surpass the previous highest opening partnership of 192 between Chetan Chauhan and Sunil Gavaskar in 1979 to set a new record in the India-Australia series.

Dhawan has hit his first six dancing the track and chipping Lyon with superb timing over the ropes.

Dhawan has taken the aerial route for the first time lofting Lyon over cover for his 23rd boundary.

Murali Vijay completed his third Test fifty clipping Lyon for a couple of runs.

Vijay's knock came off 103 balls and contained five boundaries and two sixes.

Murali Vijay has caressed Siddle through cover and point for his first boundary after tea to move to 48.

Shikhar Dhawan continued from where he left off scoring the first boundary after tea in the third over driving Lyon inside out with a another delightful shot.

Dhawan is unbeaten on magnificent 106 off 90 balls having hit 21 fours.

Murali Vijay is with him on 42 off 85 balls with four boundaries and two sixes.

India are trailing by 252 runs with all their wickets in hand having scored 153 for no loss in the afternoon session.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Shikhar Dawan has scored the fastest hundred on debut in Test cricket history.

The left-hander scrambled for a single to reach the milestone off just 85 balls.

West Indian Dwayne Smith got it in the second innings making 100 in 93 balls at Cape Town in 2004.

Dhawan's phenomenal innings contained 21 boundaries which means 84 runs came off boundaries.

The 27-year old from Delhi has been a revelation attacking the Australian bowlers with disdain some classic strokes all around the wicket not showing any nerves on his debut innings. 

Dhawan is the first Indian to hit a Test debut century as an opener and the fourth fastest hundred by an Indian.

Dhawan has a stroke of luck getting a thick outside past gully for another boundary to move to 98.

Siddle has bowled a maiden to Vijay amid the carnage caused mainly by Dhawan.

Dhawan has raced into the 90s with another boundary - a classic off drive off Starc.

Doherty has gone 18 in his fourth over facing the full brunt of Dhawan's onslaught who finishes the over with a couple of boundaries - a scoring off drive and sweep to fine leg.

Dhawan is turning it on cracking Doherty for a couple of boundaries through cover followed by an audacious reverse sweep.

Left hander Dhawan hit a couple of boundaries off Starc to bring up the 100 of the India first innings off just 130 balls with classic off drives.

It's raining boundaries for India with Vijay sweeping Doherty for another one to fine leg.

Dhawan is unstoppable dancing down the track and finding the gap with a classic off drive off Lyon for another boundary.

Vijay not to be outdone whacks a couple of sixes off Lyon over long-on.

Shikhar Dhawan raced his to maiden Test half century off just 50 balls hitting a couple of boundaries off Xavier Doherty's first over and driving Lyon to mid on in the next for his 12th boundary.

He becomes the 23rd Indian to score fifty on his Test debut.

Dhawan is timing the ball sweetly and using his feet punching Henriques for another boundary through point to move into 40 off 41 balls with nine hits to the fence.

Dhawan steps out and steers Henriques for his eighth boundary to bring up the 50 of the India innings off 85 balls.

Dhawan is batting aggressively hitting a couple of consecutive boundaries off Henriques pulling a bounceer to midwicket and getting a thick edge through slip and gully to third man.

Lyon's second over is a maiden to Vijay.

Vijay has stepped out and lofted Lyon over his head to mid on for his second boundary.

Spinner Nathan Lyon introduced into the attack now.

Dhawan is on fire getting a couple of boundaries Moises Henriques' first over, steering him to the vacant point region by opening the face of the bat and then a crunching drive through the covers.

Vijay (below) hits his first boundary rocking back and driving Siddle through the covers.



Dhawan is displaying his natural flair to attack hooking a short pitched delivery from Starc to backward square leg for his third boundary.

Vijay plays down a maiden over off Starc.

Dhawan gets another boundary pulling Siddle to midwicket.

Dhawan hits the first boundary of the Indian innings with a glorious drive off Siddle to long off.

Test debutant Shikar Dawan gets his first runs when he pushes Starc wide off cover to get off the mark.

Siddle bowls a maiden to Vijay in the first over after lunch.

MORNING SESSION

Murali Vijay gets the first runs on the board for India driving Starc through the covers with Warner saving the boundary.

Starc opens the attack as India come out to face one over before lunch on day three.

Xavier Doherty is the last man out adjudged leg before off Ashwin while Lyon remained unbeaten on 9.

Ishant Sharma denies Mitchell Starc a maiden Test hundred dismisshim for 99.

Starc survives four deliveries before driving Sharma only to get an outside edge to Dhoni who takes a diving catch.

It is heartbreak for Starc (below) and the Australian dressing room who manages a smile as walks back to the pavilion getting a pat of consolation from Sharma as well.



Starc's wonderful knock of 99 came off 144 balls and contained 14 boundaries having added 51 runs with Lyon for the ninth wicket.

The 50-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Starc and Lyon comes off 78 balls.

Starc has edged Sharma past slip for his 14th boundary as he becomes the top scorer of the Australia innings and moves inexorably to his maiden Test century.

Nathan Lyon has hit his first boundary driving Ojha through mid off.

Starc has got his 13th boundary via an inside edge to fine leg off Ojha.

Australia have now added 100 runs in the third morning off 26 overs for the loss of Smith.

Boundaries are coming thick and fast off the blade of Starc who has punched Ashwin past backward point.

Starc has got another boundary off Ojha bisecting the fielders at deep square leg and midwicket with a slog sweep.

Starc has surpassed his previous highest Test score of 68 made against South Africa.

Starc has driven Ojha through point to bring up the 350 of the Australia innings in the 127th over and flicked another to fine leg fence off an inside edge.

Ojha strikes in his second over of the morning to dismiss Smith for 92 brilliantly stumped by Dhoni.

Smith (below) was beaten by the spin as he lunged forward with Dhoni doing the rest.



It is the end of a record eighth wicket stand of 97 between Starc and Smith who faced 185 balls and hit 10 fours and a six during his knock having been 58 overnight.

Boundaries are coming easily on this fast outfield with the pitch not holding terrors for the batsmen as Starc drives Ojha through cover.

Starc has flicked Jadeja to square leg to complete his second Test fifty.

His fluent knock which came off 86 balls has contained seven boundaries.

Smith has picked up another boundary off Ashwin clipping him to fine leg as runs come thick and fast for Australia.

Smith is now the top scorer of the Australia innings have overhauled Cowan's score of 86 while Starc is playing his longest first-class innings.

Smith survives a confident leg before shout off Jadeja who bowls his first maiden over of the day.

Smith and Starc have now added 51 runs in 14 overs on the third morning as tjhey surpass the previous highest eighth wicket stand against India of 73 set by Shane Watson and Brett Lee in 2008.

Ashwin bowls the first maiden over of the day to Starc.

All spin attack by India as they attempt to break the eighth wicket stand which is making good progress.

Left arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja has been introduced into the attack after just five overs with the second new ball.

Smith has surpassed his previous highest Test score of 77 made against Pakistan in 2010.

Left hander Starc has smashed Sharma over his head for his sixth boundary.

Smith has thumped Sharma through mid off with superb timing for his ninth boundary as Australia continue to attack.

The 300 of the Australia first innings comes in the 110th over.

The 50 partnership between Smith and Starc for the eighth wicket comes up off 69 balls.

The second new bal has been taken with Bhuvneshwar Kumar into the attack.

Steven Smith has cliped Sharma for his first boundary of the day through square leg.

Starc whips Ashwin for his second boundary of the morning to square leg.

Mitchell Starc has hit the first boundary of the third morning pulling a bouncer from Ishant Sharma over square leg.